Why aren’t the OKC Thunder even discussed as a possible destination for the LeBron James, Paul George, Russell Westbrook trio?

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: There’s a .01% chance that LeBron James joins the Oklahoma City Thunder next offseason. LeBron thinks bigger picture with every move he makes. The Thunder may be the better basketball situation for him, but that’s essentially all they can offer. With that being said, it’s incredibly disrespectful to OKC to disregard them as a potential destination for the rumored Big Three. Here is their case, no matter how unrealistic the scenario may be.

Problems with an LA Big Three

The rumors started with LeBron James reported interest in playing with Russell Westbrook. It makes sense – two of the best athletes/players at their respective positions is a great way to start a “Warriors-beater.” Considering the initial report’s title included “If LeBron Chooses Lakers…” Paul George eventually was added as the third star.

I’m terrified of this as an Oklahoma City fan. The Los Angeles Lakers bring the “It” factor that the Thunder can’t replicate. They can afford to spend more money. Here’s the Lakers big problem though – they currently don’t have a roster to attract LeBron.

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LeBron’s decision will be a basketball decision first. His basketball legacy is the most important facet of his career – it’s why he spends $1 million on his body every year. LeBron’s business will be successful wherever he goes because he is a brand in itself. Los Angeles would add an element, but it wouldn’t make or break businessman LeBron.

Once you look at it from a pure basketball perspective the Lakers make less and less sense. The Lakers have three rookies on guaranteed deals, five promising players with team options and another entering restricted free agency next offseason. That doesn’t include the $30.5 million already tied up to Jordan Clarkson and Luol Deng.

What do we know about LeBron? He prefers established veterans over youth. Unless the Lakers are renouncing their rights to promising guys like Larry Nance Jr., Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram, LA won’t have the roster spots to add quality role players alongside a Big Three. Which brings up yet another breaking point for the Lakers.

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Where is the cap space to sign three max players without Bird Rights to any of them? LA could dump Deng’s salary and sell Clarkson for cheap, but space would still be limited to add a fifth starter/sixth man (assuming Lonzo is what everybody expects).

There’s no doubt that LeBron, Russ and PG could team up with the Lakers next year. But to act like it’s a preordained conclusion for a team with a brand-new front office and iffy roster situation is short-sighted. Which brings us to the case for Oklahoma City.

A new Big Three in OKC

First and foremost, Oklahoma City is already home to two of the superstars in this scenario. We already know one of them is happy in OKC and loves their teammates – it’s very possible PG falls for another small town Midwestern city this season. If George clicks with his teammates/town like Russ, than it would be near-impossible for LeBron to convince both to leave when he could join an established contender instead

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Unlike the Lakers, Oklahoma City has solid, veteran role players: Andre Roberson the elite defender, Patrick Patterson the quintessential 3-and-D four and Steven Adams the enforcer. The cap situation is more rough than LA, but the addition of Westbrook/George’s Bird Rights helps the cause.

Oklahoma City’s legitimate case begins and ends with that argument – they are established and LA is not. There is one hypothetical, however, that could push LeBron to OKC: Kevin Durant.

This offseason LeBron has publicly applauded players – Gordon Hayward and even Kyrie Irving – for taking a stand and doing what’s right for them personally. Not once has he praised KD for joining the Warriors. Durant’s decision made LeBron’s quest for six rings that much harder; LBJ hasn’t forgotten that.

If LeBron wanted to get extra petty he’d come to Oklahoma City and beat KD with his old team. That in itself could be a bigger legacy booster than returning the Lakers to relevancy: beat your greatest rival with their own team. LeBron would own Durant for the rest of his life and it would be comedy to watch the most self-conscious man in the NBA deal with that.

In conclusion

Again, I don’t believe LeBron James is coming to the Thunder next season. This was merely an exercise to show why blatantly discounting OKC as a contender is slightly ignorant. Two of the players in this hypothetical situation are already on a different team. Oklahoma City isn’t the big market that LeBron is looking for, but neither is Cleveland.

This is what happens when we get to mid-September. Wild speculations about the next offseason occur because most free agents have found teams, so we begin speculating about next summer. Ultimately it comes down to what happens during this season for all parties involved.

Does LeBron and Isaiah Thomas create the perfect 1-2 punch (doubtful)? Does George get frustrated by Westbrook’s style of play (possible)? Or my favorite: does Russ sign an extension this offseason (who knows)?

Either way one thing is for certain – the Lakers aren’t the only team in the running for this supposed Big Three.