Let's get it started in here.. OKC Season Preview!

What's up Thunder fans? What's up basketball fans? What's up everyone?
Missed CSL action? Missed those slam dunks, buzzer-beaters, crossovers... The excitement, the passion, the game we all love?
Great news: WE ARE BACK!

The off-season is finally ending, and it's time for your annual OKC Thunder season preview!
This year, featuring the analysis of the owner of Hang Time Blog, one of the best CSL.com writers out there, Sekou Smith, who will be handling grades to every offseason moves by OKC.
First, let's take a look at what the Thunder did at OffSeason:
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2014 NY CSL DRAFT:
- With the 47th pick in the 2014 draft, the Thunder selected SF Joe Harris, from University of Virginia.

Sekou Smith wrote:
Not much to say there. He has to prove he deserves to play at this league. Late in the 2nd round, you just can't have great expectations. GRADE: B.

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OFFSEASON SIGNINGS:
- Thunder re-sign PG Kyle Lowry to a 4 year / 35.6M deal;
- Thunder sign SF/PF Derrick Williams to a 3 year / 9.579M deal; (mini-MLE)
- Thunder re-sign SG Shannon Brown to a 3 year / 4.837.500 deal (3rd year team option);
- Thunder re-sign PF Jordan Hill to a 1 year / 13.668.750 deal;
- Thunder sign PF Boris Diaw to a 1 year / 1.352.181 deal (vet. minimum);
- Thunder sign SG Brandon Roy to a 2 year / 2.452.436 deal (vet. minimum / 2nd year team option).

Sekou Smith wrote:Re-signing Lowry was a must, but they got him locked up for 4 years in a deal that was, at most, a fair market price. Lowry is still young enough at 28 to have 6 or 7 quality years for them, so he will play up to his contract. If he can raise his shooting percentages that guy can be the best dollar-per-dollar sign of the entire FA.
Love Williams' signing. To pick up a young kid like him, former #2 overall, still only 23 and ready to show the world he belongs to the league.. Man, that's great. Williams has been promised a place in the starting 5, and playing off George, Millsap, Howard and Lowry will only help his putrid percentages from last year grow. He can re-invent himself here. Plays great D, will knock down the triple occasionally, rebounds well, scores well from the post. That kid has it all. He just need to settle down.
Overall, the other signings were players to fill the roster and play sporadic minutes. Still, they did nice. Risky move in signing B-Roy, as he must prove his knees won't let him down.GRADE: A.

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OFFSEASON TRADES:
Oklahoma City Thunder x Indiana Pacers:
IN: SG Paul George, PF Paul Millsap, C Roy Hibbert
OUT: SF LeBron James, SG Jarrett Jack, SG Jared Dudley, PG Aaron Craft, C Mouhammadou Jaiteh, 1st pick OKC 2017, 2nd pick OKC 2016

Sekou Smith wrote:The biggest move of the whole offseason process, no question. Trading James was hard, very hard. He's a once in a generation player. Still, the new FO thought there was not enough help for James and Howard to win a championship, nor lots of room to perform. They decided to move one of them, and found that offer for James very interesting. It's tough to move a guy like him, but they got 3 players with All-Star potential in return. Not bad considering that LeBron could have opted out of his deal next offseason. Still, it's a risky move. We need to see that new Thunder squad playing together, then we'll know if it was worth trading LeBron. For now, GRADE: B

RUMOR
Oklahoma City Thunder x Sacramento Kings:
IN: SG JR Smith, PG JJ Barea, C Aaron Gray
OUT: PF Jordan Hill

Sekou Smith wrote:That deal seems all-but-done, and Oklahoma signing Hill even though they couldn't S&T him now shows us that both teams are ready to advance with that deal come January 31th. Nice creative move by the Thunder, who had no more ways to bring in more quality to the team. They have to extend George, so that means they would not be able to offer an MLE next FAP. So, they get a player who's worth more than the MLE and rent a backup PG who they can re-sign after. All that, at the expense of paying tax, and receiving Gray's contract, which won't be a problem for a team that has no CAP space.
Keep an eye at Sacramento who will have the possibility to lure 2 big FAs next season, as they have CAP to offer 2 max-contracts next season. GRADE: A

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Now, it's time to present you guys with your OKC Thunder's Starting Lineup for the 2014 / 2015 season!

     PG: Kyle Lowry           SG: Paul George        SF: Derrick Williams       PF: Paul Millsap         C: Dwight Howard

Sekou Smith wrote:Forget about that lineup lead by the King himself that made twice to the WCF and once to The Finals. Even though Lowry and Howard are returning to another season at OKC, LeBron isn't.
Instead, the "Paul duo" (George and Millsap) are, along with Derrick Williams, newcomers to that starting unit. That's a lineup with 2 Superstar-type of players, and another 2 guys worth of All-Star consideration. There are a bunch of players who can score, led, of course, by Paul George, who will try to boost his 20PPG average from last season. Howard and Millsap have games that complement each other really well, Lowry is very capable point guard who will carry most of the playmaking duties for that team, and Williams is, if he proves he can score at an efficient level, that "glue guy" that every team needs.
But, their main thing is on D. They're a group of quick, strong, fast players, with two big wingers and the most dominant C of the league. They can D up their man, can switch at the pick 'n' roll, be aggressive. Believe me, with that kind of defense, they're going to frustrate some of the best scorers out there.
Of course, anyone who tells that lineup does not have the "Star Power" previous lineups had, is completely right. But, having a real PF and a more balanced lineup will make it work. Also, do not forget that a team is not build of 5 players.

And here are your Key Bench players:

      Roy Hibbert        Corey Brewer

Sekou Smith wrote:That's the biggest difference from last year. You look at the bench now, and when Howard is in foul trouble, when you're getting pounded inside, you put Hibbert on the floor and have another elite interior defender. You are in need of another defensive, athletic stopper at the wings, you have Brewer. And those two guys can score too, so they won't hurt OKC's offense.
That's something the Thunder didn't have while LeBron was there. They're very talented, as usual, but now they're deeper, also. With JR Smith and Barea possibly joining them midseason, I believe that a Barea / Smith / Brewer / Diaw / Hibbert is the best bench in the entire league.

Rest of the roster:
- SG Brandon Roy / SG Shannon Brown / SF Joe Harris / PF Boris Diaw / PF Jordan Hill
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To end that review, we catch up with OKC's new GM Marcos Beck and legend coach Phil Jackson. Here's what they said:

Marcos Beck wrote:We're very pleased with how that organization is heading, not only now but also long term. We have the chance to compete for something big, but our core is all aged under 30. Most of our guys are locked up long term, and we're working behind the scenes to extend who is not. We're very pleased with every one, we feel like we've put in the work necessary behind the scenes to give Coach and the team a chance to be champion. Looking forward to my 1st year at the league!

Phil Jackson wrote:We're working on the same page here. Every one feels we're competing for the ring, so our moves are made to put us in a better position to succeed. Our players feel they're really part of this team. They really feel they're very important pieces, even the ones who are not playing huge minutes are willing to put the work in at practices. We have a group of young, though guys, and few veteran leaders to keep our locker room in great mood. Every one is in great shape and looking forward to win it all. We feel like a real team. We've been handled a lot of pressure, especially after some big changes, but our guys are more than ready to show everyone they WILL deliver it.

That’s all, folks! Looking forward for another great season! Make sure to check THUNDER NEWS for daily updates about Thunder basketball!

I definitely feel you have the players in play and in place to win represent the West and win it all, definitely the frontrunner imo, however it will be interesting to see how everything is divvied up between all the talent.

Lowry is a very good PG who also puts up shots, Dwight Howard played spectacularly when LeBron was injured last season so it seems he should be the alpha male offensively for OKC but here's where things get really interesting, Paul George played well last season then Millsap was acquired and played well but it took away from Paul George developing imo so add those two guys to the equation of Howard Lowry then it's very interesting.

Howard>George>Lowry>Millsap>everyone else should be the established order for a successful run in OKC so Phil Jackson has his work cut out for him because if these guys are unsuccessful then the LeBron trade is the type of move that gets a GM fired.

Hell of a turn around in this roster. Never imagined LeBron would be on the move again. Your starting lineup is stacked and hope we can compete in the West with you.

Great team man. Depth all around and if you need to make a move you have the pieces now to do it. The LBJ trade was awesome on your part as George is also a special player and Millsap and Hibbert are both really good as well. Good luck this year.

By names this team sound good, but i think that this roster isn't balance, a lot of scorers and low percentage.
I think that oklahoma can win 50 o 53 games no more IMO.

The talent is there for sure in this team, but I can't see this new Thunder contending right away this year.

The frontcourt rotation is pretty deep, but we have to see if the team can focus on them or if many shots are 'missed' trough other less effective weapons.
You might need time to figure out the best way to succeed in terms of rotation and strategy specially, (I don't see DW starting for example, Brewer is a miles better fit IMO for example, and not sure what offensive strat fits this team best), but the good news is that you've got the talent to be able to make it work, and that's a huge advantaje not many others have.
You look dedicated, so I'm sure you'll figure things out sooner than later

Derrick Williams is the weakest link here (by far) but the rest of your roster looks really nice. Love the Millsap/Howard front court.