The Oklahoma City Thunder are going into the postseason as one of the best teams in the NBA, and probably have their best chance of making the NBA Finals yet with their current core. However, some people believe the Thunder won’t see the biggest stage once again.
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is one of those people, as he believes there is a 0% chance the Thunder make the Finals this year.
“I give them zero [chance],” Arenas bluntly stated.
His reasoning was due to the fact they are so young and talented, but they are inexperienced. They’ve had one playoff appearance which was last year, where they got bounced in the second round.
Also, Arenas thinks they are all going to look for a bag in free agency. And due to OKC being a smaller market, there’s no shot they keep all their stars.
“That’s the only bad part about young team’s being successful,” Arenas said. “You can look at like the Blazers, and say ‘Alright, all you young guys, y'all ain't helping us be successful, so I can get you in a deal, you in a deal, and whatever y’all grow into, we cool. [OKC] they’re all helping towards their success. So they’re all going into free agency [wanting money].”
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This has happened in the past with OKC. A decade ago, when they had the MVP in Kevin Durant, and two future MVPs in Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They had to trade Harden to keep the other two, as they couldn’t afford the money all three stars were looking for.
As of now, even with Arenas’ 0% chance of them making the Finals, this year is do-or-die. Otherwise, all their players with rookie contracts are gonna ask for big money, and they probably cannot afford it.
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