The Oklahoma City Thunder Futures Odds (BetDSI Sportsbook)
Oklahoma City Thunder to win the Northwest Division: +175
Oklahoma City Thunder to win the Western Conference: +2000
Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship: +3300
Oklahoma City Thunder Season Total Win Prediction: Total 48.5 (Over -145, Under +115)
The Oklahoma City Thunder ended the 2016/17 season in the 6th position in the West, but after a big battle in the opening round of the playoffs, the Houston Rockets defeated them in five games. Oklahoma recorded 47 wins, and they now appear to be a bit stronger and are the biggest favorites to win the Northwest Division. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets will be their greatest rivals for the divisional throne, but the Thunder have one ace up in their sleeves – an MVP Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook had a fantastic season and won the MVP award ahead of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, as the point guard achieved 42 triple doubles and led his team to the playoffs. Now, he will have a great help in Paul George, who came from Indiana this offseason, and the Thunder could do big things with two superstars on the roster. Oklahoma did lose Victor Oladipo and some fringe players, but they are definitely stronger than in 2016/17, and the fans expect them to reach at least the semis of the Western Conference this time around.
Read on to find out more about the Oklahoma City Thunder offseason moves and the 2017/2018 futures and props brought to you by BetDSI Sportsbook. Also, don’t forget to visit our Get More Sports website for more NBA teams season previews.
The 2017/2018 Oklahoma City Thunder Roster
Arrivals: Paul George, Raymond Felton, Patrick Patterson, Dakari Johnson, Terrance Ferguson, Daniel Hamilton.
Departures: Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Taj Gibson.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Terrance Ferguson with the 21st pick overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, and the Tulsa-born shooting guard signed a contract with them in June. The 19-year-old came directly out of high school and possess a great potential, having represented the US national team at U16, U17, and U19 levels already. Ferguson also won three gold medals with the US and will be a solid option for the future. For now, he has to settle for a backup role at shooting guard position behind Andre Roberson and Alex Abrines, but I believe he will get some playing time throughout the season. Dakari Johnson joined the Thunder following his two-year stint with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA Development League, where he impressed and was named in the Western Conference All-Star squad for the 2017 NBA D-League All-Star Game. The former Kentucky Wildcat looks ready for the big stage, and the center will take his place behind Steven Adams and Enes Kanter on the depth chart. Daniel Hamilton signed a two-way contract and will split time between the Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G-League, However, it is hard to believe Hamilton will appear in the NBA as the competition for the SG/SF place in a team is quite fierce.
Patrick Patterson left the Toronto Raptors after three and a half years and joined the Thunder as a free agent. The 28-year-old power forward averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 24.6 minutes, and although he usually played off the bench while at Toronto, Patterson is listed as a starter at OKC, ahead of Jerami Grant and Nick Collison, so he could average around 30 minutes per contest in 2017/18. I expect his numbers to improve and I won’t be surprised if he averages double figures in points in this campaign.
Raymond Felton also came to Oklahoma as a free agent, and this will be his seventh team in 12-year NBA career. Felton played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2016/17, averaging 6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, and 2.4 apg in 21.3 mpg, and the 33-year-old veteran will serve as Russell Westbrook’s backup at point guard position.
The most significant addition for the Thunder this offseason is without a doubt Paul George, who joined Oklahoma after seven years with the Indiana Pacers. He came in a trade that included Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis going the other way, and the four-time All-Star should be a huge hit in The Big Friendly. George averaged 23.7 ppg (career high), 6.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, and 1.6 spg in 35.9 mpg in 2016/17, and in tandem with Westbrook, he could achieve great things. This will be the first time that Russell has such a high profile teammate since Kevin Durant’s departure to the Warriors, and it’s no surprise why the Thunder are one of the biggest favorites to win the Northwest Division. The small forward is the clear No. 1 option at the position, way ahead of Doug McDermott, Kyle Singler, and Josh Huestis.
| PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
| Russell Westbrook | Andre Roberson | Paul George | Patrick Patterson | Steven Adams |
| Raymond Felton | Alex Abrines | Doug McDermott | Jerami Grant | Enes Kanter |
| Semaj Christon | Terrance Ferguson | Kyle Singler | Nick Collison | Dakari Johnson |
| Josh Huestis |
Victor Oladipo was included in the Paul George trade after spending only one season with the Thunder, and although the player of his qualities is needed at OKC, there wasn’t place for both Oladipo and George, due to salary cap restrictions. The 25-year-old shooting guard averaged 15.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, and 1.2 spg in 33.2 mpg and will represent a significant reinforcement for the Pacers, where he can become a new leader.
Domantas Sabonis was also a part of Paul George deal, but unlike Oladipo, he didn’t play a big part in 2016/17, in his rookie season. He averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 20.1 mpg, and the 21-year-old power forward should have an increased role with the Pacers. The Lithuanian is a talented player and still very young, so there is no doubt he will become a solid PF in the years to come. Joffrey Lauvergne quit the Thunder and joined the San Antonio Spurs instead after appearing in 50 games for Oklahoma in 2016/17. The Frenchman averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 14.8 mpg, and was only a fringe player and will not be missed at OKC.
Finally, Taj Gibson decided to test the free agency and signed a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he will serve as the starting power forward. Gibson played for the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma in 2016/17, averaging 10.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 78 matches, and was quite useful for the Thunder, but Patrick Peterson has the ability to replace him and contribute in the same way Gibson did.
The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to keep Nick Collison, Jerami Grant, and Andre Roberson for another year. Collison will play his 10th season with the Thunder, and he was also a part of the team when they were in Seattle. Although he wasn’t a factor in 2016/17, Collison is a great servant for the club, and it is important to keep this kind of player, who can always boost morale in the locker room.
Jerami Grant had a bit bigger role after joining from the Philadelphia 76ers as he averaged 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, and 1.0 bpg in 19.1 mpg. The 23-year-old is listed as the No. 2 power forward in the depth chart, behind Patterson but ahead of Collison.
Andre Roberson played the best season of his four-year career in 2016/17, averaging 6.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg, and 1.0 apg in 30.1 mpg. With Oladipo’s departure, Roberson became the starting shooting guard, ahead of Alex Abrines and rookie Terrance Ferguson.
The Thunder starting lineup with Westbrook, Roberson, George, Patterson, and Adams looks very good, while Enes Kanter will be the sixth man and quite a useful player off the bench. Although they don’t have the best team in the West, they should qualify for the playoffs and battle for the Northwest Division title with the Wolves and Nuggets.
The Bottom Line and Total Win Prediction
Russell Westbrook will have more help in the offense this time around, and I don’t expect him to be as dominant as he was in 2016/17. Paul George came to ease the burden of Russ’ back, and I believe the whole team will play better as a result. The Thunder seems stronger than the last year, and the bookies believe they can surpass the number of the victories from the previous campaign. The BetDSI Sportsbook set the number of season wins at 48.5, and I think that the Oklahoma City Thunder could go for 50-52 victories, so I consider over as an excellent option.
Season total wins: Over 48.5 wins (-145)
