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NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 teams that this season will make or break

By John Buhler

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma City Thunder

West, Northwest

Who knows what the futures holds for the Oklahoma City Thunder organization beyond 2017-18? What we do know is that this Thunder team could be one of the six best teams in all of basketball. By trading for Paul George with the Indiana Pacers, and then adding Carmelo Anthony from the Knicks, the Thunder could be back in the Western Conference Finals this summer.

George joins fellow native Angeleno Russell Westbrook in the smallest NBA market in Oklahoma City for at least one year. Though George isn’t Kevin Durant, he’s a star player that might actually be a better fit playing next to Westbrook in Oklahoma City. It’ll be interesting to see how they coalesce in the Oklahoma City backcourt. Anthony will likely start at power forward and his shooting and isolation ability just gives Oklahoma City more offensive weapons.

The Thunder will be the best team in a solid Northwest Division. That division could in theory send all five teams into the Western Conference Playoffs. Of course, either the Houston Rockets or the Los Angeles Rockets are going to have to completely regret the Chris Paul trade, but that’s beside the point.

Look for the Thunder to play with more firepower last year. Westbrook doesn’t have to carry the loathsome burden of the offense. He, Anthony and George can play off each other, possibly well enough to win 60 games and be the No. 2 seed in the West.

The Thunder should still be worse than Golden State, but there is no reason this team can’t be in the conversation to play the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Should things go south, well, the Thunder might be one of the worst teams in the West if George and Westbrook leave in free agency.