Fansided

NBA post-free agency power rankings

By Brendon Kleen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

If we were just grading a team’s offseason from a value standpoint, the Thunder would be in contention for pole position compared with their counterparts across the NBA. But falling to No. 4 shows the flaws of this roster, as well as exhibits the gulf between No. 1 and even the rest of the top five.

Oklahoma City won the summer by re-signing Paul George for three years, finishing a job that began last June 30, when the franchise traded two promising young players for George, who was all but locked in on the Lakers. The 2018-19 season saw George catch on with Russell Westbrook better than any player has, making a team with the league’s MVP even better. To absorb George so fully on and off the court into the Thunder culture is a testament to what that organization has built. Re-signing him encapsulates all of that.

To fill out the roster, the Thunder also re-signed Jerami Grant and Raymond Felton, two valuable bench contributors from last season’s five seed. They will soon cut or trade Carmelo Anthony, and Grant could become the starter. Health will help this team regain mid-season form, when they looked to be a formidable test for the league’s upper echelon.

Andre Roberson and Patrick Patterson should enter training camp improved physically and ready to play. Young depth pieces such as Hamidou Diallo and new addition Nerlens Noel will ease the pressure on the superstars. This is a deeper roster than the one which turned four role players into two stars last July.

If Billy Donovan can continue to work with Westbrook and turn this team into a championship competitor, the successes of summer 2018 will be important.

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