May 27, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate after a play against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key Addition(s): Anthony Morrow, Mitch McGary
Key Loss: Derrek Fisher, Thabo Sefolosha
Like many of the other contenders on this list, the Thunder are one or two players away from returning back to the NBA Finals. OKC is hoping that those players, this season, will be sharpshooting Anthony Morrow and, potentially, the high-energy Mitch McGary.
Due to the simple fact that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka return, the Thunder should be fine. And if the San Antonio Spurs weren’t on a mission to kill everything in their way to the franchise’s fifth NBA Title, then maybe, in an alternate universe, the Oklahoma City Thunder probably make the NBA Finals.
Then, the whole health thing. In the past two postseasons, the Thunder have had to play through the loss of Westbrook and a less than 100 percent Ibaka. Sooner or later, healthy will throw the Thunder a bone. If it’s this season, they have to be one of the few favorites to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy in June.