NBA: 30 Storylines Driving The 2015-16 Season

Mar 20, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) is seen on the floor prior to action against the Atlanta Hawks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder – Durant’s Impending Decision

It’s the storyline that’ll dominate the coming season, off-season, and quite frankly most popular discussions for the better part of the next 10 years. This is like Lebron’s decision (Part 1) all over again, except this time the landscape of the league is much different.

No longer is jumping ship in an effort to win perceived as a sin in the NBA. Stars have abandoned the teams that built them up, with seemingly no remorse, with shocking regularity since Lebron did so back in 2010. An enormous shock came this offseason when Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol refused to field offers from other teams, who quite possibly could have guaranteed them immediate post-season success.

The Durant rumors have swirled almost endlessly in the past several months, and we still stand roughly a year away from the day his contract is due to expire. Many people believe that how this season pans out will go a long way in helping KD determine his future plans.

The Thunder enter this season with a roster that appears almost identical to the one they carted out on to the court at the end of last season. The major difference is a now healthy Durant. Without him last season, the Thunder were unable to latch on to a playoff spot.

Another major deciding factor for the Durantula will likely be how the Thunder plan to approach the future. A major reason why Lebron abandoned the Cavaliers, oh so long ago, was because of their unwillingness to spend money to build a legitimate contender around him. The Thunder currently also have superstar athlete, Russell Westbrook, on their roster. There have been some rumors of distain between the two in the past, and many question their ability to successfully play alongside one another.

Although the choice may seem obvious to many, the Thunder will likely have to wrestle with who they’ll look to build their future around. Should they believe that Kevin Durant is in fact their man, the Thunder will have to spend much of the next 10 months trying to sell him on a future that puts him at the forefront with the rest of the franchise just there for support.

Next: Wolves: A Powerhouse in the Making