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Usually, when philosophers or artists pass away, their works become much more important and popular nationwide. While Russell Westbrook is neither an artist nor a philosopher, his absence during the 2013 NBA Playoffs — not death– will make the Oklahoma City Thunder faithful appreciate him much more.

Despite having surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee on April 27th, the high-flying point guard no longer is relegated to his crutches. This is a turning point in his recovery considering the Thunder organization said they wouldn’t have a timetable for him to get back on the court until No. 0 was able to move around without the help of crutches.

It’s rather astounding, but the ex-UCLA Bruins standout had not missed a single high school, collegiate or NBA game prior to Game 2 of the first-round series versus the Houston Rockets.

Idiotic fans across the globe have screamed for Oklahoma City to deal Westbrook, but the future of the franchise rests in the hands of the team’s point guard. Anyone who thought that the Thunder could win via the “Kevin Durant Show,” was proved wrong once the team was uprooted by the one-dimensional Memphis Grizzlies.

For the first time in his career, Westbrook will be able to enjoy an offseason free of pointless trade rumors and other useless jargon. It will be interesting to see how he reacts now that the Westbrook haters have been shushed. While the Thunder do have the pieces to win an NBA title in the near future, they definitely need Westbrook on the court in order to raise a banner this decade.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping that shooting guard Kevin Martin will take a pay cut to re-sign with the team in the offseason. However, if he decides to take a larger sum of money to play for a different organization, the Thunder must be prepared to sign another shooting guard to take his spot. One player in particular that would be a good fit is J.J. Redick.

The 28-year-old may not be able to put up points as Martin is capable of doing, but he certainly could handle the sixth man role. Redick is an above-average shooter who specializes from beyond the arc. He is able to put up a decent amount of points per game, at least enough in the second rotation to give the team a chance to win.

There is no question several teams will be after him in free agency, including the Milwaukee Bucks who will be looking to re-sign him. Even though he could command a decent contract from a team like the Bucks, the fact that he could legitimately win a championship ring with the Thunder could be enough for him to sign with them.

Redick will not have the pressure of scoring a large amount of points because Oklahoma City already has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to do that. What he will need to do is consistently knock down 3-point shots. Redick shot 36.6 from beyond the arc in 78 games with the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee last season. More importantly, he has converted 39.0 percent of his 6.0 3-point field goal attempts per game in 424 career contests.

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With one of the bigger frames we have seen on a point guard in recent years, Michael Carter-Williams has attracted quite a bit of interest from some of the lottery teams recently. The 6’6’’ product out of Syracuse is projected to be selected anywhere from 10^th to 15^th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, and many teams are interested.

The question is, will that interest turn to action? For a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, I hope not.

The Thunder are set at point guard with Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson, so bringing in another into the mix would be unnecessary. Oklahoma City’s greatest need at the moment is another body down low.

As I have said previously, the Thunder have to do something with Kendrick Perkins. His performance with the team has been poor and completely inconsistent. The only consistency shown from him, actually, is his inconsistently bad play.

Carter-Williams presents a huge matchup problem, I get it. He has a high ceiling and could turn out to be a very good point guard in the NBA. It is always a struggle for a team with a need in one area, and the best player available is at a position that is pretty well locked down.

If the Thunder wanted to explore their options with Carter-Williams, they could certainly speak with other teams on draft day and attempt a trade immediately after selecting him. That may be unnecessary of course if the Thunder find a big man they like at number twelve, but exploring all possibilities on draft day will be crucial.

If I were making the decision on draft day, I would absolutely look at Carter-Williams and the options presented with him especially with other teams. But, in the end I definitely think I would go after a power forward or center to make their way into the rotation. After all, I’m fairly certain most Thunder fans don’t want to see much more of Perkins.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA writer for RantSports.com also contributing to the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman  or add him to your network on Google.

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With the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select… Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of Georgia?

It could happen. The Thunder have a decision to make on whether to bring back Kevin Martin this offseason or let him walk, and behind him the only worthy shooting guard is Thabo Sefolosha. If Martin does not come back, they will be in need of a two guard.

The other question this offseason for the Thunder is whether or not the team will get rid of center Kendrick Perkins. Many have called for the amnesty to be used on him, but it is unclear what the team’s plans are for him at the moment.

If they decide to keep Perkins – despite what fans may prefer – then there is a good chance they go for a wing. At number twelve, Caldwell-Pope wouldn’t be a bad option.

With the Bulldogs last season, Caldwell-Pope averaged 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals. At 6’6” he is possesses great size for the position which enables him to be a much better rebounder than others at the shooting guard spot.

The Thunder would welcome his scoring alongside guys like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Not only that, he might even prove to be a better rebounder than Perkins’ measly self was last season – sounds like an exaggeration, but there is some truth there.

The draft will surely tell quite a bit about the future plans of the team depending on what position they decide to draft at number 12. Both Martin and Perkins will most likely be influenced by the selection. While Caldwell-Pope may be a bit of a long shot for the Thunder, I wouldn’t count him out.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA writer for RantSports.com also contributing to the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman  or add him to your network on Google.

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Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Kevin Martin will have plenty of teams interested in him this summer during the 2013 NBA free agency. With that being said, should the 30-year-old take a pay cut to re-sign with the Thunder in the offseason?

Martin was brought in to replace 2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year James Harden after he was dealt to the Houston Rockets in a trade. It was certainly a different role for Martin, who is used to being a starter and the team’s main scoring threat. Even though his shooting percentages were off the charts, his average of 14.0 points per game was a little less than the Thunder expected. Not to mention, he was not very productive in other parts of his game as well.

“I knew exactly what my role was going to be,” Martin said, according to Newsok.com. “I knew I was going to go from being the first option to being the third option. I was going to have to embrace it, and that’s what I did. I came in here and just trying to be a positive influence with what they had already started to create around here and just help the team in any form I can.”

Oklahoma City will still need a player of Martin’s talent to come off the bench in order to give the team an extra boost. However, there is no way the Thunder are going to give him more than $10 million per season, which is what his contract over the past five years paid him. That means if Martin wants to stay with a contender and have a legitimate shot at winning a NBA Championship, taking less money to stay in Oklahoma City is the only way.

The fact that Martin is a pure shooter who can knock down shots from anywhere on the court is a huge reason why many teams are going to be interested in him in free agency. Last season, he converted 45.0 percent of his shots from the field and a career-high 42.6 percent from beyond the arc. He is not someone who needs to take a lot of shots to be effective, which is good considering the Thunder have Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to do that.

There is no question other contenders will be interested, but Oklahoma City already has the pieces in place. Martin could be the difference maker next season if the team can stay healthy.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder is only a couple pieces away from getting back to the NBA Finals. One of those pieces is a big man that can consistently score. Free agency is one option to acquire a center, but the Thunder would prefer to draft a player that could have an immediate impact. That is why Oklahoma City must consider selecting Kelly Olynyk with the 12^th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Olynyk stepped his game up in a big way this past season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The 22-year-old averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 26.4 minutes per game. He also converted 62.9 percent of his 10.7 shot attempts per game and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc. Needless to stay, it was a career year for Olynyk, one that will make him a top 15 selection.

There is a good chance that Olynyk will be off the board by the time the Thunder pick. However, if he is still available then the organization must truly consider drafting him. To have someone of his talent and versatility at the center position does not come along often, which is why Oklahoma City must jump at the chance to improve the team tenfold.

“He is one guy that is not afraid to make a play,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few told the Toronto Star in January. “He is multitalented in regards that he can drive it comfortably, he can pass it and he can shoot it.”

The 7’0”, 234-pound center dominates in the post and plays with a lot of energy. He is not the most athletic big man, but he has plenty of size and intelligence to contribute immediately at the next level. He can consistently score around the basket while he is also capable of knocking down mid-range jump shots, which is something that will make him very difficult to defend in the NBA.

Kendrick Perkins posted arguably the worst season of his career. The Thunder simply cannot afford to allow their starting center to have another dismal year when the team has so much potential to be champions. At this point, Oklahoma City cannot take any more chances and must make a change if the right opportunity presents itself.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder did not compete nearly as long in the 2013 NBA Playoffs as they would have liked to, and much of the disappointment came by way of point guard Russell Westbrook enduring a season-ending injury. While Westbrook takes this offseason to rest up and heal, his teammate and fellow All-Star is using this offseason to make some serious changes.

After leaving his former agency Landmark Sports, Thunder superstar Kevin Durant quickly announced his decision to sign with Jay-Z and Roc Nation Sports today. Roc Nation is beginning to establish themselves as an up-and-coming force in the industry and a signing like Durant only proves that point even further.

With sponsors like Sprint, Nike and Gatorade – among others – Durant makes around $11 million in endorsements annually according to Forbes and you’d like to think that Jay-Z will only continue to multiply his earnings with the types of connections he has in the entertainment industry.

Jay-Z and Roc Nation already have a couple of stars on board like Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock and are also rumored to have interest in Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Anyone who was laughing when they heard Jay-Z was headed into the sports agency industry is surely changing their mind after a day like today. Roc Nation has gotten their hands on one of the top basketball players in the world for the past few years and could wind up managing a future NBA champion.

For a championship to come Durant’s way, though, the Thunder are going to have to find that one or two more crucial pieces to their team especially after trading away a guy like James Harden. This offseason will feature a few decisions and potential moves, but overall once Westbrook is back, expect Oklahoma City to contend next season just as they have in the past couple of years.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA writer for RantSports.com also contributing to the NFL. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

Vincent Pugliese-USA TODAY Sports

With the upcoming NBA Draft less than a month away, it’s time for teams to start seriously evaluating their options. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, many are clamoring for the team to draft a big man and let go of Kendrick Perkins via the amnesty clause.

One of the potential candidates to be taken by the Thunder at the 12th overall pick is Pittsburgh center Steven Adams.

While the Thunder have a multitude of offensive weapons, they need another guy down low that can protect the rim and play defense. Adams certainly offers this.

Adams was not a big offensive threat, only averaging just over seven points per game last year with the Panthers. But, what he gives his future franchise is the ability to block shots and rebound with the best of them.

Per 40 minutes, Adams averaged 5.2 offensive rebounds last year – ranking 3rd in the top-100 prospects in the draft. In just 23 minutes per game, Adams also blocked two shots. Per 40 minutes that’s almost four blocks a night.

Perkins has been one of the most disappointing players for Oklahoma City in the past twelve months, and many of their fans would love to see him amnestied. Adams would absolutely be able to come in and at least play a bit above the level of Perkins right off the bat.

If Adams is there at number 12, which most suspect he will be, the Thunder may need to take a long, hard look at the seven-footer. Giving Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook opportunities for second chance points is too tempting to pass up.

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When you think of some of the youngest teams in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder might come to mind.

The Thunder rank fifth among youngest teams in the league with an average age of 24.8. Some other teams that might come to mind are the Houston Rockets (23.7), the New Orleans Hornets (24) or the Cleveland Cavaliers (24.5).

But when the San Antonio Spurs are brought up in conversation, you might think old, veteran and wise. This may be true to an extent. The current core of the Spurs is in their big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. All three of these players are over the age of 30 — which does not seem old to me, but is considered to be so in professional sports.

Even though a majority of the Spurs players are old, there is still a lot the Thunder can learn from them when it comes to developing young players.

The Thunder organization has changed the game of basketball by getting young players and developing them into superstars, all while staying within the boundaries of a small market team.

Just think about it. There have been a few star players that has come out of the Thunder organization in the past several years: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and even Jeff Green if you want to count him as a star.

With that said, the Spurs might be doing an even better job at developing young players.

Royce Young on DailyThunder.com spoke on how the Spurs are out-doing the Thunder when it comes to developing young players.

One stereotype that’s somewhat incorrect: they (the Spurs) are old. Tim Duncan’s old. Manu Ginobili’s old. Tony Parker’s old-ish. But the dirty little secret about the Spurs is that they have some serious youth in their ranks too. Kawhi Leonard is 21. Danny Green is 25. Gary Neal is 28. Tiago Splitter is 28. Cory Joseph is 21. Nando De Colo is 25.

And here’s the funny thing about all those guys: Gregg Popovich has absolutely no problem playing any of them. And thereby, the Spurs develop those young players on the fly, which in turn is why I think a lot of people think of the team as old. Because you’re used to seeing Green and Leonard and Splitter and Neal. They seem just as veteran as anyone else on the roster.

But it really struck me that there’s a disconnect between the Thunder and Spurs when it comes to young players. At least there was this season. It’s not that the Thunder aren’t trying to develop their youth, it’s just that they’re going about it somewhat of a different way.

The “different way” Royce is speaking of is the fact that Thunder coach Scott Brooks did not always put youth on the floor.

For example, when Derek Fisher was signed by the Thunder after the All-Star break, the minutes of young players like Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Liggins immediately went down. For a team that preaches the development of young players and sustainable success, it surely was an odd move to give Fisher way more minutes that the younger players.

And that is exactly the difference between the Spurs and the Thunder, at least for the moment. If anything, the Thunder can learn from the Spurs and attempt to emulate the success they have had throughout their existence.

Jared Porter is an Oklahoma City Thunder writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JaredRyanPorter, or add him on Facebook.

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A guy that has been getting a lot of attention, yet could still slip a ways in the upcoming NBA Draft, is Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. With a few big men, specifically centers, looking to go either midway or towards the end of the first round Hardaway Jr. has the possibility of falling a bit.

The former Wolverine has been critiqued for his speed and lack of a quick first step, as well as appearing to be a bit prone to injury as he has been proven to be knocked off his feet easily. However, the fact that he has big game experience and the ability to knock down open shots will propel him to success in the NBA.

With the 29th pick in the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder could pick up yet another solid prospect after drafting at number 12 overall as well. This is where Hardaway Jr. would make an enormous amount of sense for Kevin Durant and company.

With James Harden gone, Kevin Martin was supposed to fill in his shoes and did to an extent. The slack was picked up at times,  however, he wasn’t as consistent of course as a guy like Harden – which was to be expected.

Hardaway Jr. may not start right away on the Thunder, but could definitely have a shot to work his way into the lineup, if not at least get significant minutes during the season. He is a good sized two guard that can step up into jump shots and hit them fairly comfortably.

There’s also something to be said about a name. Coming into the league with a name like Hardaway will certainly turn some heads and allow him to draw attention. It’s not by any means just the name though, the kid can play and will contribute to a franchise whether or not it’s the Thunder.

With that said, it seems unlikely for Hardaway Jr. to drop all the way to pick number 29, but certainly isn’t out of the question. If he is there, make no mistake about it, the Thunder must take his name off the board.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior NBA writer for RantSports.com also contributing to the NFL. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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