Building a Foundation

Los Angeles exposed OKC's lack of defense and pulled away with a 107-93 win the last time out. The Lakers were the 12th team in a row to hang triple digits on the Thunder in losses dating back to early January. Only two contests remain in a brutal month that has yielded just two victories and a number of question marks along the way.

While needing a big boost, KD's crew will settle for snapping the losing streak ASAP. The momentum from after Christmas is gone and every defeat hurts the chances of Coach Brooks coming back next season. Joe Smith also doesn't factor into the future, but he still has a place on the roster. Those two together know what it takes to win in the NBA and have OKC on the right track. 

GM Sam Presti desperately needs some size and toughness inside and will have the opportunity to add those pieces in June and July. That would help offset the talented wing players already on the roster and open up more scoring opportunities. What it will most importantly do can not be found on the score sheet but is just as necessary because right now the Thunder scare no one.

Durant is quickly becoming a top tier performer, but he can not do it alone. LeBron James was able to lead the Cavs to new heights but only after Cleveland went out and brought in help. OKC has the point guard of the future, and a potential starting center. The Tyson Chandler un-deal doesn't hurt as much if Nenad Krstic takes over the spot in the middle, and Thabo Sefolosha started in the backcourt against LA with very little practice time.

Looking in my crystal ball, I see two things now and two in the next year that would help change the culture of Thunder basketball. At least one will upset most fans, but I think that it is the biggest chance of turning things around sooner rather than never. The NBA Draft is rarely ever a sure thing, and it is better to use what you already have.

That is why Jeff Green and Nick Collison need to change roles. Green has the ability to score in bunches and play multiple positions on the court. On the other hand, Collison plays one spot well and needs to remain in that capacity to be effective. Moving Green to the sixth man job also opens up a nice starting spot for a certain lottery pick who gives OKC everything it could want from a rookie.

Blake Griffin is by no means a center, but his physical play is just what the Thunder desire inside. He can keep the opposition honest and offers a true presence that is currently lacking. Brooks has the ability to try it now with Collison and Krstic together on the floor instead of swapping each other out, but neither is the offensive threat that Griffin brings daily.

Keeping Green on the bench, the second squad next year could include Sefolosha, Collison, and Kyle Weaver -- all high energy guys. The other change for now involves letting Durant do what he showed during All-Star weekend. Not so much the trick shots maybe, but his play running the point during the Rookie game left me amazed. 

I knew KD was extremely skilled, but that is another part of his arsenal that OKC has to use. Imagine a lineup with Durant and Thabo in the backcourt, Green and Collison up front and Krstic at center. No, that isn't a starting five but a look at the versatile nature of the Thunder and various options that are present. 

With the league having to lower the salary cap, most free agents are going to be lucky to make a killing anymore. There are exceptions, however, as the 2010 launch of LeBron and D-Wade will prove. This makes the fourth and final request a vital one between now and the next trade deadline.

Both June draft picks may find it hard to find a place on the roster. One may be another foreign pick or could be playing down the road in Tulsa for awhile. The chances of getting another Weaver who sticks all year is just not that realistic, and the writing is on the wall for a deal. Earl Watson is a prime candidate as is one or both of the 2010 first-round picks given the right circumstances.

OKC can wait until after the draft before exploring a trade, but the best time to do it may end up being the same time. Griffin may or may not be there when the Thunder pick, but Chris Bosh will be. His stats make it unlikely for Toronto to keep him after one more All-Star season, and the Raptors have already explored the possibility of dealing him. 

While Bosh may test the free agent waters, pairing him with Durant could be just the thing to put an identify with the franchise. The NBA gives the current team a greater chance of holding on to their players, and that means Bosh could make more by sticking in Oklahoma City. He would cost a bundle, but the Thunder would be making a wise investment.

Even if it costs multiple first-round picks, KD and Bosh together wouldn't need much more assistance in taking the Thunder to the playoffs. Russell Westbrook would have a field day picking apart defenses since more weapons are readily available to him. But the true reason for the deal wouldn't be felt for a couple of years.

Locking up a star player now leaves OKC the chance to get everything in order for when Mr. Durant gets to cash in his payday. Green is going to make plenty of money himself, but KD may have one or two scoring titles under his belt by then. If the Thunder have any hope of keeping their superstar, it all starts now. 

No one in the state wants to think about it, but the rest of the league is waiting for the opportunity of wooing Durant. No amount of money will matter if the playoffs aren't a realistic goal, just ask Elton Brand. And unlike the Clippers, OKC has the means to get it done now. The only question left is how the Thunder uses the time given before it is too late.