The Oklahoma City Thunder are beginning a new chapter in 2019-20. Here are their five biggest questions for the upcoming season.
1. By the end of this season, it will be clear that Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is .
A legitimate franchise point guard. Since that was probably already clear from his rookie season in Los Angeles, we’ll specify: The Oklahoma City Thunder‘s new franchise point guard.
After swapping Russell Westbrook, the last vestige of the Thunder team that went to the Finals, for Chris Paul, an injury-prone 34-year-old who won’t care to stick around for a rebuild, OKC already has one of the better starting point guards in the league. However, as good as CP3 is (even last year, when his numbers began to decline), it’s common knowledge that general manager Sam Presti has his eye on the future.
This Thunder team could actually be fairly competitive if it stays together, what with Paul, SGA, Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari, Dennis Schroder, Andre Roberson and Terrance Ferguson filling its ranks. However, it still probably isn’t a playoff team, which is why Paul is firmly on the trade block for anyone willing to swallow that staggering contract.
Whether the trade comes this season or next summer, Gilgeous-Alexander has the chops on both ends to prove himself as the next great floor general in Oklahoma City. Paul will somewhat obstruct his path for the now, but being able to learn from one of the NBA’s all-time greats will only help Gilgeous-Alexander down the road. Whether SGA is starting or serving as CP3’s understudy, Thunder fans should cherish every minute of his growth in 2019-20.
2. On a scale of Ron Swanson to The Hound, how surly is Chris Paul going to be this year?
The answer is Thomas Shelby — not quite as lovably surly as Ron Swanson, not nearly as hostile or outright murderous in his brooding as The Hound, but still definitely as sullen as the main character of Peaky Blinders.
Much like Tommy, the morose head of the Shelby crime family around which this Netflix series is centered, Chris Paul is haunted by his past. It’s changed both unlovable protagonists fundamentally, and business always comes first. They’re master strategists, possessing the right mix of cunning and ruthlessness to make any foe look foolish. They’ve taken their licks, sure, but their intellect can never be questioned.
Unfortunately, that deadly blend of workaholic and “do whatever it takes to win” has also left Tommy Shelby without much of a soul to speak of. He’s a cold, sulking man who derives little happiness from his surroundings outside of conquering his enemies and achieving success in his business.
Like, this is the happiest GIF of Thomas Shelby that’s available on the interwebs:
Look at this guy! His very smile itself is uncertain, like it’s only a part of his internal programming if he’s completely taken aback by how stupid whoever he’s talking to is. Thomas will occasionally do something thoughtful for his loved ones, but he’ll make the people around him feel inferior every step of the way. He operates on his own playing field, and no one is good enough to join him there.
Chris Paul is going to be just like that this season, only he’ll have a much harder time achieving the type of team success that’s eluded him throughout his career.
3. Can we get a Danilo Gallinari career-year-redux?
We — and by “we” I mean “this Italian writer in particular” — certainly hope so! It was incredibly refreshing to see Gallo throw it back to his prime as a borderline All-Star on the Denver Nuggets with the LA Clippers last year, averaging 19.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 46.3 percent shooting from the floor and 43.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.
All of those were career highs, in his age-30 season.
Dating back to his ACL tear in early 2013, Gallinari had missed 82, 23, 29, 19, and 61 games over the next five seasons. Last year, he was the healthiest he’s been in a long time, suiting up for 68 games with the Clips.
If he can stay healthy, and if there are no takers on a Chris Paul trade, Gallinari could very easily run it back on his career year with another competitive team. Even if CP3 is dealt away, he’ll probably put up even better individual numbers as the Thunder’s go-to option on offense, even if it means he’s the leading scorer on a rebuilding team. As OKC prepares to take a major step back and look ahead to the future, Gallo might end up being the biggest reason Thunder fans have to cheer this season.
4. Whose team is this? Does it matter?
Given the team’s long-term focus, no, it doesn’t really matter whose team this is in 2019-20. It’s probably going to change multiple times, and may not even be the same guy by this time next year.
For now, it’s Chris Paul’s team. After he’s traded, it’ll probably be Danilo Gallinari, since he’ll be putting up big numbers. After some contender poaches Gallo, it’ll probably shift to Steven Adams out of pity for his new situation. Once he’s dealt away or accepts his new fate within a rebuild, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will finally take the helm.
You can expect a brief, awkward period after the CP3 trade where Dennis Schroder tries to reenact Captain Phillips, but after that, it’ll finally be SGA’s team … until all those draft picks start turning into actual NBA players, of course.
5. Ten years from now, Drunk History is doing an episode on the 2019-20 Oklahoma City Thunder. Who plays Steven Adams in the reenactment?
I mean … I know it’s 10 years from now, but it’s gotta be Khal Drogo A.K.A. Aquaman A.K.A. Jason Momoa, right?
They’re basically NBA-Hollywood doppelgangers, plus, have you seen Jason Momoa? That dude will probably look the exact same 10 years from now. And yes, I’m aware he’s already 40 years old. I don’t care.
So…yeah. Jason Momoa.