2016-17 NBA Season Predictions for Each OKC Thunder Player

After years of comfortable certainty, the Oklahoma City Thunder are heading into a season of unease.

Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka are gone, and so is any realistic chance of a title run. But basketball won't stop, and the Thunder are certainly in contention for a playoff spot, even after having to pick up the pieces following the offseason's big blow.

Whenever a superstar departs a team, the second-best player isn't the only beneficiary. It also opens up plenty of minutes to reserves who may not have had a realistic shot at cracking the rotation in the past.

Russell Westbrook will undoubtedly fill the stat sheet on a nightly basis, while guys such as Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo now have room to grow into fearsome two-way threats. Even though progressing as a team will be difficult, several key cogs could be in for career-best seasons.

Reserves

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Josh Huestis

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 5.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 blocks

Josh Huestis should have a legitimate chance to crack the rotation with the Thunder being so thin at small forward, especially if he consistently knocks down three-pointers. He's a springy, athletic forward who fits in a high-pace offense, but an inability to manufacture offense should limit him statistically.

Nick Collison

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 1.2 points, 1.8 rebounds

Nick Collison averaged a career-low 11.8 minutes per game last season, and he should continue getting the short end of the stick. At 35, he's a valuable presence in the locker room, but the Thunder are simply too stacked in the frontcourt with younger and more viable options for him to have a meaningful on-court role.

Anthony Morrow

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 8.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists

Anthony Morrow had one of the worst seasons of his career, as his three-point percentage dropped down from a 42.5 percent career average to 38.7 last season. OKC still lacks shooting, which should provide the veteran with an opportunity to re-establish himself. 

Kyle Singler

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Singler's 2015-16 campaign was awful, as his three-point percentage dropped to an abysmal 30.9 percent. He looked serviceable in preseason play, as his stroke appears to have returned. If Oklahoma City's offense stagnates, Singler could even have the opportunity to fight for a starting spot later on in the season.

Semaj Christon

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 4.2 points, 1.8 assists, 1.1 rebounds

Semaj Christon, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, beat out Ronnie Price for a roster spot. He looked solid in preseason, and he is more of a scoring-type point guard. He should get an opportunity to run the offense off the bench in Cameron Payne's absence—another scoring 1-guard—but will likely take a back seat once the backup returns from injury.

Rotation Cogs

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Joffrey Lauvergne

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Joffrey Lauvergne is a terrific insurance for any injury to Adams, and he should fill a similar backup role as he did with the Denver Nuggets. He has a soft touch and can explode for occasional, efficient 20-point nights off the bench even during short stints.

Alex Abrines

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists

Alex Abrines should have a successful rookie campaign. He has already accumulated plenty of experience overseas with FC Barcelona, and the Thunder desperately need his shooting. Defense is a question mark, however, and that should cut into his minutes. He isn't sturdy enough to guard stronger perimeter players, nor stay in front of speedy guards. 

Cameron Payne

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 8.4 points, 3.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds

Payne looked excellent as a rookie, calm and confident beyond his years, and he should continue making strides in the statistical department. Westbrook will undoubtedly claim the lion's share of minutes in the backcourt, but head coach Billy Donovan should experiment with some three-guard lineups featuring both Payne and Westbrook.

The former's foot injury is a bit of a concern, and it could slow him down once he gets back on the court. However, he has no serious competition behind him, and the Thunder should have an interest to develop him.

Andre Roberson

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Andre Roberson will most likely fill in Durant's void as the starting small forward, but he lands under rotation cogs due to the statistical importance and perceived minute allocation among his other teammates. He remains the Thunder's best perimeter defender and will draw the night's toughest assignment. Since Oklahoma City has plenty of gaps on the perimeter, Roberson's minutes should increase.

Roberson is already a great cutter and an improving passer on the move, but he has to improve his stroke. If he can become a consistent three-point shooter, he'd be a terrific three-and-D threat.

Ersan Ilyasova

Predicted Per-Game Stats: 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds

Ersan Ilyasova is still a capable starting-caliber power forward, and he especially fits considering the Thunder's shaky shooting at other positions. However, if the preseason is any indication, it appears as though Donovan is leaning toward trusting rookie Domantas Sabonis with the job.

Ilyasova can still do damage off the bench, but he'll have to claw for every minute in a stacked frontcourt. He should still be in contention for a starting spot, especially if the Thunder are slow out of the gate.

5. Domantas Sabonis

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Predicted Per-Game Stats: 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Sabonis earned the starting nod in preseason, which should boost confidence heading into his rookie campaign.

Few rookies would be held in such high regard with so much internal competition brewing, and he still must progress to be a top-tier player. However, reliability is a valued trait, and Sabonis already has that down in Donovan's eyes, per Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript:

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The biggest thing for me with him right now is just his discipline. That's the biggest part. He's gonna get better in terms of figuring out offenses, the speed, the length, the size, the quickness of the game. But in terms of defensively where he's supposed to be, remembering plays, doing his job, being in the right spots, the right positions, a competitive guy, he's reliable.

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Sabonis shouldn't blow anyone away in his first season, but he has a versatile skill set and an intriguing ceiling. His smarts on the court allow him to be a reliable defender despite a lack of athleticism. He has terrific court vision and always looks to make the right play.

The Thunder, featuring two starting guards who will run the offense, need low-maintenance guys such as Sabonis who can do their jobs without being grumpy about a lack of touches. That type of scenario will also allow the Lithuanian to be less pressured in his growth.

4. Enes Kanter

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Predicted Per-Game Stats: 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists

Despite being an unlikely candidate for the starting job, Enes Kanter should play more minutes than some of those ahead of him in the depth chart, therefore landing fourth on this list.

He is a frustrating individual. Here's a supremely talented guy who could average 20 points and 10 rebounds with relative ease given the minutes, yet keeping him on the court isn't that easy.

Kanter is a slow-footed, awful defender and seemingly has little drive to make progress on that end of the court. The Thunder surrendered 6.1 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the bench last season, per NBA.com. That significant figure accurately reflects the eye test as well.

Still, with Ibaka gone, Kanter should sneak into all kinds of lineups. If Donovan can keep him on the court for 25 to 30 minutes without the defense imploding, Kanter will put up terrific numbers.

He is extremely crafty close to the basket and allows the Thunder to shift from a fast-paced, run-and-gun offense to more reliable half-court execution. Kanter also creates an astounding amount of second-chance points, and he led the league in offensive rebound percentage among players who appeared in 40 or more games last season, per NBA.com.

3. Victor Oladipo

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Predicted Per-Game Stats: 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists

Figuring out Oladipo's stat line is tricky, but he should see an uptick across the board.

He didn't quite have a third-year breakout season with the Orlando Magic last year while trying to figure out what he is. He's played point guard or 2-guard, has been a starter and a sixth man, and his identity is still somewhat unclear.

While those question marks partially still need ironing out, his role with the Thunder will be clear. He's a wingman next to Westbrook, and his experience playing both backcourt positions should only secure more minutes.

Oladipo will benefit immensely from playing next to a speed demon—a type of running mate the 24-year-old hasn't had yet. The game should become easier by default, but there's no doubt Westbrook will take the lion's share of the ball-handling duties and shots.

Even so, Donovan stressed the importance of Oladipo being aggressive, regardless of whether he has the ball or not, according to Erik Horne of NewsOK.com:

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When he gets into that point where he's maybe thinking too much, or uncomfortable, or unsure and he gets passive, he's not nearly the same player. His No. 1 asset in my opinion is his motor, his energy, his passion, and his fire. When he's playing like that, it really elevates him, it elevates our team.

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2. Steven Adams

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Predicted Per-Game Stats: 10.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.3 assists

Whenever a team loses All-Star talent, the next-best players are asked to compensate, even when they may not be ready. Adams, undoubtedly one of the most important players on the roster, should have slightly more responsibility to fill the stat sheet this year. However, it's important to measure expectations.

Adams' identity remains that of a low-maintenance defensive specialist who doesn't get many play calls and contributes offensively mostly through hustle. It's up to the big man to alter that perception.

Adams has shown some slick finesse moves that previously haven't been there, and the 23-year-old is constantly working to expand his offensive arsenal, according to Katz:

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Walk into a Thunder practice or get to a game hours early, and you'll find Adams and [assistant coach Mark] Bryant out on the floor together, jabbing at each other either with arms or words. Adams' pregame and off-day workout routine includes all those post moves he flashed Sunday and more: other dekes on the block, mid-range work, even some corner 3s.

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Adams should make progress in all statistical categories. With Ibaka gone, he'll be required to defend closer to the basket, despite being able to guard the pick-and-roll with ease, which should boost his shot-blocking stats. He's a smart player, and seeing him making plays with with the ball would be encouraging.

1. Russell Westbrook

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Predicted Per-Game Stats: 29.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 2.3 steals

No player has averaged a season-long triple-double since Oscar Robertson did so during the 1961-62 campaign. Perhaps no one ever will again, but Westbrook should come close this year.

Before laughing it off, let's look at some facts.

He was 2.2 rebounds short of the feat last season, when he led the league with 18 triple-doubles. His 2014-15 usage rate of 38.4 was the second-highest of all time—the season Durant missed 55 games. With Ibaka and Durant gone, Westbrook will see even more of the ball and likely shatter that record.

Players who have historically come close to averaging a triple-double—Magic Johnson and especially Robertson—played in an era of more possessions and higher pace. Andrew Flowers of FiveThirtyEight put Westbrook's numbers and excellence in perspective while visualizing a level playing field:

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Adjusting for pace shows that Westbrook is in rarefied territory in averaging a triple-double per 100 possessions; and he did it last year, too. It's an exclusive group: Only eight players have ever done so for a season, and just four of them — Westbrook, LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson — have done it for multiple seasons.

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Westbrook will be the Thunder's engine now more than ever. His uptick in scoring is inevitable, and he should be able to actively crash the glass more and boost his rebounding stats. However, averaging more than 10 assists per game will be the biggest challenge, with fewer legitimate scoring threats around him.