NBA Finals 2012: Offseason Adjustments Oklahoma City Thunder Must Make

The Oklahoma City Thunder were just defeated by the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals, but it isn’t too early for them to start planning out some offseason moves.

In order to make it back to the finals next year, the Thunder are going to have to stay hungry and continue to adapt. They are a team that everyone will be gunning for, and a team that made a lot of enemies along the way through the Western Conference bracket.

Here are some possible adjustments that OKC can make this summer.

Sign Veterans

Outside of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat do not possess an extremely talented core of players. However, they have experience, and that paid dividends in the most important series of the year.

Shane Battier and Mike Miller both played important roles for the team at critical moments and made a difference in the Finals.

Derek Fisher was the closest thing that OKC had, and he was a late-season addition.

The Thunder must add a few veteran bench players for depth and know-how this summer.

Ink Scott Brooks or Get New Coach

OKC cannot afford to have their coaching situation in limbo for too long. They need to have a solid guy installed right away, whether it is the incumbent Brooks or someone else.

If the organization cannot reach a deal with Brooks, look for the Thunder to go after a big name like Phil Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy.

Marc Stein of ESPN is reporting that sources close to the team believe that those two are the targets if negotiations fall through.

Continue to Improve

Kevin Durant is 23 years old, Russell Westbrook is 23 years old, James Harden is 22 years old and Serge Ibaka is 22 years old. There is so much youth on this team that it is mind-boggling.

The fact that this core was able to make it to the NBA Finals is outstanding. Most players haven’t even begun to hit their prime at this age, and the superstars on this roster are no exception.

The ceiling has yet to be reached for the Thunder, and the only way they can get there is to get in the gym and keep improving every day.