NBA Trade Aftermath: Jeff Green/Kendrick Perkins Trade Lesson for Thunder Fans

From Beantown to Bricktown.

Right up to the trade deadline, Oklahoma City fans thought this season was another year where Thunder GM Sam Presti was going to play it safe and not make any major moves.

I watched ESPN and NBA TV all yesterday morning on top of reading every trade rumor article all the way up to about 1:00 CST. 

I gave up thinking the Thunder would do anything and decided to to take a nap.

I woke up around 2:15 CST and looked at my phone being blown up with "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?" type text messages.  I knew something was going on and immediately turned on the TV to see we sent out Jeff Green for Kendrick Perkins.

I can honestly say I just stared at the screen with my jaw dropped and not saying a word for a good 10 minutes.  We just lost Uncle Jeff.

The fans of Oklahoma City have grown extremely attached to this team.  Maybe too attached.

The Thunder fans haven't had to lose any players that were a real fan favorite.  Sure you can count Desmond Mason or maybe even Kyle Weaver, but none of the core players.

Jeff Green's departure is a major lesson for the fans of Oklahoma City.  This is a business, this is not high school or college ball.

This lesson isn't just for the fans but for the players as well.  Kevin Durant, Green, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynor are all like friends who you would think grew up together.

It's the first major player that the organization has lost since the team has been in Oklahoma City. 

Teams like Boston, Los Angeles and Miami are used to having stars come and go.  The fans know to not get attached to their players because the front offices can send them away at anytime.  Cleveland fans are still getting used to this with LeBron.

Although, the fans and the Thunder organization both grew up a little bit more with this trade. 

After all, it is a business, and the Thunder just became an even better one.