The Oklahoma City Thunder are excellent at drafting, training players and assisting in the progression of their skills and talents. Kevin Durant was drafted second by OKC in the 2007 NBA Draft, and is arguably a top-three player in the game.
Russell Westbrook was drafted fourth in 2008 NBA Draft, and is a top-five player at his position. However, it’s the careers and improved numbers that certain players have been able to put together after their departure from Oklahoma City that has surprised the masses.
James Harden, Reggie Jackson and now Jeremy Lamb all share a common similarity. Beside the fact that they are all shooting guards that previously played for the Thunder, the comparisons go beyond that.
Harden was traded from the Thunder to the Houston Rockets in the offseason leading up to the 2012-2013 year for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and a few draft picks.
Since then, James Harden has been the undoubted star of the Rockets and has taken the squad to heights as far as the Western Conference Finals.
Back in Oklahoma City, Harden was a mere sixth man, although he was rather successful in that role, winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011. He was being underused in Oklahoma City.
During his tenure, the team elected to start the defensive-minded guard Thabo Sefolosha in lieu of starting Harden; deciding to bring offensive energy off the bench. In retrospect, the line-up was rather rewarding as the Thunder battled to the promise land and reached the 2012 NBA Finals.
Be that as it may, Harden had the potential to be much more than just a sixth man playing behind an ageing Sefolosha. His trade from OKC was the best case scenario for his career, the Rockets were a team who needed a star and Harden was a player who needed to head his own team.
With the addition of Dwight Howard a season later, the Rockets now are a significantly better team that they once were because of Harden.
Next up in line to receive the good fortune of leaving the Thunder was Boston College attendee Reggie Jackson. Similar to Harden, Jackson served as an offensive punch off the bench.
Once Harden was traded away, he needed to be that strong presence behind Westbrook at the point. Jackson did thrive in that role, but desired much more from his basketball career.
Tensions would eventually brew in the OKC locker room as Jackson saw himself to be a starter in this league. Westbrook started ahead of him, and although Reggie is a superb player he was not starting ahead of the league’s most athletic point guard.
Jackson eventually requested a trade, believing that his talents weren’t being used to the fullest. Players in the Thunder locker room didn’t take kindly to his attitude and leaders such as Kevin Durant made it known verbally through statements such as “we felt like everybody wanted to be here except for one guy.”
Durant on deadline day: "We felt like everybody wanted to be here except for one guy."
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 20, 2015
Jackson inevitably got his wish and was soon traded in a three-team deal to the Detroit Pistons, who were in dire need of a point guard following the season-ending injury to Brandon Jennings.
From that point onward, Reggie Jackson proved that he actually was worth more than the role OKC gave him, identical to Harden a season prior. He finished the 2014-2015 season averaging career-best numbers in points, minutes, rebounds, and assists.
While he may not be able to maintain any friendship or even business relationships with the men on OKC’s roster, his trade was the best thing that could have happened for him and Detroit.
Jackson left a situation where he was unable to climb a ladder or progress to instead lead a up-and-coming Pistons team with hope for the future.
The most recent sixth man to leave the Thunder to experience greener pastures is Jeremy Lamb of the Charlotte Hornets. Lamb was traded to the Hornets for Luke Ridnour and a second round pick leading up to this season in an effort to clear cap space.
He never really complained about his role, but he is in a more advancing situation with Charlotte. Nicholas Batum, who starts over Lamb, isn’t a superstar so there is possibility of earning a starting spot down the road over the ageing forward.
Additionally, the Hornets seem to have immense faith in Lamb seeing as they granted him a three-year, $US21m contract extension. In 22 games, the Hornets are already utilising Lamb more than OKC did, giving him 24mpg as opposed to the 14mpg that he averaged playing for the Thunder.
Lamb may not make as much consistent noise for his team as Harden and Jackson do, but leaving Oklahoma City is definitely putting his career in an uphill direction.
Will Kevin Durant be the next to leave Oklahoma City? Granted, his reason for leaving or getting traded wouldn’t be for lack of minutes or insignificant role.
His reasons would lean towards Oklahoma City not going beyond the Western Conference Finals since the 2013-2014 season or him having to share the spotlight with guard Russell Westbrook.
Keeping in mind the examples of Harden, Jackson, and Lamb, Durant will have to decide if he will sign an extension and continue to attempt to bring the Thunder a championship or if he will leave a gain new opportunities in a new city.
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