7 Reasons the Oklahoma City Thunder Shouldn't Tank

Mark Cuban says OKC should lead the race to the bottom.

Mark Cuban Says Thunder Should Race to The Bottom This Season - Seeing that the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-5) are struggling early on this season without superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Mark Cuban has an idea for them. The outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner suggested Sunday that the Thunder should strongly consider tanking the rest of its 2014-15 season in pursuit of landing a franchise-changing player in the NBA Draft. Cuban cited the San Antonio Spurs’ 20-62 finish in 1996-97 enabling them to land Tim Duncan in the 1997 NBA Draft and subsequently collect five league titles. "We already specialize in a race to the bottom," Cuban told ESPN. "More participants won't change anything. They're all high-profile participants." We highly suspect Cuban is simply trying to put something in the Thunder’s ears in hopes of improving his own Mavs’ chances this se...

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Mark Cuban Says Thunder Should Race to The Bottom This Season - Seeing that the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-5) are struggling early on this season without superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Mark Cuban has an idea for them. The outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner suggested Sunday that the Thunder should strongly consider tanking the rest of its 2014-15 season in pursuit of landing a franchise-changing player in the NBA Draft. Cuban cited the San Antonio Spurs’ 20-62 finish in 1996-97 enabling them to land Tim Duncan in the 1997 NBA Draft and subsequently collect five league titles. "We already specialize in a race to the bottom," Cuban told ESPN. "More participants won't change anything. They're all high-profile participants." We highly suspect Cuban is simply trying to put something in the Thunder’s ears in hopes of improving his own Mavs’ chances this se...

Kevin Durant's 'You the Real MVP' Speech - As emotional as it gets, Kevin Durant delivered a heartfelt speech for the ages in accepting the 2013-14 NBA MVP award on May 8. A teary-eyed KD thanked the entire Oklahoma City Thunder organization, his teammates and, most importantly, his mother, who was in attendance. "You the real MVP," Durant said. (Photo: EPA/LARRY W. SMITH/LANDOV)

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The NBA MVP Will Be Back - Before the 2014-15 NBA season even began, it was announced that reigning league MVP Kevin Durant would miss up to eight weeks of action due to surgery on his right foot. Eight weeks is roughly two months of the season. That means Durant could be back as early as December or definitely early on in the New Year. Having the MVP back to lead the squad is the main reason why OKC shouldn’t tank its season. Even if the Thunder are struggling well below .500 when he returns, we all know what KD is capable of. The guy put up a ridiculous stat line of 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season.(Photo: EPA/LARRY W. SMITH /LANDOV)

Westbrook Is Scheduled Back - In addition to Kevin Durant, the Thunder are also scheduled to return point guard Russell Westbrook in four to six weeks after having surgery on his broken right hand on Halloween. KD and Russ should be returning at roughly around the same time. That’s double trouble for the rest of the NBA. Is there a better tag team in the league? Coming off an injury, Westbrook only played 46 regular-season games last year, but still managed to average 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. That’s work!(Photo: Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

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Westbrook Is Scheduled Back - In addition to Kevin Durant, the Thunder are also scheduled to return point guard Russell Westbrook in four to six weeks after having surgery on his broken right hand on Halloween. KD and Russ should be returning at roughly around the same time. That’s double trouble for the rest of the NBA. Is there a better tag team in the league? Coming off an injury, Westbrook only played 46 regular-season games last year, but still managed to average 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. That’s work!(Photo: Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The Team Is Still Built to Win Now  - Another reason why the Thunder shouldn’t tank this season? We’re talking about a team which made it to the Western Conference Finals against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs last season and still has most of its core intact. The time to win is now. Not later, Mark Cuban. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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The Team Is Still Built to Win Now  - Another reason why the Thunder shouldn’t tank this season? We’re talking about a team which made it to the Western Conference Finals against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs last season and still has most of its core intact. The time to win is now. Not later, Mark Cuban. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Reggie Jackson Is Playing for a Contract  - Usually when a player is in his contract year, he puts up big numbers. That’s been the case with Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson, especially while playing without Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant thus far. Jackson has averaged 20 points, 8.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds through seven games this season. Whether the Thunder decide to extend his contract or another team gives him a max deal, Reggie is going to be action Jackson this season. Players in their contract year equals maximum effort. Numbers on the board all day! (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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Reggie Jackson Is Playing for a Contract  - Usually when a player is in his contract year, he puts up big numbers. That’s been the case with Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson, especially while playing without Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant thus far. Jackson has averaged 20 points, 8.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds through seven games this season. Whether the Thunder decide to extend his contract or another team gives him a max deal, Reggie is going to be action Jackson this season. Players in their contract year equals maximum effort. Numbers on the board all day! (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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No Timmy in the Draft - For Mark Cuban to cite the San Antonio Spurs tanking in the 1996-97 season and getting Tim Duncan in the 1997 NBA Draft and suggesting Oklahoma City does the same, he's almost implying that there's a player of a similar caliber to Duncan. Sorry, Mark, but Duke center Jahlil Okafor — as good as he may pan out — is not Tim Duncan. Chances are that even if the Thunder were to tank this season, they won't get a franchise-changing player the caliber of Duncan. Why? Well, because Tim Duncans don't just come around every few years.(Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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No Timmy in the Draft - For Mark Cuban to cite the San Antonio Spurs tanking in the 1996-97 season and getting Tim Duncan in the 1997 NBA Draft and suggesting Oklahoma City does the same, he's almost implying that there's a player of a similar caliber to Duncan. Sorry, Mark, but Duke center Jahlil Okafor — as good as he may pan out — is not Tim Duncan. Chances are that even if the Thunder were to tank this season, they won't get a franchise-changing player the caliber of Duncan. Why? Well, because Tim Duncans don't just come around every few years.(Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

A Trip to the Finals May Keep Durant in OKC - Kevin Durant and the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals once back in 2012, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. How far would another Thunder trip to the Finals go in keeping KD in Oklahoma City come 2016? Imagine the organization pulls out all the stops this season — possibly even pulling off a trade — giving KD all the tools to not only make it to the Finals, but win it all. That actually occurring would strengthen the franchise’s chances of extending Durant’s contract when he becomes a free agent in 2016. That is a huge reason to NOT tank this season. (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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A Trip to the Finals May Keep Durant in OKC - Kevin Durant and the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals once back in 2012, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. How far would another Thunder trip to the Finals go in keeping KD in Oklahoma City come 2016? Imagine the organization pulls out all the stops this season — possibly even pulling off a trade — giving KD all the tools to not only make it to the Finals, but win it all. That actually occurring would strengthen the franchise’s chances of extending Durant’s contract when he becomes a free agent in 2016. That is a huge reason to NOT tank this season. (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Thunder Fans - In five seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have carved out a reputation for having the loudest fans and, subsequently, the best home court advantage in the NBA. The always supportive, turned-up fans at Chesapeake Energy Arena deserve the very best. They might be the best reason of all to not tank the season. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Thunder Fans - In five seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have carved out a reputation for having the loudest fans and, subsequently, the best home court advantage in the NBA. The always supportive, turned-up fans at Chesapeake Energy Arena deserve the very best. They might be the best reason of all to not tank the season. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)