Thunder: Russell Westbrook’s future next hurdle for OKC now that Durant is gone

Russell Westbrook is no longer sharing the NBA marquee in Oklahoma City after the Thunder lost much of their identity when free agent Kevin Durant chose to join the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The Thunder’s focus now is primarily on one of the most electrifying players in the NBA who they still have on the roster — at least for now. Westbrook’s future is unclear. He is heading into the final year of his deal, and he could be traded before that.

Westbrook won the 2015 scoring title and finished fourth in MVP balloting last season, ahead of Durant, who finished fifth. Westbrook, the two-time reigning all-star MVP, has consistently improved throughout his career, and he could take his game to another level without sharing the load with Durant, a four-time scoring champion and former MVP.

Durant answered the biggest question of this off-season when he announced Monday on the Players’ Tribune he is heading to the Warriors.

His departure is huge for OKC, though the Thunder still have a talented roster featuring Westbrook. Young stars Steven Adams and Enes Kanter are rapidly improving. Oklahoma City dealt Serge Ibaka to Orlando on draft night in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and draft pick Domantas Sabonis, a move that improved their depth and shored up their inconsistent shooting guard position.

But the focus of the team right now is Westbrook and his future. Even with Westbrook’s presence and the young talent around him, it doesn’t ease the sting of losing Durant.

Durant has elevated Oklahoma’s profile so much that he was inducted into the state’s Hall of Fame late last year. And he has made a point to have a local presence. He donated $1 million in disaster relief to the Red Cross in 2013 after a tornado ravaged south Oklahoma City and Moore. He also owns a popular restaurant.

“Kevin made an indelible mark on the Thunder organization and the state of Oklahoma as a founding father of this franchise,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. “We can’t adequately articulate what he meant to the foundation of this franchise.”

Not long ago, the Thunder were up 3-1 on the Warriors in the Western Conference final, easing Thunder fans’ minds about the possibility that Durant might seek greener pastures. Even after the Warriors rallied to win the series 4-3, Durant headed into free agency talking as though he would return to Oklahoma City.

“Are we going to work on our game and come back even better, or are we going to be excited about what we did?” Durant said. “Be complacent, or are we going to want more?”

A month later, Durant is gone.