Oklahoma City Now a Finals Contender

Westbrook and Durant will now experience
life after Jeff Green.

The trading deadline came and gone Thursday afternoon with a lot of teams making moves to set themselves up for a deep playoff run.

None bigger than the Oklahoma City Thunder trading for center Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins being the centerpiece of the deal, Oklahoma also acquired guard Nate Robinson in the process, while the Boston Celitcs received forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. This move now makes the Thunder a legitimate Finals contender this season.

A young, high energy team, the Thunder were thought to be at least a year or two away from competing for a championship. That seems to have all disappeared in light of this recent trade. Oklahoma City has plenty of offensive ability, but was lacking size in the front court to compete in the Western Conference, especially with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

With the acquisition of Perkins, it adds much needed size and physical defensive presence in the middle. Perkins also brings championship experience to a relatively young and unexperienced team.

With already two of the brighest young stars in the NBA, forward Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma's future looks bright. Durant, who is leading the NBA in scoring for the second straight year, is averaging 28.8 points per game in 2011. Westbrook on the other hand is having a breakout season and launching himself in the discussion of being the best point guard in the NBA. The former UCLA standout is averaging well above his career averages in points and assists, averaging 22.1 points and 8.5 assists per contest.

The Thunder are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings, posting a record of 36-20, but good enough for the top spot in the Northwest division. However, The Thunder are only 16-16 against teams with a record above .500. And even though they possess an impress home record at 20-8, they are only 16-14 away from OKC Arena, that all could change with the addition of Perkins.

Oklahoma City showed last season that they can play with the best of the NBA, forcing the eventually NBA champion Lakers to a hard-fought six-game series in their first-round matchup. With the emergence of '11 Slam Dunk contestant Serge Ibaka and James Harden playing well, Oklahoma has the pieces around to be successful playoff team.

Durant and Co. will be ready and have the "Thunderdome" as loud as ever. A thunderstorm is rolling into the postseason.