For the Thunder, in-house development always has trumped blockbuster trades and mega free-agent signings. This offseason has been no different.

Over the past two months, OKC has substituted veterans Derek Fisher, Nazr Mohammed and Royal Ivey with Perry Jones III, Hasheem Thabeet and Hollis Thompson. All of the newcomers are younger, cheaper players who don’t figure to be in next year’s rotation.

That puts the pressure of next season squarely on the returning players — and the man in charge of leading them.

via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman