The NBA’s Three Biggest What Ifs in the Last Decade. In the recent decade of the NBA, there have been so many situations that might have changed the scenarios of what could have possibly happened. These events really dismayed some fans and others were happy because of it.

Before we begin I would like to make some clarifications. This ranking will be based on the situations that took place in the recent 10 years.

So let’s get straight to our topic about the ‘Three greatest “what-ifs” in the recent decade of the NBA.

3.) What if Chris Paul’s trade to the Lakers goes through and was never vetoed?

On Dec. 8, 2011, the Los Angeles Lakers had acquired superstar point guard Chris Paul in a three-way trade with the Houston Rockets, and the New Orleans Hornets. It is an agreement that would send Paul to Los Angeles, Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and a couple of draft picks to New Orleans, and Pau Gasol to Houston. Later on, the deal was quickly vetoed by then-NBA commissioner David Stern.

This trade would allow the Lakers to have a trio of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Chris Paul if it had gone through. The Paul-Bryant tandem might even be the best backcourt duo at that time.

If that trade had happened, the roster would have lacked depth as Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, who were part of the 2009 and 2010 Lakers championships, would have dealt in the deal. Because of that, it is also made impossible for them to win a championship that year as the league was loaded with talents with the likes of the  Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and so many more.

It is likely that they wouldn’t have won the title that year however the years following after that season may have allowed the Laker’s front office to sign good role players who could have helped.

2.) What if the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals?

Do you remember this series where the Golden State Warriors came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Kevin Durant-led Oklahoma City Thunder? This series was possibly the turning point of the Warriors Dynasty.

In game 6 of the 2016 WCF, the Thunder played in front of their own fans and were expected to finish the series. The two teams were fighting head-on until the five minutes of play when the home team led by five. Unfortunately, the home team drilled only 1-of-5 and had 6 turnovers in that remaining time and the Warriors, especially Klay Thompson, took over the game and finished it with the final score of 108-101.

In this do-or-die game 7 at Oracle Arena, the inspired Warriors finished the series by completing the comeback win against the Thunder. They were defeated by the eventual champions the Cleveland Cavaliers in a similar fashion blowing a 3-1 lead.

The following offseason, Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City and joined the Golden State Warriors who gave him 2 championships and 2 Finals MVPs.

If only the Thunder had won that series maybe Durant re-signs with them and possibly be joined by Al Horford as he revealed back then that he was planning to join them if they had given him an assurance that KD would have stayed. 

Also, the Warriors possibly didn’t win another 2 championships as Kevin Durant, their leading scorer stays with the Thunder.

1.) What if the Thunder didn’t trade James Harden?

Right now, James Harden is already an NBA superstar. He was a part of the Thunder team when they faced the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals where they lost the series 4-1. In the following offseason, they traded the sixth man of the year to the Rockets in exchange for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, center Cole Aldrich,  forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick.

What if they didn’t trade him? They probably would have won at least 1 or 2 championships and maybe there be no Golden State Warriors dynasty that ruled the league for nearly five years.

Having prime Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden on one team, who all won MVP awards, may have become one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the NBA.