27-year old center Kendrick Perkins is going to start at center for the Thunder in 2011-12, and they hope that he’s nasty. He played in only 29 games (24 starts) for the Celtics & Thunder last year and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 6.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Perkins has now played in 471 games (352 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 22.4 minutes, 6.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.4 blocked shots per game. 34-year old Nazr Mohammed will backup Perkins at center this year. He played in 75 games (37 starts) for the Bobcats & Thunder last year and he averaged 17.1 minutes, 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Mohammed has now played in 771 games (340 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.9 minutes, 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 23-year old Cole Aldrich didn’t show much as a rookie for the Thunder last year. He played in 18 games (0 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 7.8 minutes, 1.0 point, 1.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. 22-year old B.J. Mullens continues to struggle for the Thunder. He played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 6.5 minutes, 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Mullens has now played in 26 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Thunder and he is averaging 5.3 minutes, 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He is only shooting 34% from the floor in his NBA career, and that is pathetic for a 7-footer.

The Thunder are set at power forward for the 2011-12 season. 22-year old Serge Ibaka is a player on the rise. He played in 82 games (44 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 27.0 minutes, 9.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 2.4 blocked shots per game. Ibaka has now played in 155 games (44 starts) in his first two years with the Thunder and he is averaging 22.8 minutes, 8.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.9 blocked shots. Look for Ibaka to be a true breakout player for the Thunder in 2011-12 with his rebounding and defense. 31-year old Nick Collison will backup Ibaka this year. He played in 71 games (2 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 4.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Collison has now played in 525 games (169 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

23-year old small forward Kevin Durant isn’t as good as he is going to be in the near future, and that is great news for the Thunder and bad news for the rest of the NBA. Durant played in 78 games (all starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 38.9 minutes, 27.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 314 games (all starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 38.0 minutes, 25.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The best is yet to come out of Durant, as he is going to win an NBA MVP Award in the near future.

27-year old Thabo Sefolosha and 22-year old James Harden are set to split the shooting guard spot on the Thunder once again in 2011-12. Sefolosha played in 79 games (all starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 25.9 minutes, 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has now played in 367 games (233 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 22.2 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Sefolosha starts because of his defensive prowess. James Harden is a very solid offensive player, which gives this position nice balance for the Thunder. Harden played in 82 games (5 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 26.7 minutes, 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 158 games (5 starts) in his first two years with the Thunder and he is averaging 24.9 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

The Thunder are likely going to deal some of their depth at point guard for a backup big man or some draft picks. 22-year old Russell Westbrook is a rising force for the Thunder. He played in 82 games (all starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 21.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Westbrook has now played in 246 games (229 starts) in his first three years with the Thunder and he is averaging 33.9 minutes, 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He will be a man on a mission this year after floundering in the playoffs last year. 24-year old Eric Maynor is one of the better backup point guards in the NBA. He played in 82 games (0 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 14.6 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Maynor has now played in 163 games (2 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 15.1 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. 27-year old Nate Robinson played in 59 games (11 starts) for the Celtics & Thunder last year and he averaged 17.2 minutes, 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has now played in 397 games (72 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.0 minutes, 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Robinson brings instant offense to the basketball court when he’s on it. 21-year old rookie Reggie Jackson from Boston College was the Thunder’s first round pick last June. They are likely going to want to get him some P.T., so look for the Thunder to deal Maynor or Robinson when the lockout is lifted. 29-year old Royal Ivey is the last in line at point guard. Ivey played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Thunder last year and he averaged 6.2 minutes, 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 403 games (109 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 12.7 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.