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Kevin Durant Did OKC Thunder a Favor by Leaving for Golden State Warriors Now

Kevin Durant is not a hero for joining the Golden State Warriors—not outside of Oakland, California, anyway. He did, however, give the Oklahoma City Thunder one thing: clarity.

Unpopular offseason decisions can often be twisted, turned and spun into something they are not. Durant's departure is an exception. There is no replacing him, immediately or eventually. There is no overcoming his absence. Russell Westbrook, on his own, is considerable consolation and Oklahoma City's ticket to fringe playoff contention.

In the rush to condemn Durant's character and competitive integrity, though, a key silver lining has fallen by the wayside: If this had to happen, it's better for the Thunder it happened now rather than later—next summer, to be exact.