Thunder: Nenad Krstic big part of OKC history

Nenad Krstic is headed back to Russia to play basketball. His one full season with the Thunder and parts of two others became largely footnotes. Think of it this way. Doesn’t it seem like Kendrick Perkins has always been the Thunder center? Does anyone remember much about the Krstic days?

Krstic went to Boston in the Perk trade and played OK. But with the looming lockout, Krstic is headed for European basketball, from where the Thunder signed him on Dec. 30, 2008.

NBA BASKETBALL: New center Nenad Krstic looks at his Oklahoma City Thunder jersey as Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti and head coach Scott Brooks look on ,Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at the Thunder practice facility in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN ORG XMIT: KOD

But before Krstic is too far removed from the NBA, he deserves an Oklahoma City salute. The arrival of Krstic was no small part of the Thunder’s rapid ascension up the NBA food chain.

Krstic is not and never has been a great player. He’s functional, that’s what he is. Big enough, 7-foot and not skinny, to at least occasionally get in the way of opposing offenses. Decent enough hands to rebound a little. And very effective as a pick-and-pop shooter. This season, Russell Westbrook averaged 8.5 assists before the Krstic trade; Westbrook averaged 7.5 assists after the trade.

But Krstic’s value cannot be found in numbers. Krstic’s value resides in the hope that he brought to a franchise in shock.