OKC Thunder: 3 Players that could follow Russell Westbrook out of Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the offseason with the intent to strengthen their squad ahead of the 19-20 season. Despite coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit to the Portland Trail Blazers, the imminent downfall of the Golden State Warriors meant that the Western Conference had finally opened up.

However, Paul George dropped a bombshell on the Thunder organization by requesting a trade, and after receiving the biggest trade haul in NBA history, the franchise quickly set out to trade their lynchpin in Russell Westbrook. And, last week, Westbrook completed a swift trade to the Houston Rockets, signaling the end of the first phase of the Thunder's history.

Evidently, OKC is now in no position to contend in the stacked West, and a full-scale rebuild will be Sam Presti's priority over the next half decade. Due to this, the team is likely to lose more of their biggest talents in the coming weeks, and here are three players that are set to leave Oklahoma City.

#3 Chris Paul

Chris Paul joined the Thunder as part of the trade for Russell Westbrook

Chris Paul has only just joined the Thunder, but it is highly unlikely that he will take to the court in Oklahoma City. At 34, Paul's remaining years of good basketball are dwindling, and it is doubtful that the veteran will want to serve them out as part of a rebuilding team.

While CP3's contract is problematic (he will earn $124 million over the next three seasons), there is reported interest from the Heat, and the Thunder are believed to be willing to work with Paul to find him a new team. A trade could drag on, although OKC has no plans for the former All-Star, and even a buyout remains possible.

#2 Andre Roberson

Andre Roberson is among the NBA's best lock-down defenders

Entering the 2019 playoffs, many Thunder fans were hoping for the return of Andre Roberson. The shooting guard had been out for more than 15 months due to a ruptured left patellar tendon, however, after suffering multiple setbacks, Roberson failed to make a return.

Despite being quite limited offensively, Roberson's immense impact on the defensive end was a big miss for Billy Donovan's team, and the 27-year-old was expected to return to the starting lineup for the upcoming campaign.

However, without Westbrook and George, it makes little sense for the Thunder to reincorporate their star defender, and a trade appears imminent.

Roberson stands to earn $10 million for the 19-20 season and will serve as an important trade chip due to his expiring contract. While teams may be hesitant to swap Roberson for a first-round pick, the guard is likely to form part of a larger trade.

#1 Steven Adams

Steven Adams has been a reliable performer during his time in Oklahoma City

Steven Adams was drafted by the Thunder with the 12th overall pick back in 2013, and the Kiwi has played a major role on Billy Donovan's team. Adams has made more than 400 regular season starts, and prior to the arrival of Paul George, the then 23-year-old was on the verge of becoming an All-Star.

While Adams has yet to develop into an All-Star, he remains a consistent performer, averaging career highs in points (13.9) and rebounds (9.5) over the past season, and the center won't turn 26 until later this week.

Evidently, Adams holds a lot of value, and the Thunder already have a ready-made replacement in Nerlens Noel, who has spent much of his career as a starter on struggling teams.

Ultimately, despite his impact on the team, OKC will be keen to offload Adams' four-year, $100 million contract, and it is difficult to imagine him returning for a seventh season.