With the Celtics in town on Friday night, the Thunder have been reflecting on the 2007 trade that sent Ray Allen from the Sonics to Boston.  The trade paved the way for a Celtics championship while also helping the then-Sonics build their current nucleus.

"I?m glad they did it that way,? said Kevin Durant of the organization?s rebuilding. "I like the route they took with helping me grow as a player and also Jeff. I guess it was a blessing in disguise.

"It was tough losing like that, but it turned me into the player I am. It put a lot of onus on me growing up fast and helping me become a better leader. Because if those guys would have been there, none of the responsibility would have been on me. I would have just been another rookie learning.?