OKC Thunder front office and coaching group could look very different in 2019-2020

Several OKC Thunder front office employees are garnering extra attention which could result in big changes to the coaching staff and brain trust next season.

Every team except the three still playing have begun their offseason in earnest preparing for the 2019-2020 season. For OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti this offseason presents arguably his greatest challenge yet.

For the first time in four years, the GM won’t be embroiled in trying to negotiate or retain a key cog in the Thunder roster. Those four players were:

• Kevin Durant who the team lost to the Golden State Warriors in free agency.
• Russell Westbrook who first signed an extension then super max deal.
• Steven Adams who the team negotiated an extension with via a lucrative new contract.
• Re-signing Paul George after taking a risk on trading for him with only one year on his contract.

There are four players who Presti will need to address with Patrick Patterson already opting into his final contract year:

• Nerlens Noel – is expected to opt out of his last contract year and may have priced himself out of the Thunder range.
• Markieff Morris could present the greatest challenge for Presti. Even if the GM could reach into the empty coffers of available salary to figure out a way to re-sign Morris the indication from Morris himself is he won’t return without an increased role and additional playing time in Donovan’s system.
• Raymond Felton can be addressed virtually after Presti handles everything else since he’s indicated a desire to return and can be secured on a vet’s minimum contract.
• Likewise, Deonte Burton is on a restricted deal meaning the Thunder can match any offer and given he hasn’t played much it’s unlikely he’ll garner copious offers. Still, the youngster should be earmarked as a key cog in what should be a dramatic emphasis on internal growth this summer.

But, the area where the GM could find himself needing to scramble is his front office and coaching staff. Before getting excited this statement means a new OKC Thunder Head Coach will be put in place – don’t.  And, not just because Billy Donovan showed no interest in the Michigan job which Juwan Howard claimed. Rather, his statement of being “comfortable” in his current position lends credence to Presti not looking to replace him.

That said, several members of the OKC Thunder front office and coaching staff are being earmarked as candidates to join other teams.

Troy Weaver:

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Weaver is among the three players on the shortlist to take over as General Manager in Washington. The Wizards fired long serving GM Ernie Grunfeld was released earlier this spring. Weaver has met with the Wizards for two separate interviews.

Although Washington offered the job to Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations. Tim Connelly, he declined, electing to remain in Denver after Nuggets President Josh Kroenke convinced him to stay put.  Now Weaver sits in limbo on a short list with Danny Ferrry and interim GM Tommy Sheppard.

Bob Beyer:

As for the coaching unit, Marc Stein’s tweet suggests new Sacramento Kings Head Coach Luke Walton is pursuing the addition of Bob Beyer to his staff.  Along with nearly two decades spent in the NCAA coaching, Beyer has experience on the Magic, Raptors, Pistons, Warriors and Thunder coaching staffs.

Mark Bryant:

News out of Phoenix is new Head Coach Monty Williams is actively seeking to bring OKC Thunder Associate Coach Mark Bryant over to join his coaching team. This isn’t that surprising given the two worked together prior and Williams long standing relationship with Oklahoma CIty. Bryant has been with the Thunder for the entirety of the franchise duration coming over with the team when it moved from Seattle.

Bottom line, who you surround your players with is equally important to who comprises the team. Since the OKC Thunder will need to accelerate the growth of their assets the people leading that effort is extremely important.

To that end, Sam Presti will need to invest important time to make sure this group is in place and can effect positive change.