How Can OKC Remain Front Runners for Kevin Durant in 2016?
By Ali Ahmed
May 1, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti introduces new Thunder head coach Billy Donovan to the media at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Stick To The Plan, With or Without KD
As crazy as it sounds, it is imperative that Sam Presti and the front office stick to their plan and not buckle to the pressures of having your franchise centerpiece enter free agency. It’s easy to lose focus mid-season when results aren’t going as planned, but the front office has to do everything it can to keep their roster cannon in the holster. That means not mortgaging the future to appease Durant.
You’d think that this would push Durant even further into the free agency pool, but showing him that there is a concrete plan in place only proves to him that the front office is committed to sustained success. KD is a basketball junkie and he’s shown complete trust in the front office through the Harden, Reggie, and Brooks sagas so there’s absolutely no need to dangle the keys in front of him.
LeBron James has been a player/GM for a better part of his career, and teams have jumped through every hoop to to keep him happy. From firing coaches to having the reigning Rookie of the Year traded, James has played with a roster handpicked by none other than himself. The success and profile that comes with having him on your team is unparalleled, but just ask Dan Gilbert what could happen when you hinge so much of your roster makeup on one player’s demands and he ends up leaving you anyway.
If the Thunder want to prove to Durant that they’re a committed franchise while ensuring their future remains in tact, there will be only one guy making the calls.
Next: Conclusion