Sam Presti: Trust the Process

Examining Sam Presti’s early years as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first ever general manager. Drafting the best collection of talent in our era.

The motto left from Sam Hinkie’s departure from Philly was “trust the process”. What was the process you ask? It’s essentially tanking and building through the draft.

In Sam Hinkie’s resignation letter he passionately wrote about “the process”. Some wrote it off as long-winded, while others ignored it completely. But, Sam Hinkie is right. The process works. Sam Presti is proof.

The Philadelphia 76ers hired Sam Hinkie as general manager on May 14, 2013. Three years later, he resigned from his position. The general feeling surrounding Sam Hinkie’s tenure was one of disappointment.

The 76ers faced one historical losing season after another combined with Joel Embiid having yet to play led to growing impatience from their fan base.

Sam Hinkie was not the only general manager to “trust the process”. Sam Presti also trusted the process. In the same span of three years Presti showed one of the most brilliant displays of the process. He assembled the greatest collection of talent through the draft in the past ten years.

In Sam Hinkie’s resignation letter he passionately wrote about “the process”. Some wrote it off as long-winded, while others ignored it completely. But, Sam Hinkie is right. The process works. Sam Presti is proof.

The Seattle SuperSonics hired Sam Presti as their new General Manager on June 2007. This made him the youngest GM in the league. In about his third week on the job, on draft night, he traded Ray Allen for the draft rights of Jeff Green, who was the 5th pick in the 2007 draft, to the Boston Celtics and drafted Kevin Durant with the 2nd overall pick.

A bold move so early in his tenure. But, it doesn’t stop there. Just two weeks later in July 2007 they lost Rashard Lewis to Orlando in a sign and trade deal netting them a conditional second round pick and a 8$ million dollar trade exception.

With the moves resulting from the deal, the SuperSonics put on the floor, the upcoming season, a roster consisted of a rookie Kevin Durant, rookie Jeff Green, Nick Collision, Luke Ridnour, Earl Watson, Kurt Thomas, and Chris Wilcox as their primary players. Doesn’t sound like much of a threat does it. That’s because it wasn’t.

The SuperSonics went 20-62 in what would be their last season in Seattle. While the Boston Celtics newly formed big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen made it to their first NBA finals since 1987 and won the championship.

The Detroit Pistons eliminated the Orlando Magic, who acquired Rashard Lewis, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But don’t worry, Orlando made it to the NBA Finals the following season.

After the 2007-2008 season, Sam Presti drafted Russell Westbrook with the 4th overall pick over his fellow UCLA Bruins teammate Kevin Love, who at the time was the more heavily praised prospect.

Then with the 24th pick selected the relatively unknown Serge Ibaka who was playing in Spain. A pick he acquired from Phoenix in exchange for an 8$ million dollar trade exception in July of 2007. However, Ibaka’s NBA career would not begin until the following 2009-2010 season.

By adding rookie Russell Westbrook, to the newly branded Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti now had the core of his team, highlighted by Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. They were still very inexperienced and only won 23 games during the 2008-2009 season, three more than the previous year.

This led to Sam Presti making two big in season decisions. First, he fired P.J. Carlesimo and promoted Scott Brooks as the interim Head Coach. Then, he traded for Thabo Sefolosha, who later became a great defensive force on the perimeter for the Thunder.

Now with the season over, after a brutal second year in OKC, Sam Presti was back at the top of the lottery for the 2009 NBA draft. With the lottery balls falling their way they landed the 3rd overall pick.

Up to this point Sam Presti has yet to miss in the draft in the first round. He’s acquired Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka.

Despite early criticism of Westbrook’s ability become a true point guard, Durant’s lack of size, and the unknown of whether Ibaka could play. Sam Presti held true by using the 3rd pick in 2009 to fill the one empty space on the roster shooting guard.

He drafted James Harden with the 3rd overall pick. As a result, the decision to draft Harden solidified that Presti was moving forward with Westbrook at point guard.

Highly rated point guard prospects filled the 2009 NBA Draft including Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, and Jrue Holiday. Presti chose Harden.

The team was now set entering his 3rd season as general manager; Sam Presti had his players. Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Jeff Green. This was the nucleus. Sam Presti had an unbelievable three-year draft run. Combining them with Nick Collision and Thabo Sefolosha made them a quick contender.

In the 2009-2010 season the Thunder won 50 games. This was a massive turnaround from the last season.

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50 wins in any normal NBA season should guarantee at least a 4th seed. But, in the hyper competitive Western Conference the Thunder were only an 8th seed. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2.

The Lakers would go on to win the NBA championship that year beating the Boston Celtics in the finals.

Sam Presti inherited a dying franchise. A Seattle SuperSonics team on the verge of leaving Seattle, with very few tradeable assets, and a losing record. Three years later, he turned this franchise around in Oklahoma City.

Outside of Danny Ainge and Mitch Kupchak you can argue that he was the third best General Manager during the 2007-2010 period. When looking at his trades, draft choices, and coaching hire in Scott Brooks, there are barely any GMs who could compare.

Although, the turnaround was becoming story book like, it would be long before Sam Presti would get his proper praise. 

And even that was short-lived.

“Trust the Process” – Sam Hinkie