Views from OKC is a public diary about the OKC Thunder. Today we take a look at what Sam Presti had to say in his end-of-the-season press conference.
I refuse to allow you to read anything else until you watch/listen to everything Sam Presti had to say on Monday. (Pro tip: scroll to 13:15 to save yourself some time)
Done? Sweet.
Thoughts on what you just heard
The first thing that pops out is how Presti discussed virtually every player under contract and how they can help the team in the future. But he also discussed how he and his fellow front office folk are going to go into this offseason like every other – looking at each and every opportunity to improve the team.
With $110 million already on the books for next season the only true way to do that will be via trade. Somebody(ies) will be gone, but Presti gave absolutely zero inclination of who that may be. Ultimately that was the theme of the press conference, just like every other Sam Presti public address: little hints but no definite answers.
MUST READ: Five biggest holes for the Thunder to fill this offseason
Obviously Presti doesn’t want to give any of his associates an idea of who he wants gone, but to go in-depth on how the likes of Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Victor Oladipo will be used in the future was surprising. It could have been for one of two reasons.
- Presti is locked in to keeping their four highest players (including Russell Westbrook) for next season.
- Presti wants to trade at least one of those guys; hyping them up in this type of setting is a move he can point back to in trade talks when discussing the upside of these guys.
It’s also possible I’m looking to deep into it. But after nearly ten years of following Sam Presti’s tenure as GM one thing has held true: everything he says and does is for a deliberate reason.
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If Presti was asked about the newer acquisitions he would make sure to name all of them, even going back at one point just to say he forgot Doug McDermott. Kevin Durant’s name was only uttered once even though the consistency of the organization was a hallmark of his address. It’s little things like these that make you feel blessed to have Sam Presti as a GM and not Phil Jackson.
As the OKC Thunder move forward and work to return to legitimate championship contenders Presti knows it won’t be easy. But he also made an important sentiment that fans must remember: it took time for the Thunder to become championship contenders eight years ago and it’s going to take time now.
Pragmatic Presti was at his peak on Monday. He breathed hope into Thunder fans with his constant reiteration of the youth of the team. He assured that this team would be better next season.
But most importantly Sam Presti’s hour long address reiterated that Oklahoma City is blessed with one of the brightest minds in the NBA.
#inPrestiwetrust