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Oklahoma City Thunder: Sam Presti’s Post Draft Comments

By Joshua Lea

Jan 16, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti watches college basketball between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti watches college basketball between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oklahoma City Thunder flipped the script on the NBA Draft. They selected Terrance Ferguson with the 21st pick. Following the draft, Thunder GM Sam Presti addressed the media.

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2017 NBA draft was about selecting the best player available. Terrance Ferguson has professional basketball experience. Ferguson declined a chance to play at the University of Arizona for a stint in Austrailia. Ferguson is a knock-down three-point shooter who can defend.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had one pick in last night’s draft. The Thunder even slowed down the great Adrian Wojnarowski from breaking the news of the picks minutes before ESPN could announce them. This is a testament to how the Thunder can operate. That or, they continued to work the phones, talking deals that eventually fell through.

Following the NBA Draft, Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti addressed the media for a full 18 minutes.

Presti began by thanking the evaluators and everyone that helps them prepare for the draft. Presti then, expressed how thrilled he is to have Ferguson on the roster. Ferguson’s speed, size, range, and professional basketball experience were the reason’s for the selection.

The questionnaire portion of the presser began with one reporter asking if there was a specific trait that Ferguson had. Presti again commented about the size and professional basketball experience. Presti noted that his playing time was helpful and the notion that he was inserted into a team at his age was also beneficial to his selection.

There were questions about his defense and his shooting ability. Presti commented that when they draft a player, they’re not drafting a player for where he is today. He continued to say that he wants to walk the journey of the NBA hand-in-hand throughout their career.

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Presti also said he doesn’t know what will happen with Ferguson. This, of course, determining on if he’ll play with the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Oklahoma City Blue to start this upcoming season. There are a few factors that will ultimately decide where and how much time he plays next season. Those factors include his work ethic, coaching staff, and his adjustment to the NBA level.

Finally, a reporter asked about Presti making moves like in the 2016 NBA Draft. Presti commented and said, ” We’re involved in everything.” He also touched on the lack of noise surrounding the Thunder during the NBA Draft. He talked about how the Thunder are making all those calls and trying to find the best deal possible.

Overall Presti said that he felt good about Ferguson. He did confirm that Ferguson will play in the summer league. Obviously, there is an expectation for Ferguson. However, they want to the upcoming summer league in order to access if he’ll play for the Thunder or Blue.

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