Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti’s 2013 NBA draft obsession

By Austin Sternlicht

NBA draftees Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson, and Steven Adams, Sam Presti. OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA draftees Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson, and Steven Adams, Sam Presti. OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
OKC Thunder
EDMOND, OK – JUNE 29: (L-R) NBA draftees Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson, and Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder are introduced by Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti on June 29, 2013 at the Thunder Events Center in Edmond, Oklahoma. Seated left to right are Grant Jerrett, Andrre Roberson, Steven Adams and Sam Presti. Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Actual Draft June 27th, 2013

The Thunder had three picks that night, two of which were from the infamous James Harden trade. The Thunder used those picks on Adams and Abrines, while trading their own pick, 29th overall, to acquire Andre Roberson, the 26th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a multi team deal including Phoenix and Golden State.

The Thunder bought the 40th overall pick from Portland used on Grant Jerrett. He was mostly a benchwarmer that was eventually traded to Utah as part of the deal for Enes Kanter, D.J. Augustin and (sigh…) Kyle Singler.

I’m not gonna lie, I wanted the Thunder to draft Shabazz Muhammed 12th overall. He seemed like the ideal Thunder player as a long, athletic wing that could fill the void James Harden left as a scorer off the bench.

He’s even left-handed just like Harden. Muhammed was drafted two picks later and after four-and-a-half up, but mostly down years with Minnesota, spent the final last half year at the end of Milwaukee’s bench. He is now an unrestricted free-agent.  I also would have been fine if they drafted Kelly Olynyk or even Miles Plumlee. This is why Presti is the GM and I’m not.

Home/Thunder News