Debating the pros and cons of OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti accepting 76ers job
![Sam Presti, OKC Thunder 2019 NBA Free Agency Tracker (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) Sam Presti, OKC Thunder 2019 NBA Free Agency Tracker (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/157630937610cde05e39c1fac59fbe4be9e7aa071d68e4555039aba340e2cfdd.jpg)
A Troubling Injury History
Philly’s young core simply cannot be overlooked by the fact that it’s key members all have struggled to stay healthy. The most notable example is Embiid, who missed his first two season with various foot and back injuries.
His “rookie” season two years ago was derailed with a torn meniscus limiting him to just 31 games. We’ve seen too many times over the years talented big men having career-ruining injuries. Embiid was able to play 63 games last season, missing eight because of a fluke orbital bone fracture.
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Speaking of foot injuries, Simmons missed his entire first season with a fracture of his fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. He was originally supposed to miss four months, but ended up being sidelined for a whole year after his foot did not properly heal.
He only missed one of the team’s 92 total games last year, but as a 6’10 230 pounds, this type of injury could reappear. And of course, we cannot forget about Markelle Fultz.
Was he injured last season? Did he forget how to shoot? There still isn’t a definite answer. It’s just crazy that his situation wasn’t the weirdest thing to happen to this team last season #BurnerGate.
An Incomplete Mission
The biggest reason Presti would be hesitant to leave OKC is the fact he still has a competitive team with a core locked up for the new few years. At the same time, it would look a lot better from a public perspective if he left now.
Think about it. Imagine if Paul George left and Presti said, “I’m sick of losing stars, I’m out of here”. He would be leaving the team he built from the bottom up high and dry. Now at least, he could say, I stayed when things got tough and did my best to keep the team relevant without mortgaging the future. All that being said, it would be so hard for him to leave this version of the Thunder, having not even played a game yet.