OKC Thunder: Roar from the Silence

The summer of Sam

Yet, through all of it, we still had Sam Presti. In this, which surely will become known by historians as the true Summer of Sam, the Prestidigitator managed to solidify the roster for the next three years.

He pulled off an underrated miracle, trading the contract formerly known as Carmelo Anthony for Dennis Schröder – at the very least a useful NBA player.

Here are the players the Thunder have locked up for at least the next three years: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Steven Adams. Dennis Schröder, Terrance Ferguson, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Abdel Nader, Hamidou Diallo.

For at least the next two years: Andre Roberson and Jerami Grant.

Take note of how many times Presti used the words continuity, sustainability, build, grow, time, plan, commitment, vision. The answer is “many.”

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Take note, also, of how often Sam Presti has to respond to questions asking about next year’s free-agency. The answer to that one is “zero.”

That’s right, in great, refreshing contrast to the past few seasons’ press conferences, Sam Presti talked almost exclusively about basketball in this conference. He covered health, pace, and shooting, and defense, and fit of new players, and coaching, and goals, and god I could go on and on because it was all about basketball, and basketball is the greatest.

And it felt, for the first time in four years, the way it used to. It felt like there was no click-bait, or hot takes, or trolling possible. Like a quiet presser, in a quiet gym, with a loud team waiting just off-screen, waiting to roar from the peaceful silence. Waiting to shock the world.

It felt, again, like the team that nobody would give a thought to until they were being run off the court by that team. It felt, again, like the town teams would come to, yawning off the plane, bored in their hotel rooms until the ball tipped and the roar of Loud City stunned them into oblivion. It felt, again, a lot like fun.

Remember when OKC Thunder basketball was fun? If you don’t, you will soon.

Thanks for reading. As always, this was written with only the most Thunderous of Intentions. Thunder Up.