More questions than answers from OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti -5 takeaways

Core group and roster assets:

On several occasions, Presti listed a specific group of players being the core of the club. Westbrook, George, Steven Adams, Jerami Grant, Terrance Ferguson, and Dennis Schroder were the six he referenced. If we take this at face value then those six players are untouchable.

Another way to look at this is to read between the lines. Clearly, the two superstars aren’t going anywhere unless the team elects to enter the rebuild phase. But the fact Presti kept repeating these players as being the core could be his way of planting seeds with other GMs. Recalling Presti’s presser from a few seasons ago he dropped hints then of the team investigating adding another superstar and I can’t remember if he specifically said Paul George and Jimmy Butler or if I just knew that was who he meant.

At the time I remember thinking this isn’t the last we’ll hear about this and that was said on purpose. I got the same impression today over him repeatedly citing those four players.

Another area where we might be able to read between the lines is Presti’s comments on Patrick Patterson. The GM noted Patterson could be back (Patterson holds the option on his contract so could opt in to stay or opt out and enter free agency).

Later he noted how Patterson’s time in OKC hasn’t exactly gone according to plan and he feels badly about some of the breaks Patterson has dealt with. Don’t take this for gospel – it’s simply meant as a read on Presti’s comments, but if I were a betting lady I’d say those seeds were planted by Presti because of expectations the team needs to use him this coming season in a far greater role. And, of all Presti’s comments that one makes me think Billy Donovan’s days are coming to end.  Again, that’s my perspective so don’t take it as gospel.