Lessons Sam Presti can learn from counterparts in Thunder rebuild

Take advantage of timely situations:

The Warriors are in the midst of their most successful period of winning with five consecutive Finals appearance and three titles. Whether the loss of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson‘s injury will equate to the end of their magical era won’t be known immediately.

Prior to this period, the Dubs resembled the losing Timberwolves more than a consistently relevant franchise. A period of 12 lottery seasons with a single playoff entry was followed by another five-year absence from Spring play.

Although Durant departed and the team traded Andre Iguodala and waived Shaun Livington the foundation of Stephen Curry, Clay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the ever-improving Kevon Looney remain.

The lesson for Sam Presti, in this case, is how important the draft is given the above quartet all arrived via this method. And, not all were lottery picks. Looney was selected 30th and Green 35th and yet those two frontcourt players are arguably as important to the Dubs as the Splash Brothers.