Pacers offer perfect template for OKC Thunder to emulate in new era restructuring

Sam Presti prepares to use copious draft picks to build the next OKC Thunder era the Pacers are the team he should look to emulate.

The trade to bring Paul George to OKC consciously or inadvertently formed the future of two and some might say three organizations. When OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti made the trade to land the unhappy star many thought he won the deal.

At the time, sending Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis felt like a steal especially if Russell Westbrook and George could form an unstoppable duo.

The question was whether George would be a one-year rental or form an unbreakable bond with Westbrook. When PG13 shocked everyone by re-signing despite the ascendence of Victor Oladipo into a star, the trade continued to look like Presti’s win.

Kevin Pritchard currently has the edge in public opinion regardless of whether PG13 elected to stay in OKC. This because he was going to lose George regardless and the two players he added grew and fit perfectly into specific roles for the Pacers. Oladipo suffered a terrible injury but is expected back this month and will present an exciting backcourt partnership. Meanwhile, Sabonis has grown into an unstoppable frontcourt force.

And yet, 29 months since the trade the final answer to who won the trade won’t be resolved until all those picks safely tucked away in Presti’s draft closet are conveyed. The OKC Thunder brain trust must decide if they’ll keep all the picks, jettison some for young burgeoning assets or a combination of both.

And, therein lies the irony, of the situation because the one franchise who arguably is the best example to emulate is the Indiana Pacers.