OKC Thunder: 5 key takeaways from Sam Presti media call
Chris Paul:
Presti was asked about his veteran captain Chris Paul and whether his play this season was surprising. He noted how well CP3 is performing and there was no way to know he would deliver as he has.
Presti on Chris Paul: He’s played at an amazing level. I don’t think that was ever a question. I couldn’t forecast out how he’d play. He’s incredibly committed. The credit goes to him for his mindset and the work he puts in on his body.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 30, 2020
Again, what is Presti going to say? That he knew the Point God had this in the tank when he traded for him or that his rejuvenation would propel the team into the conversation for outside title candidates?
Luguentz Dort:
The media also inquired about the two-way guard standout Luguentz Dort and whether the Canadian’s ascendance surprised him.
Presti said Lu Dort has exceeded his expectations. For an undrafted free agent and two-way player "to be on your team playing minutes in your rotation is extremely rare."
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) April 30, 2020
The GM noted how rare it is for a situation of this nature to occur and praised his staff for doing a great job evaluating Dort’s talent. In truth, there are more and more examples of players who failed to be drafted becoming impactful, particularly on playoff squads.
The defending champion Raptors have done it a few times with the likes of Fred VanVleet and Terence Davis. Miami is also succeeding with their youngsters Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson. While the Spurs who Presti honed his skills with have made a living off undrafted or underrated prospects.