Sam Presti discusses roster crunch ahead of 2022-23 season

The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to start their 2022-23 season. The organization will hold its media day in which every player and head coach Mark Daigneault will speak to the Media on September 26th ahead of the team tipping-off training camp on September 27th. The OKC Thunder will also participate in six preseason games this year, beginning on October 3rd.  Sam Presti has made it known how important those tilts are.

The Thunder are still in rebuild mode, despite only going through two draft cycles in this rebuild, the team brought in four players in each class. The OKC roster currently sents at 20 players, the maximum amount you can carry in the NBA offseason. That number has to come down to 17 players (including the two-way deals) on October 17th.

Sam Presti discusses the Oklahoma City Thunder roster crunch “we are going to cut NBA players” ahead of the 2022-23 season

On Thursday, The OKC Thunder made general manager Sam Presti available to speak with those of us in the media for his annual preseason media availability to kick off media day. The rest of the team, and head coach Mark Daigneault, will be available on Monday Morning.

Presti was asked about the Oklahoma City Thunder roster, which is currently overcrowded. The organization will have to cut three players on a standard NBA contract before the start of the 2022-23 NBA season on October 17th.

Sam Presti explained, “A few years ago, we were just looking for NBA guys, now we are going to cut NBA guys.” Presti said each player is fighting to be part of the 17-man roster that gets this rebuild over the hump.

When asked if Chet Holmgren’s injury will impact who stays and who goes, Presti said “it’s probably a small part of it.” 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a few guys on the chopping block entering camp, from Derrick Favors to Theo Maledon, Vit Krejci, and Ty Jerome. How much can this next month impact things? “it is part of the body of work.” Presti said.