Long criticized for his reluctance to complete the necessary moves to get the Oklahoma City Thunder over the hump, Sam Presti has officially been vindicated by Alex Caruso. It's a development that can be attributed to Presti's adaptability and willingness to learn from past mistakes.
For the current rendition of the Thunder, it's also a clear sign of how dynastic this run could become if Presti really has accepted the need for flexibility.
A year ago at this time, the Thunder had concluded a 57-win season with a second-round exit. It was a disappointing outcome for the team that had paced the Western Conference, and the result was a familiar conversation with an an equally as recognizable X-factor.
Oklahoma City had reached an impasse, and the only way forward was for Presti to address the flaw that outsiders had readily identified.
In the past, Thunder fans pleaded with Presti to surround Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook with improved three-point shooting and an upgrade at center. Unfortunately, those pleas amounted to minimal changes—and short-term stints from those who were meant to address the issues.
In 2024, it was a matter of acknowledging that the time had to come to move on from Josh Giddey. This time around, Presti got it right.
Sam Presti learned from KD-Russ era, found the Thunder's missing piece
The decision to trade Giddey for Caruso straight up defied conventional wisdom. At the time, Giddey was 21 years of age and had already established himself as one of the most well-rounded young players in the NBA, posting 11 triple-doubles in three seasons and flashing elite defensive potential.
Giddey's inability to excel without the ball in his hands, however, caused cramped spacing and an introspective look at how close the Thunder were—and how the time for patience had run out.
In response to that adversity, Presti traded the player he selected at No. 6 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft for a then 30-year-year-old Caruso. It could've easily been labeled a counterintuitive move, as the Thunder swapped a 21-year-old who had flashed significant upside for a 30-year-old role player.
As Oklahoma City marches on to the NBA Finals, however, Presti has never looked like more of a basketball savant than he does at this moment.
Caruso has changed everything for the Thunder—on both ends of the floor and in the locker room. His poise under pressure is invaluable, carrying his experience as a 2020 NBA champion into big games and providing a stabilizing voice in times of trial.
Compounded by his elite on-ball defense, incessant effort away from the ball-handler, and three-point shooting, Caruso has taken the Thunder to the level some feared they wouldn't reach under Presti.
Caruso has done everything from defending Nikola Jokic to creating chaos in the passing lanes to fueling massive runs on offense. It's been a mesmerizing display of veteran instinct and championship confidence from a player with whom the Thunder have outscored opponents by 17.4 points per 100 possessions during the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Four wins away from championship glory, Oklahoma City can point directly to Presti's long-awaited gamble and Caruso's invaluable arrival as the impetus for improvement.