In my estimation a very solid week for one Sam Presti. The needs entering this off season were obvious from a Thunder standpoint. Shore up three point shooting. Improve the perimeter defense. Re-sign Andre Roberson. Add more physicality to the team. And give the team more of a veteran mix rather than Russell Westbrook playing with a team too young to aspire for late May and June playoff basketball.
I’m giving Sam Presti an A for his work this summer as he’s checked all the boxes. He first drafted wing player Terrance Ferguson. This is a learning year for Ferguson, I’m not expecting great things. Presti pulled off the Paul George trade which gives OKC an NBA top ten player who’s a tough defender. Someone who can score consistently while being be the No. 2 offensive piece for this team.
He then signed a solid stretch four vet in Patrick Patterson. What Patterson will give this team is the fifth starter at the four. A player with interior physicality who can defend, yet make threes and keep the floor spaced for the Thunder offense. Add to this, Presti acquired Patterson at a much more affordable price than what it would have taken to sign Rudy Gay. Patterson is a better fit for this team as well.
The last piece on Presti’s to do list was done yesterday as he acquired 12 year vet point guard Raymond Felton on a one year deal. He’s a tough physical player who can get to the rim and should fit with Abrines, McDermott, Grant and possibly Kanter on the second unit.
I’m not exactly sure what Presti’s options are with moving Kanter. We’ll see. OKC is currently 8 million over the luxury tax threshold at 127 million–so we’ll see where Presti is going with Enes Kanter or if he keeps him around until he can work a deal before the trade deadline. Semaj Christon’s future in OKC appears tenuous.
But all in all a good summer for Sam Presti and the Thunder. I’m not ready yet to draw up my 1-8 Western Conference projections for the regular season, but I for sure have the Thunder in the top four and possibly as high as No. 2 entering the regular season. Obviously, the Nike West Coast All-Stars are at No. 1. Then there’s a group of OKC, San Antonio, Houston, and this interesting roster Minnesota has put together. Then there’s Memphis, the Clips, Portland, Utah, Denver, and maybe New Orleans. But for sure what Presti has done is make OKC a legit contender for a spot in the Western Conference Finals if they can nab the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
Sam Presti did his job. If you’re not jacked as a Thunder then you need to be following some other team. I’d love to see this team play Cleveland–I think they’d do well. But there’s that hurdle called the Warriors. To me, the key guys who really need to elevate their games this season are Adams, Roberson, Grant, Abrines, and McDermott.
This is going to be fun. Winning is fun.