I think Sam Presti just made a smart trade which will help the Thunder down the road at some point.
Diallo is a good kid who won the dunk championship and was a fan favorite of the Thunder fanbase. But he was on an expiring contract and quite frankly the Thunder didn’t need him for two simple reasons. Those being…Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams.
Presti already has two intangible guys in his his top ten players on cheaper deals than it would have cost to resign Diallo. Plus, Diallo struggles shooting the ball at times and his strengths are replications of what Dort and Williams can give the Thunder every night.
I watch a lot of college basketball and I’m sure most who casually follow the Thunder don’t even realize Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk played for the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12. This will be the last time I spell that name out on my blog…hence moving forward this 6’7″ swingman will be referred to as Svi. I like his game. Thumbs up, Sam Presti. Be able to shoot a basketball isn’t a bad thing.
He can shoot the ball and indicates to me Mikey Muscala who is on his option year is probably not going to be a member of the Thunder too much longer. Plus…Presti got Detroit’s second round pick in 2027.
I wish the best for Diallo and one would think maybe he and Jerami Grant will have some fun trying to make the Detroit Pistsons a better team. Hypothetically speaking…if you picture Cade Cunningham alongside Jerami and Diallo—I think the Pistons could have a Renaissance of sorts and would sell plenty of tickets.
Just a feeling, but at this point I’m guessing Cade will either be a Houston Rocket or Detroit Piston or Timberwolf when all this is concluded this summer in the NBA draft.