This should truly be horrific tonight on Bally Sports as the Thunder and the even more putrid Orlando Magic square off with two of the worst records in the NBA.
We might see players falling down on purpose or just giving the ball away to create transition opportunities the other way.
This could truly be the crowning event of the Thunder’s two-year road of tanking to somehow mitigate the loss of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.
Why would Sam Presti even put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor tonight is my first thought?
From what I’ve seen so far there’s only one player on most everyone’s Top Five list I would pick with the top pick. That would be Jaden Ivey from Purdue.
He looks to have it all. Calling him the next Ja Morant to me isn’t an exaggeration. Plus, his mom coaches the Notre Dame women’s team. You know the BBIQ is there as well, plus the drive to get better every day. She’s tough. I’d take her over Coach D to coach the Thunder as well.
But history shows us there will be surprises outside of the Top Five picks in this draft class. Watch the video above as a reminder.
If I’m Sam Presti…Jaden Ivey is the name, I have circled in red. I’m not sure what center I’d try to land with that Clipper/Suns pick.
Chet Holmgren still concerns me. Part of me thinks Poku should be the hedge for Chet….if that makes any sense.
This is the pick Sam Presti can’t miss. This can’t be Cole Aldrich, Mitch McGary, Jeremy Lamb, Alex Abrines, Andre Roberson, Josh Huestis, or Terrance Ferguson.
This is the pick which will shape the future of the franchise in Oklahoma City moving forward.
This player needs to galvanize the Oklahoma City fanbase for the next eight seasons. Chet Holmgren may very well turn out to be a solid NBA player as he gets older. But I don’t think the Thunder need to take that risk if they can configure assets to land Jaden Ivey.
The Thunder have a nice framework in place. This is where Sam Presti needs to make a trade or two and reshape his team’s future.
Sam Presti needs to remember his own credo between now and the NBA draft…”Scared money don’t make money.”
Scared general managers don’t win championships either.
This needs to be Sam Presti’s One Shining Moment