If I Were Sam Presti

Assuming Russell Westbrook stays this is what I would do to build my team for the future. I wouldn’t go after another superstar per se. Blake Griffin and Paul George wouldn’t be in my template for this Thunder team at this point.

I’d do to some extent what Morey has done in Houston with Harden. I’d build the team around Russell Westbrook with a supporting cast which highlights his abilities.

First thing I’d do is trade Enes Kanter and see if I could get a functional two way shooting guard for him. Just a solid player, heady player.

Second thing I’d do is try and resign Taj Gibson and hopefully have my core stable of bigs next season be Adams, Gibson, and Sabonis.

Then, I come to terms with the Andre Roberson situation. If another team’s offer exceeds $7 million a year, then I have to let him walk even as much as I love his defense and intangibles. If that happens, then I simply insert Jerami Grant into the starting rotation. A starting five of Westbrook, Oladipo, Adams, Gibson, and Grant would be for the first time in Thunder history be a combination of five honest two way players.

The bench is next. The combo/hybrid guard I get for Kanter would be my Sixth Man. I’d join him with Sabonis, McDermott, Abrines—-and maybe a vet backup guard who can score some.

If Nick Collison wants to come back as a player/coach for say a million a year—I’d be totally good with it.

I’m not sure what I’d do with Kyle Singler in that I’m not sure what you could get if anything get in return.

For the time being, I’d keep Semaj and Huestis, but I wouldn’t put my trust in either of them being rotation players.

Houston basically plays with eight guys. They just won 55 games with only one real star player—James Harden. They made their team better by picking up Lou Williams, Eric Gordon, and Ryan Anderson. None of these three are what I’d describe as stars. Just solid contributing vet players.

So–the first two things I’d do if I were Presti would be to resign Gibson, then trade Kanter for a hybrid guard. Market forces will dictate the Roberson decision so that’s just a wait and see type thing.

Build the team around Russell, but just give him some more offensive help. I would expect marked improvement from Sabonis, Abrines, and McDermott next season—so I think that’s pretty much the way I’d go. But what Presti can get in return for Kanter needs to be a decent player who can stay on the floor against the likes of the Warriors and Rockets.

Sam Presti, get to work, buddy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *