Don't Be Nervous, Sam Presti is Just Better than Other NBA Execs.
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Where we sit today the Oklahoma City Thunder are 21-1 and look even better than they did last season, one in which they won the title. They have all the depth any team could want. Their superstars are not selfish. They play swarming defense, they get to the free throw line and they score in bunches. They are young, have bought into the system and look destined to be some kind of dynasty. Things could happen, injuries occur all the time, but the way it looks now, the Thunder are going to be just fine. So, when I was reading some sports news the other day, I was kind of surprised to see a story that stated, in not so many words, that "rival execs are nervous" about the Thunder's possibly high pick in next year's draft, which looks to be loaded.
This is so funny to me that rival execs are nervous about the Thunder having what looks like could be a lottery pick, or two in the next draft. The execs for the ther teams didn't have to trade these picks to the Thunder. I understand that hindsight is 20/20, but the Clippers were far too willing and able to give up on the picks that convey this season. Due to some smart and shrill offseason moves a few years back, the Thunder also own what I believe to be a few of the Utah Jazz picks.
Sam Presti is smart and knows how to build a winning team. He has proven he can do it through the draft. He was part of the crew that drafted Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant. Sure there were misses on the way. Mitch McGary to name one, but he was also involved with drafting a key guy like Serge Ibaka. Then he went out and traded for Shai Gilgeous Alexander awhile back, who is the reigning MVP. He had to offload a healthy Paul George to do it, but he saw the inherent talent in SGA and wouldn't budge unless he was included. And then he teamed SGA up with Chet Homgren who the Thunder drafted. He got Lu Dort as an undrafted free agent. They traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso who has been a much better fit. They went out and signed Isaiah Hartenstein away from the Knicks. Presti was involved in all these moves and it has given him a title, with what looks like a few more on the way. So, for these execs to be "nervous" about a pick, get over it. Decisions were made and Presti is just smarter than you. If anything this just proves that he is the best in the game right now at his job, and he may be the best to ever do it. I won't say he fleeced teams, but he seems to get it right more often than not. These picks were willingly traded to the Thunder. No one's arms were twisted. The other teams involved wanted certain players and Presti wouldn't trade them unless future picks were involved. And what, since the Clippers are bad now he has to give the pick back to them? That is ridiculous. He has every right to draft whoever the Thunder think will best help their team. Future picks are gold and Presti jumped at it before it was the popular thing.
I wonder if a team like the Lakers or Nuggets owned these picks if execs would be as "nervous" as they claim to be. I think part of the issue with the other execs, who I am assuming are from major markets, is that OKC is a small market. There's not much else to do in Oklahoma City than watch or play basketball, and executives from LA to New York have to hate that the Thunder thrive on very little outside noise. I think it is brilliant and awesome that Presti controls these picks. I'd much rather watch one of these young prospects go play for OKC as opposed to the tire fires in New Orleans, Washington and Charlotte right now. I'm so sick of seeing young and promising basketball players being wasted on teams that are in a forever rebuild. Brandon Miller should be so lucky to be in OKC. I bet Alex Sarr would be ten times better if he was on the Thunder and coming off the bench. I have to assume they would rather be on a winning basketball team too, and not playing to be in the lottery season after season.
So, to all the execs that are "nervous" about the Thunder having high picks, deal with it. Your nerves have no bearing on how Sam Presti is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.