Were the NBA season to end today, it would be disappointing, but the ultimate takeaway for Oklahoma City would be that 2019-20 was incredibly successful.
Discounted from postseason contention almost immediately after they traded away both Paul George and Russell Westbrook last July, head coach Billy Donovan found a way to galvanize his group and get them to buy-in to a system where individual stats were sacrificed for the greater good of the team.
And for that, he should be mentioned when it comes to the conversation for NBA Coach of the Year.
But he’s not the only person in Oklahoma City who could be up for a league award.
Although the Thunder has never won NBA basketball Executive of the Year (Zollie Volchok and Bob Whitsitt both took home the honor when the franchise was still in Seattle), Nick Crain of Forbes believes that Sam Presti deserves to be in consideration.
Being in one of the most difficult situations last summer, having his hand forced and trading away an MVP candidate from last season in Paul George, he got an enormous return. Oklahoma City got their point guard of the future in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a lethal scorer than can be flipped for more assets in Danilo Gallinari, and a whopping five first-round picks. Later that summer, he traded franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul and even more first-round picks. Paul has now exponentially increased his trade value, established a winning culture in Oklahoma City, and can also be flipped for more assets down the road as well.
It’s not just the success that Oklahoma City had this season that has earned Presti well-deserved praise. He also made sure that the Thunder are set up with a stockpile of draft picks in the coming years.
With the most first-round draft capital over the next half-decade and a young core to build around, Sam Presti has the Oklahoma City Thunder looking like one of the brightest teams of the future in the NBA after his back was against the wall last summer.
Based on this season alone, it’s no surprise that Presti’s name was mentioned in conjunction with James Dolan and the Knicks.
Thankfully for fans in Oklahoma City, Presti is staying put and continuing what he set into motion with the two blockbuster trades last summer.