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You said at your season-ending press conference that the second apron wouldn’t prevent you from keeping this version of the Thunder together. But if we saw changes, it would be finances that would force a transaction, like the one we saw with Lu Dort. Is that still the case? Sam Presti: Yes, that’s accurate. We were comfortable being over the second apron with this team and how we were uniquely constructed. We have been consistent with that view for a few years now. This was a financial decision. The impression I have been given is that the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years, will be re-allocated to future teams. Along with other new well-documented revenue streams, this will allow us to make more basketball-related decisions over the next several years.
Sam Presti: I remember meeting Lu at the practice facility door the morning after he went undrafted. I showed him around and we had breakfast together. He didn’t touch his food. I just remember saying to him that this was the beginning and not the end, that on draft night things are aligned vertically 1-60, but the morning after everyone is lined up side by side horizontally at an imaginary starting line. It’s safe to say that he will finish amongst the top of that race. I love the guy, love what he’s about and we will miss him. Losing Lu will certainly have an effect on the team, but I think we are positioned well to reimagine ourselves and continue to find new avenues to win. Cason (Wallace) and Ajay (Mitchell) will have more responsibility, as will others. But, as has always been our belief, it is necessary to embrace change and not fall victim to trying to imitate ourselves or our previous play style. As we do at the beginning of each season, we need to give the team space to discover itself once again. Losing three tremendous players and professionals is not easy and our margin for error will be smaller than it has been for some time, but I’m excited to see how we come together.
Marc J. Spears: I keep hearing from several NBA executives that the Thunder are trying to move up not just the two first-round picks, but the second round pick into the top 10 to get a a player in the top 10. But who wants to give up a player in this draft in the top 10? Good luck, Sam Presti.
Joel Lorenzi: Sam Presti says “all NBA players do is complain, bitch and moan. (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) has gotten three technical fouls this year, none of them for complaining.” Also says “he’s brought the midrange back to an art form,” part of why he draws fouls successfully.
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Justin Martinez: Sam Presti says he doesn't think Thomas Sorber will be ready to go for Summer League. But he spoke highly of the way he handled this past season, where he was sidelined due to a torn ACL: "Thomas has really impressed me. We have some experience with some of our younger guys not being able to play in games in their rookie year. He dove into his rehab. His work capacity has impressed me. And, obviously, there are all of the reasons we drafted him. Great feel for the game. He can really pass. He's physical. ... He'll hit the ground running. We're really excited about him."
Justin Martinez: Sam Presti said OKC will explore all options with its three picks (No. 12, 17 and 37), from trading up to trading down to trading for future picks: "It's all about creating value. That's how we see each one of these picks. ... We'll look at all of these different options."
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Justin Martinez: Sam Presti on what he saw in Jared McCain: "I've followed Jared since he was in high school and have always thought very highly of him. Just his makeup and his approach and his game, I've always felt like he's a guy who contributes to winning. ... He had the right mindset to walk into a team like ours. ... I'm looking forward to a full summer with him, a full training camp with him, and really seeing how he accents our full team."
Rylan Styles: Sam Presti on the team options to Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, Kenrich Williams “The first thing is like I said I gotta talk to everybody. Got to get a sense of where everybody is…Is it possible that we just pick up the options for everybody and roll into next season? That’s certainly possible. I certainly wouldn’t rule that out because we haven’t gotten through those conversations…The process itself could take a little while because I want to understand what all is available to me.” Said “If we feel that it’s more beneficial to the organization to have the draft rights to those players irrespective of if they’re going to be on the team..” said it may not fit into a box
Joel Lorenzi: Sam Presti on Chet Holmgren: “Chet’s one of our guys. He’s been so impactful, he drives winning on so many different levels for us. … He didn’t have a great series. As I was saying, if you go back and look at some of the greatest players, they all have these moments where they run into defeat and struggle. He’s an underdog. We’ve seen that everywhere. He’s been questioned every time. That’s why he fits here so well. This is a guy that is intrinsically motivated. He doesn’t need things on the internet to drive his improvement.”
Andrew Schlecht: "We don't really have a specific path in mind", Sam Presti on the offseason. Said he needs to sit down with players this offseason to figure out what is best.
