OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti Discusses Returning Two Key Rotational Players.
The two Thunder rotational players had different approaches to establishing extended NBA careers.
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti entered the offense with one goal in mind: to assemble a championship-caliber roster. They contributed to a 57-win squad by giving up no future draft assets and trading only one player away.
Departing from Josh Giddey will benefit both parties. Giddey will join the Chicago Bulls, where he can develop; Oklahoma City was clearly not that place, and it wasn’t a good on-court fit; and the Thunder will get Alex Caruso, who matches the team’s identity.
Signing Isaiah Hartenstein solves the Thunder’s size and rebounding issues from last season, while also signing the franchise’s most consequential free agent in its 16-year history.
Presti made an unappreciated set of actions by returning both Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, paying them and extending their contracts at a low price.
Building a contender through a rebuild follows a specific mold that has proven successful. Drafting well, maintaining consistency, and making roster-appropriate changes is a tried-and-true method for developing a contender.
Presti made minor adjustments in adding Caruso and Hartenstein to a 57-win club, moves that will not disturb the team’s present core.
He has also been an excellent drafter for many years, which has contributed to the formation of the current big three. The next step for Presti is to practice continuity, giving the core rotation time to gel and compete for a spot in the NBA Finals.
Wiggins was signed to a five-year, $47 million contract, while Joe signed a four-year, $49 million pact. Both players are valuable contributors off the bench and fully embody what it takes to be a Thunder player.
Both Wiggins and Joe were second-round picks, and Presti emphasized the importance of events like Summer League, which demonstrate how second-round picks and undrafted free agents can carve out successful NBA careers.
“I used this as an example with some people the other day, our coaches for summer league the other day about remaining open,” Presti told me. “Remaining non-judgmental, having a beginner’s mindset when we’re looking at younger players in summer league.”
Given their initial entry into the league, Wiggins and Joe had low expectations. Both athletes now have long-term employment security and lucrative contracts that provide them with life-changing income.
The four Thunder players traded this summer fit the category as guys who began their careers in ways that made the grind more difficult. This brings up the topic of the team bringing in people first and players second; each of these guys has been able to establish character given their paths and how
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