OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti addressed the media tonight, hours after finding out that he had lost Kevin Durant to free agency. He is very much aware of what's on hand and quickly turned his attention to the other star he still has under contract, Russell Westbrook.
There's already been a lot of chatter about the Thunder negotiating a contract extension with Westbrook as early as today but the GM said he hasn't talked to him on the phone just yet, but they have been exchanging numerous text messages.
He then talked about expecting Westbrook to embrace the solo leadership role he will now have with the team:
“Russell Westbrook is a force of nature,” he said. “He is a true leader in the sense that he takes it on. He takes it on, and I think he'll take this on as well. He has helped establish the standards that we work by, as have Kevin and the other players that have come before us. But this is a different situation, and I know that Russell will adjust and adapt to that.”
With Durant off the franchises' payroll they will have around $2o million in available cap space, which they can use to acquire key players to somehow fill the void left by KD, or prepare a huge offer to Westbrook before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Needless to say, Presti and co has a lot on their plate to ensure they keep their fan-base engaged this season.
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