Sam Presti Articles - Page 3

At the end of last season, fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder were still optimistic about their team’s future, even after back-t0-back exits in the first round of the playoffs with Russell Westbrook and Paul George leading the way. Back then it felt like they only needed a couple more pieces to legitimately contend for […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder front office has revealed that they received death threats after trading Paul George to the LA Clippers. In a report by Perris Jones of ABC-affiliate KOCO News, a man left two voicemails threatening the Thunder’s front office, coaches, and general manager Sam Presti. A transcript of the voice mail read in […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets pulled off what initially seemed like an impossible trade to once again jumpstart what has been an incredibly action-packed offseason. With All-NBA point guard Russell Westbrook heading from Oklahoma City to Houston, the Thunder most notably received fellow All-Star point guard Chris Paul in return. However, the plot […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder made the Russell Westbrook trade official on Tuesday, with fans saying goodbye to the 30-year-old who spent his entire 11-year NBA career thus far with the Thunder. OKC general manager Sam Presti had some words of praise for the departing Westbrook too. Presti has been with the organization since its relocation […]

In a rather unexpected turn of events, the Oklahoma City Thunder have blown it up this offseason, trading away Paul George and beloved star Russell Westbrook for a massive haul of draft picks (and Chris Paul). It’s not like the Thunder could have improved if they didn’t decide to trade their two stars, so this […]

When Paul George signed a four-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer, he seemed to be making a commitment to the franchise that he was there to stay. George had an opportunity to return home to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, but instead elected to return to Oklahoma City. So Thunder general […]

Despite leaving a colossal demolition of the franchise in the wake of his trade, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti urged fans to remember Paul George fondly for his two years with the team. George left a sour taste in the mouths of fans when he requested a trade to the LA Clippers behind […]

The Los Angeles Clippers shocked the NBA community by trading for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George and signing NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, immediately elevating their status in the Western Conference with just one bold stroke. But after the Clippers began the regular season as the presumptive favorites to land Leonard in the summer, […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti gave an update on rehabbing swingman Andre Roberson on Friday, saying he has seen “impressive” clips of the 27-year-old as he continues his training in Texas, according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman. This is a good sign given Roberson hasn’t played since January 2018 due to a […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti admitted the organization will have to make some cost-pertinent decisions in the wake of the NBA Draft: “Last season in order to keep Paul George and Jerami Grant in Oklahoma City, we were going to have to be aggressive in that situation,” said Presti, according to Erik Horne […]

It was an up-and-down 2018-19 season for the Oklahoma City Thunder who were the best team in the NBA at times and the most disappointing at others. Unfortunately for Thunder fans, it was the latter that won out in the end. A season full of promise was over just as the playoffs had just started. […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti thought Alex Abrines would be the next breakout star for the team. Injuries and personal problems forced the organization to waive the Spaniard, leaving a lack of wing depth in the roster. Per Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, Presti blamed himself for not making the ample moves to […]

There isn’t a star player in the NBA who is currently under more scrutiny than Russell Westbrook. Not LeBron James. Not Kevin Durant. Not Kyrie Irving. Nobody. Following a third straight first-round playoff exit, many are now questioning just how good Westbrook really is and whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can actually win […]

For the third straight year, the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs. In 2017, it was excused, as the clearly overmatched Thunder lost in the first round to the Houston Rockets. But these last two years? It has been a bad look for Oklahoma City. First, the Thunder fell […]

Despite the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder were sent home in the first round of the plays, it sounds like Billy Donovan will be returning as head coach of the team next season. In an interview with the media on Monday morning, Thunder general manager Sam Presti noted that he is anticipating Donovan’s return […]

The mere concept of trading Russell Westbrook might be too fraught for the Oklahoma City Thunder to fathom. No player in the league, with the ever notable exception of Damian Lillard, is more synonymous with his team than the Thunder’s superstar point guard. He was a reckless rookie for the Thunder’s 3-29 start during their […]

There was a time when the Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the most feared teams in the league and were seen as a perennial title contender. Those days are long gone, as they flew out the door with Kevin Durant during the summer of 2016. To be fair, no one expected the Thunder to […]

The recent public resignation of Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson has forced controlling-owner Jeanie Buss to be on the lookout for her next executive. The process of doing so will start with feeling out the temperature of the likes of R.C. Buford (San Antonio Spurs), Bob Myers (Golden State Warriors), Sam Presti (Oklahoma City Thunder), […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has reason to believe that guard Dennis Schroder’s pending legal situation won’t be a distraction for long, according to Royce Young of ESPN. Sam Presti said he can’t speak too much to Dennis Schröder’s legal situation but said, “I wouldn’t expect it to be a distraction in any […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said the team won’t try to rush star point guard Russell Westbrook to be ready for the start of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Royce Young. Presti maintained that the organization has never pushed a player to return from injury and it won’t start with Westbrook, its […]

The Philadelphia Sixers announced the signing of their new general manager, former player Elton Brand, who is only two years removed from announcing his (second) retirement from the NBA. While Brand was a popular choice, and one president and head coach Brett Brown hinted at recently during his annual media luncheon, he fell well-short of the […]

Nerlens Noel, the newest member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, had nothing but praise for its general manager Sam Presti. Per Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Noel has great trust in the organization, noting that Presti is ‘beyond special’: Nerlens Noel had some great things to say about fellow Mass. native, #Thunder GM Sam […]

The past few days have been hectic for Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Carmelo Anthony’s contract is a tough load to carry. He is trying to resolve the situation as we speak, with firm hopes of finally ending Anthony’s short-lived era with the Thunder. As per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press: Sources: […]

The NBA’s offseason is barely a week old, but the Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be intent on keeping their 2017-18 roster intact for the most part despite not getting past the first round of the playoffs. They currently have the most expensive roster in the league but it is difficult to justify their $300 […]

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry took to social media to take a light jab at Oklahoma Thunder general manager Sam Presti. How do we know this? Well, because it literally happened and because it was pointed out to our basketball loving planet by Bleacher Report on the mean streets of Twitter. Steph asking the […]

Erik Horne of The Oklahoman recently conducted an interview with Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti. As most hoops fans know, the Thunder were eliminated from this season’s playoffs in the first round — defeated by the Utah Jazz in six games. Now, with the offseason on the horizon, the discussion has inevitably turned […]

Russell Westbrook is one of the best players in the league, but even the best players have places they can improve. The Oklahoma City Thunder have had problems taking that next step since Kevin Durant left, but if everyone on the team improves just a little bit this team has the key pieces in place […]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Carmelo Anthony had one of the most difficult seasons of his career. After leaving the New York Knicks, where he was the main go-to guy for several years, he joined the Thunder, a team that already had Russell Westbrook and also had brought in Paul George from the Indiana Pacers. Anthony […]

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti gave some eye-opening insight into the outlook of this past season. Known to be one of the most forthcoming front office executives, Presti acknowledged he was excited about the possibility of keeping Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams throughout the prime of their careers, according to Erik […]

The job of a general manager in the NBA is a thankless job, one that is always criticized yet offers very little praise when you get the job done right. And when you fail, you are ridiculed and maligned beyond measure! Well, sorry GMs, but that’s exactly what we plan to do as we recall […]

Sam Presti and Oklahoma City Thunder had one of the most active summers in franchise history. Bringing in a prime and a post-prime superstar was a clear indicator that the 2017-18 season will be an all-in season for the organization, and that Russell Westbrook will get his best chance at winning a ring in the post-Kevin […]

It’s mind-boggling how many opportunities the Oklahoma City Thunder missed out on throughout the last eight years. From trading Eric Bledsoe, James Harden, Reggie Jackson and losing Kevin Durant to unexpected postseason struggles. It seems like the organization nails it on Draft Night but then can’t build a lasting roster. So in a situation like […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder sorely missed the reliability of Kevin Durant alongside Russell Westbrook last season. One of the greatest scorers of his generation, Durant was almost a lock for close to 30 points in every game he played. While not quite on Durant’s level, Sam Presti and the Thunder did get a lot of […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder had quite an astounding summer. Despite limited assets at his disposal, general manager Sam Presti was able to acquire not one but two stars in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in blockbuster trades to play with Russell Westbrook. Westbrook, the NBA’s reigning MVP, is rightly appreciative of the job his GM […]

During the offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the many teams to make big splash moves to their roster with the addition of a pair of All-Stars in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony that saw them be thrust into the NBA title picture. These were major trades that were a direct correlation to […]

Heading into his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, there has remained many questions around All-Star forward Paul George’s long-term future with the team. However, since his arrival has continued to praise the organization for their efforts in building a team that could potentially compete for an NBA title. George once again spoke highly […]

The San Antonio Spurs back in the 2001 NBA Draft decided to select a young French guard in Tony Parker with the 28th overall selection. According to Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports, current Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti played a significant part in helping the Spurs take Parker just over 16 years […]

Kevin Durant, whether you see him as a snake or as an MVP, is indubitably one of the biggest names in the NBA. A few days ago however, he made the news for other reasons. The former MVP and leading scorer did this. In his tweet, KD cited the current Oklahoma City Thunder coach and […]

Earlier this offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a huge splash move with the acquisition of All-Star Paul George from the Indiana Pacers. However, it came with a huge risk involved given that George can walk away after this upcoming season due to the opt-out clause he possesses in his contract that will allow him […]