The Oklahoma City Thunder will be less competitive in 2019-20, and perhaps for several seasons afterward, than in any year since they re-located at the top of the decade. But just because general manager Sam Presti parted ways with All-NBA players Paul George and Russell Westbrook hardly means the Thunder come out losers of trades with the LA Clippers and Houston Rockets, respectively. Oklahoma City, with an unprecedented haul of as many as 15 first-round picks in the next seven drafts, has as bright a long-term future as any rebuilding team in the NBA.
But it's not just Presti's arsenal of first-rounders that has the Thunder set up for success in the future. By honoring George's trade request and shipping Westbrook to a contender once it became clear his longtime team no longer had the good to compete for a title, Oklahoma City made it abundantly clear just how well the organization treats its players.
The Thunder further burnished that reputation by letting Alec Burks out of his agreed-upon contract amid the departures of George and Westbrook, a development he made sure to thank them for after signing with the Golden State Warriors.
“Kudos to the Thunder man,” Burks said on Friday, per Mark Medina of The Mercury News. “They were honest with me about the decisions and where they were going in the future,” Burks said on Friday at the Warriors’ practice facility. “They let me reevaluate my situation. Here we are today.”
Alec Burks signed a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with the Warriors on Thursday. He spent portions of last season with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Sacramento Kings, in total averaging 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game.
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