Thunder GM Sam Presti expects OKC to be 'exceptional' team even after major offseason moves
- On Thursday, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti acknowledged the team will have a different makeup this season, noting the loss of about 10,000 minutes combined from departed players over the last two years.
- To avoid the NBA's second apron—a strict payroll threshold above the luxury tax—the Thunder traded longtime starter Luguentz Dort and key reserves Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, acquiring seven second-round selections in the process.
- Two-Time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the centerpiece, averaging 31.1 points per game and shooting 55.3%, while All-Star Jalen Williams returns and forward Chet Holmgren earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors for the first time.
- With training camp approaching, Presti emphasized adopting a beginner's mindset, warning that net ratings and player statistics are expected to decline as the Thunder cannot predetermine how the year will unfold.
- The organization is well-positioned for long-term success, with recent NBA changes aligning the league's golden era to coincide with the franchise's 25th year in Oklahoma City in 2033 as it pursues a second title in three seasons.
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Thunder GM Sam Presti expects OKC to be 'exceptional' team e
FILE - Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti reflects on the team's first championship season during an NBA basketball press conference, Monday, June 30, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Cliff Brunt,File)
The Washington Post
Thunder GM Sam Presti expects OKC to be 'exceptional' team even after major offseason moves
Sam Presti knows there is no dancing around the fact the Thunder will have a different makeup this season though that doesn’t make OKC’s longtime general manager nervous
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are now less than one week away from ushering in training camp.The Thunder head into the 2026-27 season with designs of winning a second NBA title in three seasons.While winning another title requires a months-long grind, it’s difficult to count out Sam Presti and the roster at this stage.Read more on […]
Sam Presti Discusses The Oklahoma City Thunder Next Chapter
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sam Presti doesn’t believe the Oklahoma City Thunder arrived at this point because of one decision. There wasn’t one trade, one draft pick, one contract or one moment that suddenly turned the organization into a championship contender. Instead, the Thunder have spent years making small decisions that eventually became much bigger ones. That was the message Presti delivered Thursday during his annual preseason press conference, an…
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