Sam Presti Makes His Big Move For OKC
Speculation had lingered for a long time if the Thunder would make a move to help Russell Westbrook. They did that and more.
The Oklahoma City Thunder made their move to improve before the trade deadline, as the ever-opportunistic Sam Presti made his move, as it emerged first thing this morning that the Thunder held interest in Taj Gibson, per ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
A long wait set in, as the Thunder and Bulls remained radio silent until the final hour of the trade deadline, as it slowly emerged a deal built around Cameron Payne and Doug McDermott was being negotiated. Not long before the deadline passed, The Vertical’s Shams Charania confirmed the framework of a big deal:
First reaction is surprise and amazement. The Bulls sent the Thunder one of their only shooters in Doug McDermott, and the expiring contract of veteran forward Taj Gibson. That’s also not to mention adding in a second round pick for 2018, when it was likely expected by most that a pick would be going to the Bulls and not another way around.
Oklahoma City put in the expiring contract of locker room presence and sharpshooter Anthony Morrow, rotation big man Joffrey Lauvergne and Payne. The Thunder were extremely high on the talent of Payne, but found what they needed in this deal. Semaj Christon will likely step back into the backup point guard role as Enes Kanter returns from injury to rejoin a second unit that badly needed him. As Royce Young notes, the team had their reasons for coming to this deal and it may explain why the Thunder got the value they did:
The Thunder headed into the trade deadline with serious needs in shooting and paint defense. They were 29th in three-point percentage (only the Bulls are worse), and concede more shots in the paint than any other team. Kanter needed offensive help on the bench, and he will get that in McDermott.
Whilst an inconsistent player, “McBuckets” is also a career 40 percent three-point shooter, which will be a massive asset. Morrow had been a shooter his whole career and made a reputation of being so, but had sunk to 29.4 percent from the perimeter this season in spotty minutes. He’d never been a Billy Donovan rotation favorite, and McDermott is a good, young prospect with a rookie contract the Thunder has control of this season and next.
They’ll also have Gibson’s bird rights to retain him, with the handy midrange shooter in the last year of a deal worth $8.95 million in 2016–17. It’ll give them paint protection and defensive toughness, and the chance to retain him depending on how things pan out beyond this season.
Many had wondered if the Thunder were even capable of landing any help for their team, with a lack of future assets and current ones to get deals done. Fans had screamed and begged for Russell Westbrook to receive some much-needed assistance, and his incredible MVP-calibre campaign and triple-double season will certainly be aided by what can be considered upgrades.
The NBA’s second youngest roster stays around that range with these moves, and a growing young core of Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo and others around a superstar like Westbrook gives them serious cause for hope going forward.
Not to mention, Oklahoma City also have the NBA’s easiest schedule the rest of the season, with 8 games against above .500 teams left in their last 25 games. After playing the league’s third-hardest schedule so far, it will be a nice downhill run for a team getting healthy and ready for another playoff assault.
Sam Presti has been criticized for his moves in the past on the trade market, but this certainly won’t be one of them. He pulled it off on deadline day in a big way, whilst big questions will remain in the Windy City for the Bulls.
