The job of a general manager is now winning and planning for the future. This is not easy. Since taking a thunder job in 2007, Sam Presty has converted the franchise into one of the best NBA.
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Oklahoma City – Executive Vice President and General Manager of Thunder Sam Presti is a student of sports.
Not only among those who played in NBA, but the people behind the curtain, GMS and front-office officials helped define the situation and what it has done today-an indispensable role required to compete for the Championship-Championship.
When Presti was nominated last month’s NBA executive, he issued a statement and mentioned several former officials: Wayne Ambri, Kevin O’Coner, Jack McClosy, Rod Thorn, Sam Shuler, Mark Warcantians, John Gabriel, Bob Whitesit, Carroll Dawson, Skot Ladn and Joff Petri.
Some of those names are familiar. Some have forgotten. But not the presesties, who ensured that the trailblazer is appreciated.
47 -year -old Presti started in this business when he was 22 years old – a video intern for San antonio spurs in 2000. Quickly, Presty, who graduated and played basketball at Emeron College in Boston, moved to the department of scouting and players.
He started traveling and came to know the officials he had named. Sitting with them at the airports. Visiting European cities with them in search of a hidden gem. They can reach a gym in Lajublajna, only to find out the player he wanted to scout, it was not good. They may have traded NBA apparel for VCR cassette recording of a possible possibility. Or maybe the Presti saw something in a young Tony Parker and encouraged the spurs to draft him.
Presty learned about team building, spending time with fetus, O’Coner, McClosy, Gabriel, Dawson and others. In the 1980s, McClosy’s work with bad boys of Detroit Piston made an impression. MCCLOSKEY sent fan for Mark Agnire to fan favorite Adrian Dentley for Dallas Maveryx. Small trade was also important, and it helped shape the 1989 championship of Detroit in achieving Rick Mahorn.
Consider a couple of prestiy tricks: Paul George’s business for Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgas-Alexander and Alex caruso trades Josh Giddi in Chicago.
Embri drafted Brad Daughter, Ron Harper and acquired Mark Price in a draft-day trade, converting Cleveland Cavaliers into one of the top teams in the past.
Think of some other tricks that presented by Presti: A draft Aaron Vignins No. 55 in 2021; Overall, the draft of Chet Halmagren No. 2 was prepared, Jalen Williams number 12 and 2022 in Jailin Williams number 34; In 2023 selected Kaisan Wallace No. 10; In 2024, Ajay Mitchell drafted number 38; Isaiah Joe and Isaiah Signed in a free agency.
Presti has found the price through a three-dimensional approach for team-building: trade, draft pics and free-agent signing.
How Sam Presti created a thunder for long -term success
The job of a GM is to win now And plans for the future. This is not easy. Since taking a thunder job in 2007, Presty has converted the franchise into one of the best in NBA. Through 2009-10 to 2019-20, Thunder made a 10-time playoffs in 11 seasons, in 2012, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden and Western Conferences reached NBA finals in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 in the finals of the Western Conference. He won 51 wins in that period.
After 2019-20, Presty promoted Mark Dignault to the head coach and prepared for a reconstruction, leading to attendance in this final.
Presti wants another decade of 50-win season and championship-caliber teams. Thunder won 57 games in the previous season, 68 and Gilgius-Alexander, Holmagren and Jalen Williams have been set up in contrasting this season.
“I did not know much about professional basketball before coming here, and so my entire vision in professional basketball was under the umbrella of Thunder Organization.” In this organization, it is in terms of understanding that these organizations are strong.
“This is only you are not coaching your team. You are part of a large ecosystem of developing players and developing a team, and you are carrying out a big strategy for an organization. The things that exist to be a constant successful team in NBA.”
Passer’s coach Rick Carlisle first met the Prestige 25 years ago, and Carlisley told reporters that Pesters expelled him in 2000, spending time around the spurs.
“He is from the Boston region. So, he grew up a Celtic fan,” Karlisley said. “He really remembered when I played, which was miraculous to me. It seemed that he was probably very young. We had some dinner together. He asked me, ‘What can I do? I got a job in some way.’
“I said,” Just be a man who he cannot live without. ” ,
Presti has done this – with the first spurs and now during about two decades with a thunder. He has an expert eye for talent, a special habit for roster construction and collective bargaining agreement/salary cap machines. They have a vision to see where the league is.
“Sam is a large performance of resourcefulness and such accessories and accessories,” Carlisley said. “He is making himself a great career. He and (Indiana) are two of the two best franchise builders.”
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Presti has also formed relations with players. This is not a way transaction. When Thunder traded for George, the Presti – who made a relationship with the city leaders through philanthropy and commitment to Oklahoma City – held an open dialogue and when the time came, a deal was found that worked for both sides. And he would have found another better for the thunder and Gilgus-Alexander of the NBA MVP of this season.
“He is honest and ahead with me from day one,” said Gilgas-Alexander. “This helped our relationship immediately. You don’t get it very often, especially early. It seemed like a person I can trust. It is so. I just try to be the same for him. I just try to be the same for him. More than two people with good character rely on each other and keep in mind a general goal.”
You will not hear more than the presence during the final. TV cameras can watch her a house game from a tunnel near the thunder bench.
At the beginning of the season, he conducts two interviews a year and after its end, prefers to focus on players and coaches. And other GMs who came in front of him and worked with less resources in terms of economic, technically and personnel.
Presty has learned from the past that a team is making his vision for a team who wants to capitalize their NBA final window – today and in future.
Follow the NBA columnist Jeff Zillgit on social media @Jeffzillgitt