Report: Oklahoma City Thunder won’t rule out trading draft picks
After what many will look at as an unsuccessful season, the Oklahoma City Thunder now have their eye on improving for the future. And that improvement may come by way of trade after general manager Sam Presti says there is a possibility they package their two first round picks in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Presti said he wouldn't rule out anything in the draft, including trading his two first-round picks.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) June 5, 2014
Dating back to Kevin Durant, Sam Presti’s draft record is impeccable. In the last few years, Presit has drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, and Steven Adams in the first round. Each player mentioned has either become a superstar, star, or has the potential to be a rotation player in the NBA for years to come. And with the 21st and 29th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Presti could continue that hot streak.
Or he could flip those picks into a proven player that can immediately help the team. The Thunder have holes in their roster. With Thabo Sefalosha’s play falling hard, they lack a shooting guard, Caron Butler’s free agency opens up a hole at the reserve small forward position, and if Scott Brooks chooses to insert Reggie Jackson into the starting lineup, sporting a dual point guard lineup similar to Phoenix’s, they’ll need a reserve point guard that can immediately make an impact.
As always, Sam Presti has made it so he has options and flexibility going forward. And based off of his track record, there’s no reason to think he won’t make the right move whether he drafts a player with those pick or move them for a veteran.