4. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder repped for all small-market teams this summer, immediately agreeing to terms with Paul George at the onset of free agency — despite the interest he received from the Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team. Apparently the key is to let Russell Westbrook throw a party.
In any case, re-signing PG-13 locks down the Big 3 of Russ, George and Steven Adams for the foreseeable future, preventing what might have become a full-scale rebuild otherwise. OKC didn’t stop there though, re-signing Jerami Grant, adding Nerlens Noel and trading away Carmelo Anthony.
Not only did the Melo deal shed some major salary and a player who bogged down the offense and defense, but it also brought aboard an upgrade at the backup point guard spot in Dennis Schroder and a young wing to develop in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Hamidou Diallo was a nice pickup late in the draft, the Thunder’s bench is much better, and if Schroder and Noel buy into their roles, OKC could become the team most expected last year.