Four pressing questions for GM Presti
When Thunder general manager Sam Presti sits down for his end-of-season media availability on Wednesday, there will be plenty of questions thrown his way.
Here’s a sample of the most pressing questions Presti will face:
What do you do with Carmelo Anthony?
What is Presti going to do with a soon-to-be 34-year-old due $27.9 million who doesn’t sound ready to come back in a reduced role?
Best case scenario is Anthony simply declines the $27.9 million option and walks — highly unlikely considering his age, declining impact relative to league demand and ... it’s $27.9 million.
Anthony was hot on Saturday during exit interviews, fresh off watching the Thunder make a season-saving run in Game 5 against the Jazz with him on the bench.
He had just six shot attempts in Game 6 (no 3-point attempts) and didn’t play much of the final seven minutes as the Thunder scrapped to rally back.
Said Presti Sept. 25, 2017, before the start of the season when explaining Anthony’s potential role: “I think that the way that he impacts a team as a catch-and-shoot player, figuring out how we do that, and then also not getting away from the things that he does exceptionally well, which is play with the ball in his hands.”
The Thunder mapped out a role for Anthony that didn’t reach its desired effect. But Anthony’s idea of how to be more effective — “I became who I am by playing the way that I've played and establishing a style of play and a type of play throughout my career” — isn’t conducive to winning a championship in the 3-point era, especially if Anthony craves an expanded version of that style.
Anthony’s not Russell Westbrook or Paul George, who despite their flaws, each have either superlative offensive or defensive attributes which can make up for those deficiencies. Anthony’s defense is a minus. His offense is inefficient.
If Presti doesn’t outright say Anthony is gone, his justification for keeping Anthony will be the most interesting part of Wednesday’s presser. The next most interesting topic will be the future of Billy Donovan.
How much responsibility does Donovan take for the Thunder’s offense?
For two seasons, Presti and the Thunder have professed that Donovan has shown evolution as a coach. Presti touted Donovan as “tremendously important” after the Thunder lost Kevin Durant in 2016.
After the Thunder went through the Westbrookcentric 2016-17 season, Presti said continuity going into this season would be important. Trading for George gave Donovan time to scheme, but Presti then dropped Anthony into the mix two days before preseason camp.
Said Presti said in May 2017: “This season, I think, allows him to plan, allows him to know for the most part the group of the team that is coming back and allow him to strategize and implement things maybe he wasn't able to get to this season. So, we're excited about that.”
There’s no shortage of excuses for Donovan: A roster that’s changed as much as any in the NBA in the last two seasons. Three ball-dominant players who were always a question in terms of fit. Andre Roberson’s injury. All will be referenced Wednesday.
The Western Conference was deeper and the Thunder’s offense eventually became a Top 10 unit, but that offense also ground to a predictable halt against the Jazz’s elite defense. Too often, Westbrook, George and Anthony deviated from Donovan’s desired ball and player movement. Promising players such as Josh Huestis and Jerami Grant were shuffled in and out of the rotation or never settled into roles.
Donovan has two years and a reported $12 million left on his five-year deal. Is the Thunder willing to pay two coaches at once next season — Donovan if he’s fired and a new hire?
Is there a plan for keeping George?
Presti and the Thunder will say there’s confidence about George returning for a second season. The same was said about Kevin Durant.
George and Durant, while different personalities, face a similar question: Is Oklahoma City the best place for their career and lifestyle going forward? George enjoyed his time in Oklahoma City while also never shying away from saying playing at home (Los Angeles) has its allure.
Presti can only say so much about George. The 27-year-old has had an entire season to see the highs and lows of the Thunder experience. He knows the potential with a full, healthy unit of Westbrook, Adams and Andre Roberson. He knows the lows of the Thunder's oft-clunky offensive flow.
What is the ceiling with Westbrook?
Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive season, but is there a ceiling of success under his style?
Rather than be reactive following Durant’s departure, the Thunder chose to stay in playoff contention and relevancy by working to re-sign Westbrook. He did twice, the second time for $205 million.
What’s unclear is if there’s another level of success beyond Westbrook’s last two seasons under the current model. George and Anthony were added, as well as a competent backup point guard (Raymond Felton) and the Thunder improved by one win from the previous season. Westbrook was still ball dominant and role players such as Patrick Patterson and Alex Abrines failed to find consistency within the offense. Westbrook’s defense was again more absent than consistent.
With Westbrook as the common denominator and the Thunder committed to his style for five seasons at an average of $41 million per, can it get more concentrated contributions — improved 3-point accuracy, defense, off-ball movement — from its No. 1? It has to.