Key takeaways from Sam Presti’s season-ending news conference
As he was walking out of his final media availability of the season, Thunder general manager Sam Presti told a story.
In the days following the Thunder’s early playoff exit, Presti had driven some three hours northeast of Oklahoma City to Commerce, OK, less than 15 minutes south of the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Presti wanted to see the statue of Commerce native Mickey Mantle, but he was also reflecting on a season of underachievement.
On Wednesday, six times Presti referenced the Thunder having to “own” or take “ownership” of its poor season.
“When seasons don’t go well, I tend to take these long drives,” Presti said, elongating the “O” in “long.”
The 2017-18 Thunder season was one of disappointment. Presti acknowledged that Wednesday while hitting on some key points going into another pivotal offseason.
Billy Donovan will be back
The biggest news of the day wasn’t open to interpretation. Presti stated flatly that Billy Donovan will return for a fourth season as head coach of the Thunder.
Donovan is 150-96 in three seasons, but a season that Presti admitted was disappointing — OKC went 48-34 and lost in the first round of the playoffs — had sparked some speculation about his future.
In discussing Donovan’s return, Presti hit hard on the theme of continuity.
In each of the past two seasons, the Thunder has returned less than 60 per-
cent of its minutes played from the season before. The other four teams with that kind of roster turnover in the past two years — the Bulls, Nets, Knicks and Kings — all are lottery teams.
Donovan, Presti said, “comes in guns blazing every day looking for ways to get better.” Presti’s hope is that the Thunder can re-sign Paul George and give Donovan the chance to take that approach with a roster that’s more familiar to him.
“I think the best thing for (Donovan), and I think the biggest opportunity for him, is in the continuity,” Presti said, adding that, “continuity is his best friend going forward.”
Russell Westbrook will make changes
Asked about getting more out of Russell Westbrook defensively, Presti called it “a fair question,” but answered around how Westbrook might change at that end of the floor, focusing instead on team defense.
But Presti said he expects his point guard to return next season having improved his game.
“He's going to keep coming,” Presti said. “He's not going to kick his feet up and expect to come back next year and have things just all of a sudden be a little bit different. I think, based on every competitor — whether he'll tell you this or not — he’s going to spend a lot of time thinking about the things can he do to get better.”
Though Presti didn’t address many specifics of how OKC’s muchmaligned star might tweak his approach, he said he’s seen Westbrook working on his 3-point shooting “late at night” in the Thunder’s practice facility.
“His ability to continue to catch and shoot, knock shots down, I think is a big part of his continued evolution as a player,” Presti said.
Presti’s putting his trust in PG
This week, a report from ESPN’s Ryen Russillo cited sources that George was “gone” from Oklahoma City. When contacted by
The Oklahoman on Tuesday, George’s agent, Aaron Mintz, declined to comment on the report. That’s normal. Addressing every free agency report would be counterproductive. George’s representation is also currently focused on preparation for the NBA Draft
“I would say why don't we listen to Paul,” Presti said. “He has had a lot of comments also. I'm not trying to dissuade anybody or say that what someone says someone told them is inaccurate. I'd rather listen to the man himself.”
Presti is counting on George and his group for transparency. He said it’s been there all season.
“I felt strongly about the relationship,” Presti said. “I feel great about the communication and the honesty, about the way we started the relationship.
“I can sit here and tell you to this point the conversation we've had throughout the year, February, March, April, has been transparent, truthful, honest.”
Last summer at a celebrity softball game, George told Indiana media he wanted to play out his contract with the Pacers. His representation informed the Pacers the next day George would not re-sign with the team after his contract expired, which prompted the Pacers to seek a trade partner.
Thunder's way or bust for Melo
No-trade clause or not, Anthony and his $27.9 million player option are not coming back next season.
Unless…
“He has to decide whether or not he wants to do another year of trying to make this transition as a stretch player,” Presti said, firmly putting the decision on Anthony following his comments in Saturday’s exit interviews. “That's the first thing. I think he's being very candid and very honest. I respect that. I respect the fact he's being open about that.”
Presti didn’t trash Anthony, rather he was very complimentary of the way the 14-year veteran handled this season.
He continually referenced Anthony investing fully in the Thunder's plan to make him a spotup 3-point shooter, and said Anthony’s frustration in his exit interview was “not reflective of his approach during the year.”
Presti was also as direct as he could be about what would be required from Anthony in Year 2.
“The first thing is that dialogue has to happen with respect to where he is in his career, what he sees relative to the role that's here,” Presti said. “If he is back with the team, if he feels like this is something he wants to continue to do, we’ve all just got to be on the same page.”
Presti and the Thunder’s page is using Anthony in a similar offensive role. Anthony said he didn’t want to do that again. Multiple times in referencing the core of the team Wednesday, Presti did not mention Anthony.
It’s May. Maybe compromise can be found when the two sides sit down again. But Presti drew a line in the sand and Anthony is on the other side.