(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
GM Sam Presti deserves all the credit in the world for what he’s done with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
One of the best GMs in the league, Presti has made sure that the dark years and bad times don’t last long, and while he’s yet to win an NBA championship since the team moved to OKC, no one in the league has been better at managing assets.
That’s why it’s not a surprise to see this team being a legitimate contender despite its youth.
With that in mind, NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor praised the team for what they’ve been able to accomplish in so little time.
O’Connor points out the fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already an MVP candidate, all while Chet Holmgren might make an All-Defensive team as a rookie, and Jalen Williams continues to make strides as a young player.
It’s hard to believe the Thunder are on pace for 57 wins with as much youth as they have.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already an MVP candidate, Chet Holmgren is an All-Defense candidate as a rookie, and Jalen Williams is one of the league’s best young players. All three of… pic.twitter.com/CfGwds8ufY
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 28, 2023
The team has put together a plethora of shooters and versatile defenders, all led by one of the most underrated tacticians and player developers in Mark Daigneault.
On top of that, Presti and the Thunder have amassed an unprecedented fortune of 37 total draft picks (15 first, 22 second), which is why they could be in a position to outbid every single team in their pursuit of the next big name to hit the market.
They don’t need to add a lot to the roster they have, but no one could realistically compete with them if they were to set their sights on any player that becomes available via trade.
The post Analyst Details How 1 Young NBA Team Can Contend For Titles appeared first on The Cold Wire.