In the summer of 2019, Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder rocketed themselves into an expected long-term rebuild after trading All-NBA forward Paul George and franchise cornerstone guard Russell Westbrook within weeks of each other.
Following three consecutive first-round exits with three different interactions of Westbrook-led teams, something had to change. The constant playoff failure plateaued when Damian Lillard hit a deep three in the 2019 Western Conference First Round to wave goodbye to the first era of Thunder basketball.
5 years ago today, Damian Lillard sent the Thunder home. pic.twitter.com/LCJRgfmHyv
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) April 23, 2024
Just six years later, the Thunder hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in Oklahoma City history. From devastation to dominance in light speed.
A championship team isn’t built by luck; this is how the brilliant mind of Presti created a potential dynasty.
The Trade(s) Heard Around the Globe
At 12:55 a.m. CST on July 6, 2019, Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Thunder sent George to the Clippers for record-setting draft compensation. Just three minutes later, the full details were announced, and the Clippers shipped rising-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with Danilo Gallinari, to OKC as well.
Sources: Oklahoma City is getting a massive package of future picks, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Galllinari, to deliver Kawhi Leonard who he wanted to partner with: Paul George. https://t.co/4bGpMNat8K
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
The Thunder began its draft pick collection, along with adding a young player to build around in Gilgeous-Alexander. Then, the Clippers grabbed a MVP-candidate in George, though at a steep price.
Just two days later the Thunder traded Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets for another first. That same day, Westbrook publicly requested a trade.
Story filed to ESPN: In aftermath of Paul George’s departure, OKC star Russell Westbrook is welcoming to idea of Sam Presti engineering a trade that would bring an end to his illustrious 11-year Thunder tenure. Miami's expressed interest, a destination that appeals to Westbrook.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 8, 2019
Westbrook would be sent to the Houston Rockets in return for Chris Paul. CP3 would go on to have a stellar season with OKC, leading them to the playoffs but losing to Westbrook’s Rockets in seven games in the first round.
The Thunder sent Paul to Phoenix for more draft assets in part of a complete roster overhaul from the playoff team the year prior. Gallinari, Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams, and Terrance Ferguson were also shipped out.
2019-20 OKC Thunder look a lot different than the '20-'21. 😳 pic.twitter.com/0e6Gfq9eY1
— theScore (@theScore) November 22, 2020
Leading back to the original trade, George brought the Clippers short-term success, such as bringing them to their first ever Western Conference Finals in 2021, but his time with Los Angeles was plagued with playoff misfortune. Presti made the most of his returns in the trade.
Gilgeous-Alexander has become a three-time All-NBA first-teamer, three-time All-Star, and a Finals MVP in his six seasons in OKC. As a result, he became the face of the Thunder franchise.
SGA was just the first of many fortunes Presti acquired from the trade.
The Black Eye of the NBA
The Thunder only bottomed out and tanked for two seasons in the rebuild. To some, this was still too long.
In fact, Justin Termine of Sirius XM called Sam Presti and the Thunder “a black-eye for the NBA” in a now deleted tweet. Luckily, Thunder Film Room on X has the screenshot.
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) June 25, 2025
Termine deleted the tweet shortly after Thunder won the NBA Finals. Even Thunder players took notice to the slander, as Aaron Wiggins mocked the phrase during his speech at the Thunder Championship Parade.
"We got to show love to the greats and the legends who wore Oklahoma City across their chest and set the foundation before us so that we can celebrate today."
Wise words from Aaron Wiggins… plus a shoutout for @okcthunder legend Nick Collison! pic.twitter.com/pKQ6BCywdu
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2025
The first year and a half of the tank was rough. Presti took a huge swing and miss at a project in Aleksej Pokusevski to kick off the rebuild and then the lottery luck went against OKC’s favor despite having the fourth best odds at No. 1.
Oklahoma City fell to No. 6 in the 2021 draft and selected Josh Giddey. The Thunder ended up with a worse record in the next season.
However, in the 2022 Draft Lottery, dirt turned into gold for OKC.
Presti’s Perfect Draft
Presti’s 2022 Draft was immaculate.
First, the Thunder finally received lottery fortune, landing the No. 2 and No. 12 selections in the draft. OKC would then select Chet Holmgren at two.
Holmgren would become the defensive anchor of a championship core just three years later. Unmatched defensive impact despite missing his entire first season with a lisfranc injury.
Check out the chain on Chet 🎲
No. 2 pick ➡️ OKC
2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm on ABC and ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EZXzZnYqrI
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2022
OKC traded up to No. 11 with the New York Knicks to not only take a swing at Ousmane Dieng, but to also secure Jalen Williams at 12. Dieng has shown flashes to this point, but the Thunder became competitive too quickly for him to get constant playing time at the NBA level.
JDub became the best player in the draft and is the perfect costar to Gilgeous-Alexander. He fought through a ligament tear in his wrist throughout the entire finals run but still played the best game of his career on the biggest stage.
Williams became the ninth player in NBA history to score 40 points in the Finals before turning 25. A phenomenal selection in the late lottery.
Complete list of players to drop 40 in the Finals before age 25:
– Jalen Williams (Tonight)
– Devin Booker (2021)
– Kyrie Irving (2016)
– Westbrook (2021)
– Dwyane Wade (2006)
– Magic Johnson (1980)
– Rick Barry (1967)
– Jerry West (1962)
– George Mikan (1949) pic.twitter.com/fgpKXHZ0iQ— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) June 17, 2025
Lastly, OKC selected Jaylin Williams at No. 34. JWill became a key player not only in the rotation, but also in the locker room.
He inked a new three-year extension this offseason to stay with the team who drafted him.
Presti’s 2022 draft class’ fingerprints are all over the championship run.
Locking Down the Rotation
The 2024-25 OKC Thunder is one of the greatest defenses the league has ever seen. Presti created a defensive force to grow and compete alongside Head Coach Mark Daigneault.
It all started on June 21, 2019, when Luguentz Dort went undrafted, and the Thunder scooped him up almost immediately after the draft ended.
Arizona State's Lu Dort will sign a full two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a source told ESPN. Not clear why he went undrafted, but he did turn down some draft and stash offers I'm told.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 21, 2019
Dort would become the defensive staple of the Thunder lineup, a player who lives and breathes Thunder culture. After all, he is the longest tenured Thunder player for a reason.
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