The Oklahoma City Thunder’s rise from lottery regular to NBA Champions has been one of the most deliberate, calculated rebuilds in recent NBA history. General manager Sam Presti built patiently through the draft, weaponized cap space for asset collection, and invested in player development like few front offices ever have. The result? A 2024-25 season that saw Oklahoma City finish with the league’s best record , make the NBA Finals, and win it, and further cement itself as one of the deepest rosters in the league .

That depth is both a blessing and a looming decision point. With so many rotation-caliber players, the Thunder can’t realistically give everyone consistent minutes. In today’s NBA, good players stuck in smaller roles often become prime trade targets for other franchises

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