Creating a Thunder storm: GM Sam Presti building Oklahoma City the right way

Breaking NBA news mixed with analysis ...

Their News: Though former Kings assistant Scott Brooks continues to receive positive reviews for his performance as interim coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, his status remains unchanged. He’s just another of the league’s temporary coaches hoping to land the job permanently.

"No talks yet," said the Manteca native, who interviewed for the Kings’ coaching vacancy two offseasons ago. "I’m still interim. It hasn’t really crossed my mind – too much. But I like what I’m doing. I’m getting better.  (Melody Gutierrez, Sacramento Bee found on HoopsWorld) 

Our Very Quick Analysis: Brooks should become head coach. The Thunder, thanks to GM Sam Presti, have got everything else right recently, so making the former assistant the full-time sideline boss is likely.

Ignore Oklahoma City’s mediocre record. This organization has momentum. And Presti, a young executive groomed by the San Antonio Spurs, deserves much of the credit for the turnaround.

Drafting Kevin Durant second overall in 2007 was easy, but Presti also selected blue-chippers Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. This is the club’s future. Durant is a superstar in waiting, while Green has made strides in his second year and Westbrook is an exciting table-setter.

In the past few months, Presti has also acquired several young and talented supporting pieces for next to nothing. He lured skilled post Nenad Krstic back to the NBA with a reasonable three-year, 15 million dollar pact. Unheralded Kyle Weaver was acquired from Charlotte for a second round pick in August and Thabo Sefalosha was an afterthought in a February deadline deal. All have contributed of late. And all will contribute going forward.

Best of all, they’re cost-effective. Presti, taking a page from the San Antonio model, has emphasized cap flexibility and efficiency. The Thunder has just 42 million dollars on the books next year and a paltry 13 million dollars for 2010-2011. The club has the option to add experienced free agents to their young core.  

And Brooks is the perfect choice to work the bench. Oklahoma City was 1-12 under P.J. Carlisemo and currently sits at 17-34. Numbers only tell part of the story. Listening to the former point guard, he too is developing with the players.

"I feel like I’m almost a mirror of our team. They’re a bunch of young guys who are getting better, and I’m improving with them. I critique myself after every game. Our players are all gym rats, so we’re kind of from the same mold. We want to get better, and I think we have."(Gutierrez, Sacramento Bee found on HoopsWorld) 

Clearly, Brooks and this squad have chemistry. So Presti, with his pulse on the team, will likely lift the interim tag. Years from now, when the Thunder are out of the Western Conference cellar, it will be another decision he got right.  

Got thoughts on Brooks, Presti, and Oklahoma City’s future? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Paul L McCord Jr.