Yardbarker
x
Why aren't more teams following the Thunder's title blueprint?
Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti. NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Why aren't more teams following the Thunder's championship blueprint?

By Clark Dalton  |  Last updated Jun 23, 2025 12:37 PM ET

More teams should look at the Oklahoma City Thunder and aim to emulate them. 

The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers, 103-91, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Unlike past champions, they weren't built with splashes in free agency or trades for big names. Instead, they were built through the draft and shrewd moves. 

Thunder general manager Sam Presti traded forward Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, five first-round picks and two swaps in July 2019. 

Oklahoma City selected forward Jalen Williams with pick No. 12 in the 2022 NBA Draft, which they acquired in the George trade. The same year, the Thunder took forward Chet Holmgren with pick No. 2.

The Thunder could've added one more star to complete their championship core, but they opted for dependable role players. This offseason, they acquired guard Alex Caruso in a trade with the Chicago Bulls and signed center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. 

Oklahoma City's strategy worked. The Thunder won 84 games in the regular season and playoffs, tying Michael Jordan's 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for the third most in NBA history.

Despite the Thunder's success, many teams are still banking on blockbuster trades to win a championship. 

The Houston Rockets dealt guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, pick No. 10 in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for forward Kevin Durant on Sunday. 

The Orlando Magic traded four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap to acquire guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies on June 15.

Those moves may catapult the Magic and Rockets to the next level, but other recent trades have yet to produce a champion. 

The New York Knicks acquired center Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves for a first-rounder and more in September 2024. The Pacers beat the Knicks in six games in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. 

In February, the Los Angeles Lakers sent a first-rounder, big man Anthony Davis and more to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Luka Doncic and more. The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round of the playoffs of the Western Conference. 

Presti, meanwhile, keeps stockpiling draft picks. The Thunder have 12 first-round picks between the 2025 and 2031 drafts.

More GMs should consider following Presti. His blueprint is one reason the Thunder could become the first team to win consecutive titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2018. As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook gives the Thunder the best odds (+220) to win the 2026 NBA title. 

Clark Dalton
Twitter/X Muck Rack

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.