Thunder GM Sam Presti’s 4 moves paved the way for the NBA’s next potential dynasty

Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti he had a lot to be thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner this year, following his team’s first NBA championship and his dominant 18-1 regular season record. It’s the best start in franchise history, and that’s for an All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Michael Jordan for feats the NBA hasn’t seen in nearly 40 years, the Thunder are favored to return back-to-back in 2026.

If that happens, the Thunder will be on the verge of becoming the NBA’s next dynasty. However, none of this happened overnight. Despite spending most of the 2024-25 regular season atop the Western Conference standings, many were hesitant to call Oklahoma City the NBA title favorite, even ahead of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Now, it’s harder to list reasons why the Thunder won’t win it all again than to predict they will.

Its league-leading defense thrives as the youngest team in the NBA has gone from the “they’re too young” narrative to the biggest threat to the NBA’s future, evolving into the league’s first substantive juggernaut since the Golden State Warriors. In hindsight, fans have to respect the way this promising and dominant team came together, as its architect — Presti — gave the league’s GMs masterclasses in creating a championship roster and a potential dynasty.

Here are four of Presti’s most significant moves that built the championship Thunder team we see today.

4. The Thunder sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million contract

Looking at The Thunder sign free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million deal that seemed like an overpayment to some; for GM Sam Presti, it was necessary to finalize his championship roster. In doing so, Presti cemented a towering 7-foot defensive tandem, putting Hartenstein alongside Chet Holmgren. The pair never had a chance to reach their full potential through 20 games of the regular season and last season’s championship run.

This season, the Thunder are enjoying the fruits of their labor at the second level, especially Hartenstein’s production, which has blossomed in best defensive rating in the NBA (99.3). Eighteen games into the most impressive start of his career, he is thriving on both ends of the floor, averaging 12.1 points on 67.6% shooting (third in the NBA), 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals.

Hartenstein’s production will only get better as the season goes on. He has seamlessly adapted to the Thunder’s culture, as Presti expected from a skilled NBA player with an underdog approach. I-Heart is a big part of the Oklahoma City Championship.

3. Carmelo Anthony trades to the Hawks for Dennis Schroeder

When the addition of Carmelo Anthony to complement Russell Westbrook failed, Thunder GM Sam Presti pulled the trigger on a three-team move, including a caveat that would have a lasting ripple effect, helping Oklahoma City win its first title. As part of the deal, Anthony was traded to the Hawks for Dennis Schroeder along with a future lottery-protected first-round pick.

The deal was a way for the Thunder to reduce Anthony’s salary while Presti kept his fingerprints on the future No. 1, which materialized with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Thunder selected Chet Holmgren and didn’t finish building for the future. That night, Presti selected two-thirds of Oklahoma City’s championship core, grooming the future All-Star Jalen Williams at number 12.

After his third season with the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander is headed for his first All-Star campaign and primed for glory in 2022. Now, he leads a potential Thunder dynasty.

2. Paul George trades to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Thunder GM Sam Presti’s magnum opus is undoubtedly his blockbuster move with the Los Angeles Clippers, centered around acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a slew of future first-round picks for Paul George. Gilgeous-Alexander, a sophomore guard at the time, would blossom into a budding superstar. The 2025 MVP, scoring champion and Finals MVP led the Thunder to their first championship in franchise history.

Oklahoma City used one of its five first-round trades and two first-round picks from the Clippers to draft Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams with the 12th overall pick in 2022. Williams is an ideal second option for Gilgeous-Alexander. He is an elite all-defensive defender who can score at a high level. In the midst of his freshman season, Jalen proved himself during the Thunder’s championship run.

Williams scored a game-high 40 points in a 120-109 victory in Game 5 of the Finals. He led his team to a critical 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 championship series against the Indiana Pacers before Oklahoma City clinched the title in Game 7. He did it in just his third year, and with a torn ligament in his right wrist for the entire postseason. However, he will only get better. And the Thunder also have the rights to the Clippers in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick.

1. Thunder ink SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren to max bids

Coming off his first championship run, Thunder GM Sam Presti wasted no time in pushing his core — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren — to maximum overtime. It was the only move he could make to cement the Thunder’s position in the upper echelon of the Western Conference, with the championship window ahead of the prime years of Presti’s key players.

Holmgren, who shares the same draft class as Williams, missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, which makes you wonder if Chet is headed for a season similar to Jalen’s 2024-25 campaign. Holmgren could be on pace to earn his first All-Star selection so far — he’s averaging 17.9 points on 54.5% shooting, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Williams will make his season debut against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, making the Thunder’s 18-1 record even more memorable. Oklahoma City’s supporting cast includes versatile players from Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace, who bring two-way ability, to Ajayi Mitchell, who is making an early MVP bid.