Sam Presti has never been one to follow the crowd. Over his tenure in Oklahoma City, he’s built contenders, rebuilt from scratch, and now, after winning a title in 2025, he’s doubling down while much of the league expected him to scale back. The Thunder GM just pulled off a trade for second-year guard Jared McCain-an aggressive move that signals one thing loud and clear: this team isn't resting on last season’s championship banner.
Let’s take a step back. The Thunder are coming off a title run and still hold the second-best record in the league, but the conversation around them has shifted from on-court dominance to off-court math.
Specifically, the salary cap-and more pointedly, the second apron. Oklahoma City is projected to be so deep into the luxury tax that most assumed the front office would start trimming the roster, not adding to it.
That’s what makes the McCain trade so compelling. Presti didn’t just avoid selling-he went out and bought.
And he did it without giving up a single player, sending out a first-round pick and two second-rounders to land a young guard with upside. It’s a move that only makes sense if you’ve been planning for it all along.
And if there’s one thing we know about Presti, it’s that nothing he does is by accident.
This is the payoff from years of stockpiling draft assets. When other teams were chasing short-term success, Presti was hoarding picks like gold bars. Now, he’s cashing them in to keep the Thunder’s momentum rolling-without sacrificing depth, chemistry, or flexibility.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just about McCain. Oklahoma City’s rotation is about to get a serious injection of talent.
Alongside McCain, the Thunder are adding two other key pieces that didn’t factor into last year’s title run-Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic. Mitchell has been a revelation off the bench, putting up 14.1 points per game with solid all-around production and efficiency.
He’s firmly in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, and he’s doing it on a team that already boasts one of the league’s most balanced attacks.
Topic, meanwhile, recently returned to action after a battle with testicular cancer-a courageous journey in itself-and brings a unique blend of size and skill at the guard spot. And then there’s McCain, who’s still finding his rhythm after an injury, but is already shooting 38.3% from deep in 42 appearances. That kind of floor spacing and shot-making can be a game-changer in the postseason, especially for a team that thrives on ball movement and perimeter threats.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a roster that’s not just built to defend a title-it’s been upgraded with an eye toward sustainability. Presti knows the cap crunch is coming.
There’s a real chance the Thunder will have to decline options on key rotation players like Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, or Kenrich Williams. That’s the reality of building a contender in today’s NBA.
But instead of waiting for the fallout, Presti is getting ahead of it-bringing in young, cost-controlled talent who can step in if and when those tough decisions come.
That’s the thread that runs through every move Presti makes: long-term vision with short-term payoff. Trading for McCain might’ve looked risky on paper, especially given the looming financial pressure.
But when you zoom out, it fits the pattern. Presti isn’t just trying to win now-he’s trying to build something that lasts.
And he just might be doing it again.