Sam Presti Reacts To Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
Kevin Durant’s free agency in 2016 is inciting all kinds of rumor dialogue. Most recently, former NBA VP Tom Penn made an assertion that Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti might be inclined to trading Kevin Durant next season before he signs elsewhere and they lose him for nothing.
Penn made the analogy to how Presti handled the James Harden situation, and also emphasized the recent surge from Russell Westbrook as reason to consider Presti’s options in terms of trading Durant.
Sam Presti gave his response to Penn’s theory, via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman:
It’s ludicrous to assert that we would trade Kevin. There’s no way to measure what he represents to our organization on and off the floor. He has helped build this organization from the ground up and personifies the Thunder: past, present and future. When he’s done playing there will be streets named after him throughout the state and younger generations of Oklahomans will learn about the role Kevin has played in elevating this community in ways beyond basketball.
To be fair, this is the only thing Sam Presti could possibly say as a response. Sure, trading Kevin Durant is a completely ludicrous notion. He’s one of the best players in this league and this era. Can you imagine if Presti came out and in any way conquered with Penn? That would exceed ludicrous and shoot straight to formal insanity.
The fact is Tom Penn, Sam Presti, and Kevin Durant are equal in their knowledge of the unknown. Oklahoma City’s top priority might very well be to keep Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as their cornerstones for the rest of their careers, but the team’s success and the reality of free agency are surely determining factors.
Bottom line — you just never know what can happen in a year.
