Let's be clear: The 'OKC model' is actually the "have the #2 pick in draft & #1 team doesn't pick transcendent player" model, or as I like to call it, the "team after Portland's pick" model. Any model involving drafting Michael Jordan or Kevin Durant has a good shot of being a successful model. Nice work, Portland. OK, to be fair, Portland had the #2 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, as Houston took Olajuwon with the top pick. Twitter
I'm updating this because I don't want to take anything away from the fantastic work that Sam Presti has done in Oklahoma. He had to make the right picks, and he certainly has done so. My whole argument though is that OKC was terrible at the perfect time, and manipulated it perfectly. In 2007, they drafted Durant with the #2 pick. In 2008, they grabbed Russell Westbrook with the #4 and Ibaka with the #24, and in 2009 they took James Harden with the #5 pick. Again, Presti hit home runs with all of these guys, but let's not act like having top 5 picks THREE YEARS IN A ROW didn't greatly jump start things.
I'm updating this because I don't want to take anything away from the fantastic work that Sam Presti has done in Oklahoma. He had to make the right picks, and he certainly has done so. My whole argument though is that OKC was terrible at the perfect time, and manipulated it perfectly. In 2007, they drafted Durant with the #2 pick. In 2008, they grabbed Russell Westbrook with the #4 and Ibaka with the #24, and in 2009 they took James Harden with the #5 pick. Again, Presti hit home runs with all of these guys, but let's not act like having top 5 picks THREE YEARS IN A ROW didn't greatly jump start things.
