Thunder: Presti Excited About A Westbrook & Oladipo Backcourt

With the Thunder acquiring Victor Oladipo on draft night in the deal that sent Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic, President and GM Sam Presti was able to construct one of the most dynamic backcourts in the entire NBA. The move was not only strategic for the future of the Thunder, but Westbrook and Oladipo's elite athleticism should give opposing teams fits when they have to face OKC. 

Related: Watch Sam Presti's State Of The Thunder News Conference

With the start of a season just over a month away, Presti made it very clear at his State of the Thunder Press Conference that he's excited about what the duo will be able to accomplish.

“I think people here are going to take to him [Oladipo] very quickly and very kindly," Presti said. "In addition to getting better season by season, it’s exciting to think about the speed, agility, quickness and ferocity of a Westbrook-Oladipo backcourt, I mean that’s an exciting thing for us.

Couple that with some of the other physical big athletic players that we have those are the things that get you excited.”

Presti "disappointed" in Mitch McGary

Third-year Thunder forward Mitch McGary found himself in some trouble this offseason after getting suspended for five games back in July for a drug violation, then again earlier this month when he violated the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, which added 10 more games to his suspension. 

“For me, I’m disappointed in the fact that he’s in that situation," Presti said. "We’re not privy to the NBA’s program, so I don’t have a whole lot of information. All I can say to you is that I’m disappointed, and from there, I don’t think I have to expand past that.”

As for McGary's future with the Thunder, Presti pointed out that he's under contract with the team, but also said it will be a competitive camp so nothing's guaranteed. 

"We’ve got probably more deserving players lined up to come to camp than we have roster spots," Presti said. "But I think that’s a strong position to be in as a team, as an organization, we’re excited about that, and I know the coaches are.

We’ll probably have some tough decisions to make, but as an organization and a basketball team I think you want to be in that position.”

Presti speaks on National Anthem Protests

There's been a lot of reaction throughout the sporting world to various protests during the national anthem, and some NBA players, including Victor Oladipo, have said they believe it will transition over into the NBA as well. Presti was able to chime in on the subject on Wednesday. 

“We’ve had players and staff stand for the national anthem over the past eight years and we’d love to see that continue, at the same time, our players have the opportunity and ability to express themselves as people, and we respect that above all," he said. 

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“We’re not competing with our past, we never have, but we are 100 percent committed and excited about creating our future, and that is what I think people sense and that’s what makes it great to be a part of what we’re doing right now.” - Sam Presti