Progressive and innovative, the Thunder is always operating with a clear motivation in mind: improving the team to sustain a high level of success.
On Thursday night, in the midst of the 2016 NBA Draft, General Manger and Executive Vice President Sam Presti and his staff were able to execute on that vision, making a forward-thinking trade that will provide the team with depth and flexibility now and in the future. In the trade with the Orlando Magic, the Thunder acquired guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to the number 11 overall selection, Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis.
“The thing we always focus on is how we make the organization better and how we look to aggressively pursue progress and pursue improvement. We felt that this was an opportunity to do that. The combination of players we’re getting back really fit our team,” Presti said. “These are really serious basketball players, high character people and guys who understand how to contribute to winning.”
The Thunder sent forward Serge Ibaka to Orlando in the trade. Deals like this, which address the present and future of the organization, are what has helped to keep the Thunder at the top of the league as a contender year after year, and will keep allowing the team to competing with the best in the league.
“Tonight represented an opportunity to build the versatility, depth and skill of our basketball team. Victor, Ersan and Domantas represent the character, work ethic and toughness that we relentlessly pursue with the Thunder. Through the continued emergence and development of our core, we were able to capitalize on the opportunity to acquire three highly skilled professionals,” said Presti. “I want to acknowledge Serge for his contributions to the ongoing legacy of the Thunder. He has been integral to our success and growth, has been a great community member and we wish him only the best.”
Oladipo is a player the Thunder has liked for a long time because of his length and athleticism, and he adds a dynamic on the perimeter with his versatility. Oladipo was the second overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft and has performed at a high level as a combo guard for the Orlando Magic in his first three seasons in the league.
“The number one thing with Victor is his makeup. This is a guy who we have looked at for a long time. He’s tough-minded, competitive and selfless,” Presti said. “He’s a guy that we feel like brings things on the floor for us but I think he’s going to be a real add to our culture and environment on an everyday basis.”
The Indiana University product was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2014 and has started 167 of his 224 career games, averaging 15.9 points on 43.1 percent shooting along with 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest in his career. In 2015-16, Oladipo set career highs in rebounds, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage. As a long, physical and extremely athletic guard, Oladipo will help provide playmaking, scoring and versatile defense along the perimeter as he continues to grow as an all-around player.
Sabonis, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound forward played at Gonzaga for two seasons, earning All-West Coast Conference first team honors as a sophomore and All-WCC second team honors as a freshman. The Lithuanian big man is the son of NBA standout Arvydas Sabonis and was born in Portland, Ore. when his father played for the Trail Blazers.
“I’m really excited to be part of this organization. I know it’s a great place,” Sabonis said. “I’m just really excited to be there.”
Sabonis started just one game at Gonzaga his freshman year, but managed to average 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He then followed it up his sophomore year by averaging 17.6 points on 61.1 percent shooting, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game before being selected number 11 overall by the Magic, then traded to the Thunder simultaneously.
“(Sabonis) is pretty diverse in a sense that we haven’t had a player at that position or size that has the passing ability he has,” Presti said. “He plays with force. He understands what goes into winning and I’m excited to watch him get acclimated with our group with the way he fits with Steven, Enes and our other bigs.”
Ilyasova has played eight seasons in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and most recently the Magic, and is a career 37.0 percent three-point shooter with career averages of 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Last season, Ilyasova, a Turkish native, played in 74 games for Detroit and Orlando, starting 56 of those games, averaging 10.4 points per game on 37.1 percent three-point shooting and 5.4 rebounds.
“We traded for him because we think he’s a good complementary player to our core players. He led the league in charges taken last season. He’s a 75th percentile three-point shooter at that position. He’s an excellent offensive rebounder. He stretches the floor and as we know in today’s league, having people who do that is hard to find.”
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In the second round, the Thunder acquired the 56th pick in the draft and selected Daniel Hamilton, a 6-foot-8, 197-pound forward from the University of Connecticut. During his sophomore season, his final as a Husky, Hamilton averaged 12.5 points, an American Athletic Conference best 8.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Hamilton was named the most Outstanding Player of the AAC Championship and was one of just two Division I players (Ben Simmons – LSU) to record more than 450 points, 300 rebounds and 150 assists on the season.
“One of the things we take a lot of pride in is continuing to work with guys,” Presti said. “We want to be a place where people get better and players improve. Daniel has an opportunity to do that. He has size and skill, he just needs some more time.”
Watch: Presti Address Media Following Draft
Watch: Presti on Draft Night Acquisitions