The Thunder got better Thursday.
Not way better. Not championship better. Not Golden State better. But better. And in the Thunder's new reality, that's a really good day at the office.
Sam Presti turned Chicago's bewildering attraction of Cameron Payne into rock-solid power forward Taj Gibson and sharpshooter Doug McDermott, giving up Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow.
“I think we're a better team this evening than we were this morning, because we were able to add some things that would help our team,” Presti said Thursday night. “Adding the shooting to space the floor, giving yourself another frontcourt player and pick-and-roll defender, getting those two guys make us a better basketball team.