All the hours of preparation, the meetings and the phone calls ensure that a surprise circumstance is an opportunity, not a devastating obstacle.
When Paul George made his trade request in early July, the Thunder was in the midst of signing free agents that would amplify this upcoming season’s roster around George and Russell Westbrook. The table was being set for another strong run in the 2019-20 campaign. George’s request changed the calculus, but only an organization like the Thunder with strong leadership from Chairman Clay Bennett and General Manager Sam Presti was well-enough prepared and powerful enough to pull off the ensuing moves to put the franchise in position for long-term sustainability moving forward.