Oklahoma City Thunder Pre Season Presser 2025-2026

[AngryBanana]

GM Angrybanana walks into a small room after watching the team go through Training Camp, wearing a long sleeve shirt and basketball shorts with the team emblem on both items, he is sporting a full grown beard and has a smile on his face. This is a stark difference from the past two years where he usually wears a suit and is freshly shaved. The difference in appearance represents a larger difference that is felt throughout the room...

Good afternoon everyone, how is everyone doing today? Well, fist and foremost I lost a bet, one I can not believe happened since he cant shoot to save his life, so please bear with me for a minute. The GM proceeds to pull out a piece of paper, puts on his glasses then clears his throat. "Upon loosing to Pete Maravich in H-O-R-S-E, I Angrybanana, here by declare that I will buying Pete Maravich a Whataburger meal before every away game's flight for the entirety of this season. The laughing from the gym next door is so loud Ed Orgeron would have yelled at the players he was holding a press conference and to keep the noise down. However, Angrybanana laughs himself as he crumples up the piece of paper and tries to hit the young players who are watching from the doorway.

Anyway, now where do we begin... Ok, so last year, upon reflection actually went better than planned. We attempted to get another top 3 pick and trade away all of the older assets we had for as many points as possible. In the end, we were able to trade a few players for less than anticipated, and ended the season with a 25-57 record with the projected #5 pick in the draft. It might not seem like a win to most people, but I personally was very satisfied with the end record. It is all about taking steps in the right direction. I was expecting only about 18 wins or at most matching the 21 wins we had the previous year. I think we played teams tougher than anyone anticipated and our players showed a lot of grit I hope carries over to this year.

So this then brings us to the draft itself. We actually fell back after the lottery to pick #7. I was fine with the position because it allowed me to still get a blue potential player. After looking at a few of the players in the draft, I was under the mindset that if a PF/C did not fall to me at 7, I would then try to draft and trade or straight up trade the pick. So when we were told we were on the clock and I see Nick Papagiorgio there I was estatic. I felt like I put a dollar in and won a car. This kid has been great. He is very mature, having been in college for a few years, and I think will develop nicely along some of the other players we have in the building. I also think he could be a great leader in the locker room. The bar will be set high for him early for sure from me and the coach. I fully expect Nick to meet those expectations.

Next came RFA, and we had one player in the pool, Lino Brookins. Lino was a player I inherited from the previous GM(s?), and grew to like very much with our conversations and his work ethic. We did not put any other offers in because we wanted to focus on retaining him. He did not accept any contracts so he became a free agent where he eventually chose the Bucks over us. I respect him for the decision and wish it could have ended differently, but it is what it is. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.

I would have mourned his loss longer but I had other UFA problems that needed to be addressed. For the first round of UFA, we decided instead of throwing a big net out to see who we could catch with 10 different players who may help, we decided to cut the list down to 5 players who we know can help our organization in the long term while also keeping us flexible these next few years to sign our guys who are coming up on new deals. We were only able to sign two of the players to deals. However, one of the deals had an accounting error too large to ignore. We had the necessary cap space to eat it and keep the player, the problem is the contract was way to high comparative to his value and it would instantly become the worst signing of the year, if not in the history of PBSL. We did not want to put that type of pressure on him. So after talking with the commissioners, we came to the decision to null the contract and let the player re enter FA. Then after a good second round, we had acquired some great talents like Elfrid Payton, Paul Webb and Vicente Carvalho. I think all will add value to the teams in different ways.

This upcoming year I think we will continue to get better and have the best season yet with me in charge. I am hoping to improve our win total again this season, hopefully getting closer to 30 wins. I think we will see more out of all of the prospects we have signed over the past few years. For instance, the TC was very good for us this year. I though, Patrick Edmunds took a great step forward and is getting closer to his potential. The same can go to Clifton and Pete who I see all three as impact players this year. The starters for the beginning of the year I am predicting Paul Webb and Pete Maravich to be our Guards, Patrick Edmunds and Nick Papagiorgio as our Forwards and Alton Towers in at Center. With a big push from Vincente and Clifton off the bench.

Anyways, I think that is about all I want to cover and have been speaking long enough. Anything from you guys?

[Wombataholic]

When do you think the Thunder will make a return to the postseason?

[WigNosy]

Did your RFA experience with Lino Brookins change the way you plan to approach Patrick Edmunds in the final year of HIS rookie deal and potentially in RFA this offseason?

[AngryBanana]

When do you think the Thunder will make a return to the postseason?

A couple of things need to be taken into account. Firstly, player development. While yes, we did have a pretty good TC for our young guys, we still are not in a position to challenge anyone in a series. Our rookie contract players still need to develop more. Secondly, we are in the West where I am hoping it will be more competitive for us since there are some teams in a similar situation with rebuilding. An optimist would say next year, but I’m thinking we will not have playoffs on our minds until after next season.


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[AngryBanana]

Did your RFA experience with Lino Brookins change the way you plan to approach Patrick Edmunds in the final year of HIS rookie deal and potentially in RFA this offseason?

I am glad you asked that. This was my first run in with RFA where one of the players were my own. I will admit I played it a little conservative since I had another SF in Edmunds also on my roster if I were to loose Brookins. I think moving forward I have learned to be more assertive with my players in the initial RFA period and not just assume they will sign with another team. If I would have given Brookins a fair contract offer in RFA I fully believe he would still be in OKC today.


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[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: I know you aren't to blame for their dissatisfaction, but OKC fans have had to endure a long run of terrible, terrible basketball. Is there any pressure to speed up your rebuild to try to salvage the fans, who might not be as patient as you are as a newer GM?

[AngryBanana]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: I know you aren't to blame for their dissatisfaction, but OKC fans have had to endure a long run of terrible, terrible basketball. Is there any pressure to speed up your rebuild to try to salvage the fans, who might not be as patient as you are as a newer GM?

If you look at every past press conference I’ve had, I’ve always been very apathetic with our fan base when it comes to the past. They are a great city and deserves way better than what they have received. It is noticeable by our attendance since I’ve taken over, how fed up they have been. I’ve also never used it as an excuse though, what happened 5 years ago does not excuse today’s mistakes.

However, I can honestly say that I am excited to see what this team does this year. I think we are out of the initial phase of rebuilding, the seizing of assets phase. Now we are in the development stage. Where all of the pieces we have gathered are now growing. This phase is an exciting one because you are able to see these players grow before your eyes and develop into what you hope they can become. So hopefully our fans are just as excited as I am to see something fresh this year.


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[kucoach7]

With so many young players on your roster, how do you handle deciding who gets insured during training camp?

[AngryBanana]

With so many young players on your roster, how do you handle deciding who gets insured during training camp?

I just picked the last three people I drafted. Thankfully it was the right choice, the one I did not choose had the best TC of all of my blues.


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[drkavarga]

So when are the Thunder finally moving back to Seattle? Real question, how do you feel about Jalen Hurts joining the Sooners?