The events on July 6, 2019, were supposed to send the Thunder into their first rebuild since they arrived in Oklahoma City on the tail end of one. This was the day the Paul George trade occurred, causing fans to be uncertain and basketball analysts to predict last-place finishes for the brand new Thunder squad.
The backlash was fierce. Message boards filled with demands to fire Presti, and fans expected a dismal season. Trading away an MVP candidate when the league was gaining more parity was baffling– and then it got seemingly worse.
As more dominoes fell, it seemed like Presti was embracing an immediate rebuilding era.