How Sam Presti put together OKC Thunder's 2023-24 NBA playoff team

Jeff Patterson, The Oklahoman

For the first time in five years, OKC will host an NBA playoff game Sunday night at Paycom Center.

Russell Westbrook and Paul George were the Thunder's stars for that first-round exit against the Trail Blazers.

A few months later in July 2019, George and Westbrook were traded. Thunder general manager Sam Presti then wrote "it will take us time, now, to reposition, replenish and then ultimately rebuild our team."

The "reposition" part took place after the Thunder made the playoffs in the 2020 COVID-delayed bubble in Florida.

Four years later, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort remain from that squad.

Credit a quick "replenish" and "rebuild" from Presti and Co. for getting OKC back after just two down seasons.

Here's how the top-seeded Thunder assembled its 15-man roster heading the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the eighth-seeded Pelicans:

More: Fair or not, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be judged by OKC Thunder success in NBA playoffs

Draft

  • 2023: Cason Wallace (first round, 10th overall) out of Kentucky

  • 2022: Chet Holmgren (first round, second overall) out of Gonzaga

  • 2022: Ousmane Dieng (first round, 11th overall) out of France

  • 2022: Jalen Williams (first round, 12th overall) out of Santa Clara

  • 2022: Jaylin Williams (first round, 34th overall) out of Arkansas

  • 2021: Josh Giddey (first round, sixth overall) out of Australia

  • 2021: Aaron Wiggins (second round, 55th overall) out of Maryland

Free agent

  • March 2, 2024: Mike Muscala, signed contract with OKC after being waived by Detroit

  • Feb. 10, 2024: Bismack Biyombo, signed with OKC one month after being waived by Memphis

  • Oct. 16, 2022: Isaiah Joe, signed three-year contract with OKC after being waived by Philadelphia

  • Feb. 10, 2022: Lindy Waters III, signed two-way contract out of Oklahoma State

  • July 6, 2019: Luguentz Dort, undrafted free agent out of Arizona State

Trade

  • Feb. 8, 2024: Gordon Hayward (via Charlotte for Davis Bertans, Tre Mann, Vasilije Micić, cash and two second-round picks)

  • Nov. 23, 2020: Kenrich Williams (via New Orleans in a four-team trade that included Steven Adams leaving OKC)

  • July 10, 2019: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (via L.A. Clippers with Danilo Gallinari and multiple draft picks for Paul George)

More: How the OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans match up in NBA playoffs

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder roster: How Sam Presti put together 2023-24 playoff team

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