Sam Presti's to-do list

I know the trial decision is today, but I figured it'd be interesting to provide a preview to the Sonics' offseason. The NBA off-season will be extremely busy for Sam Presti and the Sonics' front office. Here are three things he needs to keep in mind during this important time:

Cut the Loose Pieces
The Sonics can even make more cap space by not retaining guys like Ronald Dupree or Francisco Elson. They won't play next year and the only purpose they serve is to take a spot on the roster. Also players like Adrian Griffin and Donyell Marshall who have two years left on their contracts can be traded for younger players with higher ceilings.

Along with cutting those four players, Presti should also consider packaging Johan Petro, Earl Watson, and/or Damien Wilkins for some solid veteran backups. If Watson is traded, then Ridnour should be signed medium-term right away. The same vice-versa if Ridnour gets traded.

Build for the Future
The main goal for Sam Presti is to create a young team with solid role-players surrounding Kevin Durant. Presti has already surrounded Durant with Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook's game needs to be developed at the point guard position and Swift or Sene need to step up at the center position.

When Presti believes he has a strong nucleus of young players that can grow together, he can consider picking up and filling in veterans and role players at several positions.

Keep Defense the Focus
After drafting Jeff Green and then Russell Westbrook this year, Sam Presti has made it clear that defense is the priority with this team. He has also done a good job by hiring a defensive-minded coach in PJ Carlesimo.

If you look at every top team in the NBA, they've had long-term success with their defense. Think of teams like the Detroit Pistons or the San Antonio Spurs. If you can get your team to play solid defense, then you'll have a chance to go far for a long period of time.

Lastly, the Sonics need to develop Mo Sene into a dominant defender. He already blocks a boatload of shots and was also named defensive player of the year in the NBDL this past year. I expect him to play a lot more this upcoming season.

Conclusion
Sam Presti still has a lot of work to do this off-season. He needs to do something with useless players (aka: Donyell Marshall, Ronald Dupree, Francisco Elson, etc.). He needs to make some trades and free up more cap space. Most Importantly, this team needs to be built for long-term success. The younger the better. The more defense the better. Sphere: Related Content