National Basketball Association

Playoff appearance won't change Thunder's approach

Published May. 3, 2010 10:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

What kind of damage could LeBron James and Kevin Durant do if the NBA's two top scorers were on the same team? What if Chris Bosh was snagging rebounds and bringing a low post presence to complement Durant's potent perimeter game?

For an Oklahoma City team with a tiny payroll and plenty of room under the salary cap despite a surprising run to the playoffs, the possibilities seem endless entering an offseason when a group of All-Star free agents could be on the market.

The long-term consequences of any such signing, though, will likely keep Thunder general manager Sam Presti on the sidelines as some of the NBA's best players consider whether to find new homes in the months to come.

``We can't let emotion drive our decisions,'' Presti said Monday. ``We haven't done that in the past in times of adversity and I don't foresee us letting that happen this summer coming off a season where we've had a step in the right direction.

``That's not to say we think we've got the perfect mix or the perfect blend. We're certainly not in a position to say that but we just have to be diligent with what we're trying to do going forward.''

Presti didn't rule out pursuing free agents but said he's focused on ``building a team that we feel like can grow together and last.''

In turning around the franchise in three seasons as GM, Presti has primarily built the Thunder roster through the draft and with a few thrifty trades and free-agent signings.

``We understand that through a natural progression, our payroll is going to rise,'' Presti said. ``That's part of the reason we've taken a disciplined approach to this point. ... There is some long-range planning that has to go into this, and it can't always be about a short-term fix without cause for concern moving forward.''

Among Presti's key decisions this summer will be whether to offer long-term contract extensions to Durant, the youngest player to win the NBA scoring title, and starting forward Jeff Green. But looming in the next two years are similar choices for Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden - three other first-round draft picks who became key contributors to the franchise's 27-win improvement this season.

To bring in someone like James, Bosh or Dwyane Wade, Presti would almost certainly have to cut ties with one or more players in the Thunder's young nucleus.

``We've said consistently that we want to try to create a situation where we can allow the group to grow together,'' Presti said. ``We're excited about the opportunity to allow that to happen. When the time comes, we'll sit down and have those conversations. But we have to work through that process when we get there.''

Presti can't start negotiating new deals with Durant and Green until July, and both are under contract to play in Oklahoma City next season regardless of what this summer holds. The Thunder may be able to save money by waiting until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place, but skipping the chance to offer extensions this summer could also create a rift with two of the franchise's core players.

``I don't think anyone knows what the future might hold in that regard, so we'd be dealing in like double hypotheticals and I don't like to delve into hypotheticals in the first place, let alone double down on them,'' Presti said. ``So, it's a hard question for me to even try to answer.''

Presti also wouldn't say if he planned to negotiate a new contract with Scott Brooks, who was named the NBA's coach of the year in his first full season as head coach.

Brooks took over on an interim basis in November 2008 when P.J. Carlesimo was fired after a 1-12 start. Oklahoma City was 3-29 before a strong finish that season set the foundation for this one, when the Thunder won 50 games before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.