CBS Sports ranks Thunder as NBA’s top front office

CBS Sports has ranked the Oklahoma City Thunder as the No. 1 front office in the NBA, crediting General Manager Sam Presti’s draft strategy and the team’s rebuild. 

The Thunder ranked ahead of the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. 

“June served as a coronation for the best general manager in basketball as Sam Presti finally collected his long-awaited first championship,” the article stated. “He’s set the Oklahoma City Thunder up to compete for many, many more…” 

CBS Sports originally ranked all 30 front offices in February following the trade deadline. The outlet revisited those rankings this summer, updating them based on team performance, front office decisions and postseason outcomes. 

Evaluation criteria included: flexibility, past success, long-term planning, creativity, recent performance, payroll use, leadership structure, draft results, trades, contract value, coaching hires, ambition, self-awareness, luck and decision-making hierarchy. 

OKC held the No. 1 spot in both February and the updated rankings. 

The article praised the Thunder not only for stockpiling draft picks, but for maximizing those selections. It pointed to guard Jalen Williams, selected No. 12 overall, who made an All-NBA Team in his third season. The last player picked outside the top 10 to do that so early was Kobe Bryant. 

While some roster moves were high-profile, the article said the Thunder have been just as effective with less visible decisions. The team is well-positioned to navigate the NBA’s second apron salary rules and may even benefit from them. 

“Sam Presti is the best executive in the NBA and is headed to the Hall of Fame one day,” the article concluded. 

To read more or view the full rankings, visit CBSSports.com.