Sam Presti never gave Kevin Durant a heads-up before trading James Harden to the Houston Rockets in 2012. That's according to veteran NBA journalist Jonathan Abrams. It seems to have finally answered a question that has lingered over the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise history for more than a decade. Speaking via The NBA Base, Abrams revealed that he directly asked Durant whether Presti had discussed the blockbuster move with him beforehand.
Kevin Durant revealed Sam Presti did not consult him before trading James Harden to Houston in 2012, per @Jpdabrams
"It’s interesting because I asked Kevin directly whether Presti discussed trading James with him before making the move. Kevin said, 'Sam has probably grown since… pic.twitter.com/GwMppR3nlg
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) October 18, 2026
“Kevin said, ‘Sam has probably grown since then, but no, back then I just played basketball; he didn’t talk to me about those moves,'” Abrams recalled.
The revelation offers a revealing glimpse into Oklahoma City's front-office philosophy at the time. Fresh off a run to the 2012 NBA Finals, the Thunder appeared poised to contend for years with Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Harden leading the way.
However, contract negotiations with Harden stalled over approximately $4.5 million. That prompted Presti to trade the reigning Sixth Man of the Year to Houston just before the regular season. The decision reshaped the franchise and helped launch Harden's rise into an MVP-caliber superstar. Meanwhile, it left Oklahoma City to build around Durant and Westbrook.
Presti has since established himself as one of basketball's most influential executives. After beginning his career with the San Antonio Spurs, he took charge of the Seattle SuperSonics' front office in 2007 and oversaw the transition to Oklahoma City. His drafting of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden helped propel the Thunder to the Finals. Years later, a new rebuild brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams into the fold. That patient approach culminated in Oklahoma City's 2025 championship.Kevin Durant has finally shed light on one of the Thunder's most consequential decisions.