Sam Presti and the bar for greatness

When discussion of the top general managers in the sport arises, Sam Presti’s name garners immediate mention, somewhere with R.C. Buford.  I’ve found it confusing.  Presti has certainly made shrewd maneuvers, unearthing Serge Ibaka, acquiring Eric Maynor and Kendrick Perkins, and getting crafty with the cap to retain big man Nick Collison.  But those are accomplishments paralleled by many other head-men; the Thunder owe their sudden rise to dominance to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, former picks all within the top quartet of the lottery.  In every case, Presti made the right call.  (Taking Harden at #3 was certainly the right move, contrary to the belief of many that Tyreke Evans should have been the man; the Thunder have a higher ceiling with Harden than the tunnel-visioned Evans.)  But is ‘not messing up’ really the bar for greatness?

A lottery pick is a reward for futility.  Consecutive top picks obviously indicate sustained prior futility.  Why is it considered ‘genius’ to not mess up?

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