Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said his team's championship core has "another level" still to reach, while identifying the franchise's finances, not the NBA's second apron rules, as his real long-term concern. Presti addressed both topics during his annual preseason news conference Thursday.

"I think the team last year had another level to it," said Presti. "I think we could have got to another level. But I think in due time, like I said earlier, this particular group of players, if we stay healthy, if it has time together, it has a chance to be as good if not better than any of the teams we've had."

Oklahoma City's title defense ended with a Game 7 Western Conference Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, prompting a summer of roster changes. The Thunder traded starter Lu Dort along with reserves Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in cost-saving moves that reduced payroll by more than $300 million.

Presti expressed confidence in the team's championship core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

"We have three guys, two of which are not even in their prime, that are All-NBA players, and also the other guy that's a back-to-back MVP [Gilgeous-Alexander], and he's only getting better as well in his prime," said Presti.

Williams appeared in just 38 games last season due to injuries, including a hamstring strain that limited him during the playoff series against San Antonio.

"He looks fantastic," said Presti. "He looks great. He's playing great. We're looking forward to him being himself again."

Presti also pushed back on broad characterizations of how the NBA's second apron affects team-building across the league.

"When people talk about the aprons, everybody is talking about it from a very small point of view because it affects everybody differently based on your starting point and the timeline of your team," said Presti.

He clarified that finances, not the apron rules themselves, represent his greater concern.

"For us, the ghost in the machine is the finances, not so much the aprons," said Presti. "I've said that for three years probably. And sure, it's a changing dynamic, but in 2012, they introduced the Rose Rule and the repeater tax, and that was a disruption. It took time for people to accommodate and acclimate to that. It's always going to change. You have to kind of figure it out and adapt to it."