"As the clock inched past midnight Thursday, the last place Thunder general manager Sam Presti wanted to be was precisely where he was at that particular moment: In front of reporters, answering questions.

For the better part of two months, these media folk who surrounded Presti essentially told him what to think and whom to pick for that night's NBA Draft.Like all good general managers, Presti wisely ignored what was hashed and rehashed."We can't pay attention to that," Presti said of rumor, innuendo and flat-out falsities that arise at the end of each spring. "We have to focus on what we're doing."Presti picked Arizona State shooting guard James Harden with the No. 3 pick; traded up one spot to get Ohio State center B.J. Mullens, who was picked No. 24 by Dallas; and acquired the rights at No. 54 to UAB shooting guard Robert Vaden from Charlotte for cash considerations.On the yawn scale of 1 to 10, this might register around 6 or 7, but Presti addressed the Thunder's two biggest needs - a shooter and a post player.There was no spike in Thunder season-ticket sales Friday morning, but that doesn't mean the team didn't get better Thursday night."