OKLAHOMA CITY — In the summer of 2007, Steve Kerr was the recently elevated general manager of the Phoenix Suns.
“We were, like, exactly eight million over the tax,” Kerr recalled recently to The Athletic.
The Sonics were the team Kerr was referencing.
Presti pulled the trigger on a trade the following summer (2017) for Paul George, the replacement co-star next to Westbrook.
Presti traded George to the LA Clippers for a package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a war chest of draft assets.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Steve Kerr had just been promoted to general manager of the Phoenix Suns in the summer of 2007. Owner Robert Sarver gave him a directive during his first month on the job: Shed enough money to avoid the luxury tax.
Speaking to The Athletic recently, Kerr recalled, “We were, like, exactly eight million over the tax.”. We were able to avoid taxes by simply trading Kurt Thomas. Furthermore, his salary could only be absorbed by one team—literally, just one team in the league. “.”.
Sam Presti had recently left the San Antonio Spurs to join the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference. The 30-year-old, rising star won the title of youngest general manager in the NBA after Sonics owner Clay Bennett was sufficiently impressed with him to give him complete command of what would soon be the first of Presti’s quick and effective rebuilds.
Ray Allen was traded to the Boston Celtics for the fifth pick (Jeff Green) that summer, and Presti used Rashard Lewis’ free-agent departure to negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic that resulted in a $9 million trade exception. He also selected Kevin Durant second overall.
Kerr had been referring to the Sonics. His simplest way to exempt Phoenix from the tax was to make that exception. Kerr estimates that he spent two weeks negotiating the details of the deal that would send Thomas to Seattle tied to assets with Presti, whom he knew from their time together in San Antonio.
“Sam was fully aware of his actions,” Kerr remarked. The fact that he was with Gregg Popovich and R.C alone told me how intelligent and prepared he was for the position. (Buford) and picking their brain about how to do things. I was a youthful general manager. I’m in a situation where I have to close this deal. Business is business. . Two unprotected firsts were ultimately forfeited. “.”.
During his nearly two-decade tenure, some of Presti’s most astute transactions have been of this type. He is the NBA’s third-longest tenured lead basketball decision-maker, behind only Pat Riley and Popovich. He creates financial flexibility, takes on a contract (typically from a reputable veteran), and produces an asset in the process. Later on, he would do so while facing opponents like Kemba Walker, Al Horford, and Chris Paul.
Presti’s illustrious executive career began with this move, which was the first of its kind. Looking at the consequences of that move, it may be the best illustration of how minor adjustments can contribute to the creation and rebirth of a competing franchise.
In addition to Thomas’ contract, Kerr traded Phoenix’s first-round selections in 2008 and 2010. The following season, the Suns finished 55-27, giving Presti and the Thunder a useful tool that can be used effectively but is not a premium asset.
Presti selected Serge Ibaka, a young power forward showing promise in Europe, with the 24th pick. Presti picked Russell Westbrook fourth in the same draft that the team relocated to Oklahoma City in the summer. Ibaka remained abroad for an additional year and joined James Harden, the third-picked pick, in the Thunder’s 2009 rookie class.
Ibaka led the NBA in blocks four times during his first seven seasons as a mainstay starter on a team that was always in the running for the championship. He was a significant interior force. In terms of the Thomas deal, that was already a huge victory on its own.
But the series of deals went on.
On draft night of 2016, Ibaka was traded to the Magic for Victor Oladipo and the eleventh pick, following his seventh season. In order to acquire a young starting shooting guard and what seemed to be Ibaka’s long-term power forward replacement, he would promptly use that draft pick on Domantas Sabonis.
The future of Oklahoma City was further impacted when Durant left the Thunder two weeks after the Ibaka trade. In 2017, Presti made a trade for Paul George, Westbrook’s replacement co-star, the following summer. He sent Oladipo and Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers—exactly the same package he got for Ibaka—in order to get George.
After one fantastic season with the Thunder, George decided to sign a four-year, $137 million contract extension. That core had reached its limit the following summer, following George’s second season with the Thunder, and Presti, in collaboration with Westbrook and George, pressed the eject button at a crucial juncture.
Most NBA fans are starting to recognize the outcome. In exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a trove of draft assets, Presti traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers. Among those selections, the No. Jalen Williams was selected with the 12th pick in 2022.
Gilgeous-Alexander was just named MVP. In his third season, Williams recently made an All-Star team. They are the duo behind one of the most remarkable young cores in recent memory, transforming a 68-win campaign into the team’s first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012, and they seem to have a long road ahead of them.
And through a series of actions, it can be fairly easily linked to that summer of 2007, when Presti created a moderate trade exception and skillfully applied it to assist Kerr and the Suns in avoiding the tax.
“I know that Sam has been building this methodically,” Kerr remarked. Because every move you make is connected, they are all very significant. Because I am aware that he has put everything together in a fantastic manner. “”.
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images provided the image of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Sam Presti.
