One thing is clear after all this trade action: the Spurs control the entire NBA.
The nexus of current and former San Antonio players and executives now in general manager or team president positions around the league controlled most of the action this season, dealing with each other as much as they did with other teams.
Consider Kurt Thomas, who started the season with the Suns, run by ex-Spur player Steve Kerr, now Phoenix's president. The Suns--who needed Thomas's defensive presence--sent Thomas and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010 to Seattle, which is run by former Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti, last July for a second-round pick. (The Suns received an $8 million trade exception in the deal.) (UPDATE: Yes, this is corrected. Originally, I had Phoenix getting the 2008 and 2010 first-rounders--which would have been quite the haul for the Suns. I need to lay off the cough syrup during trade week!)
Thomas was then traded on Tuesday from Seattle to San Antonio, where Presti dealt with his former boss, Spurs GM R.C. Buford, in exchange for Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round pick.
Total haul for Seattle from former Spurs' executives for Thomas and a second-rounder: three firsts, Barry and Elson. (The Sonics now have six first-round picks in the next three years--two each season--and 13 picks overall, plus millions in cap room to build around Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.)
Then, Presti turned around and traded Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Cleveland--which just happens to be run by another former Spurs player/executive, Cavs president Danny Ferry--for Donyell Marshall, Cedric Simmons, Shannon Brown and Ira Newble. (The Bulls sent Adrian Griffin to Seattle.)
Kerr, of course, also pulled the trigger on the Shaquille O'Neal trade with Miami for Shawn Marion. And the Mavericks, which acquired Jason Kidd from New Jersey this week, are coached by a former Spur, Avery Johnson. (And recall that the Spurs almost got Kidd in free agency a few years ago before he opted to re-sign with New Jersey.)
Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen is the college basketball columnist for the Inquirer. Each year, he gives a special insight into the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane is the beat writer for Temple. He will pick the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Tom Fitzgerald will blog about Hillary Clinton's Pa. visits March 10 &11.
Inquirer reporter Larry Eichel will post updates on Bill Clinton's March 7 visit to Media.
Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio will write about National Hockey League trade talk. 
Inquirer reporter David Aldridge will live-blog the week before the NBA's trade deadline. 
Peter Mucha began this blog, before moving on to other writing duties.
Comments (1)
Very interesting story. Thank you!
Posted by Mary | February 23, 2008 1:57 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 13:57