As critical as people have been of him and as much as it has seemed like he's been dismantling the roster purely to make this team unattractive to the Seattle area, I actually am going to give credit and I think he's building a very promising roster. In an executive role it can take guts to blow everything up and retool, especially in his first shot at such a position, but I think one of the biggest tragedies of this team moving is losing the chance to watch this new, young core grow together as proper Sonics. I'll come out and say I love the Westbrook pick. Absolutely love it. Maybe it's a reach, but IMO outside of the top three picks, there wasn't really a standout. Any one of the next tier - Love, Alexander, Westbrook, Lopez, Bayless etc - could conceivably have been a reach. I don't know if Westbrook will ever be a 20+ scorer or an All-Star level point, but he does have a skill that will translate to the pros, and that's the ability to be a lockdown perimeter defender, something this team hasn't had since GP's prime. If he could develop into a Rondo type with a more polished offensive game then I think it's a great pick. KD is KD, and based on the last two months of his rookie year, is probably going to be a 25-27 ppg guy as early as next season, while Green is the perfect wingman and could potentially be someone who can defend three positions while providing 17-18 ppg too. In the frontcourt, Petro is average, but I think if Wilcox stays then those two, Collison, DJ White (love this trade) and a veteran big can form a pretty nice core, and anything Sene can contribute is a bonus. I'd let Watson start next season and get whatever we can for Ridnour, keep Gelabale and maybe look to add a veteran scorer in the backcourt, but overall I don't think we're in such a bad position. I just hope Pechman enforces the lease so I can follow this group's development for another 24 months.
I just hope the Sonics stay in Seattle, they're going to be a fun team to watch, especially with all the young talent.
I couldn't agree with you more. Getting Westbrook, DJ White, and even DeVon Hardin were great acquisitions. You can't really fault him for shipping out Ray and Shard, you know neither of them wanted to be here. This is probably the best draft the Sonics have had in a while. Gotta give Presti a good pat on the back. Oh yeah, and what's the deal with Ibaka? Is he coming over? And if so, how good is he..?
Who knows if we'll ever see Ibaka in the NBA with his contractual obligations in Europe. Classic cost-saving pick and better than just selling it. Doubt he's another Peter Fehse but definitely won't be seeing him in the near future I wouldn't think. I'm interested in Shieky's opinions of the draft and our roster too, given he's been an outspoken critic of Presti for a while now.
Was I impressed with this draft by the Sonics? No, but I do respect that Presti has a vision of what he wants to accomplish as a GM and is not wavering from that at any level. Of all the guards that were drafted in the lottery Westbrook is the best defender and outside of Rose and Augustine probably will make the quickest adjustment to being a full time point guard. Presti wants everyone in this organization to buy in to his philosophy that defense is the requirement for the long term success of the franchise and to Presti's credit outside of Kevin Durant he has targeted defensive minded players. I think that DJ White was an excellent pick up for 2 second round selections. And the Ibaka selection could (but most likely won't) pay dividends down the road. Here is what I don't like about the draft -- with 3 first round picks (one of which is at #4) we should feel like we are considerably better now than we were prior to draft night. I don't feel that way at all. Westbrook is not a better NBA point guard right now than fellow Bruin Earl Watson. Earl Watson isn't good enough to be a starting point guard on a team with playoff aspirations. Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson are both signed until 2010. Why aren't we looking to package those guys for a better veteran lead guard who can assist with Westbrook's maturation into a full time point guard? Why are we looking to stash players who may or may not want to come over to the league at pick #24? There is a ton of value still available at pick #24. You could have had a potential lottery pick in Darrell Arthur at pick #24. Instead we pick a player who I already hear may never come over. Look how many players the Spurs have drafted and still have the rights to over the years that have never step foot in America. Difference between the Spurs and the Sonics is that they did it with a second round pick -- and with guarantee money sitting there you would like to think that you will be getting a reward on your investment. DJ White is a competitive player that I think will challenge to be in the rotation as a rookie. Hell he only has to beat out Johan Petro. Devon Hardin is a project big with some promise. No problem with that selection. And Sasha Kaun has some intangibles that are intriguing. I would have liked the Sonics to have drafted Jamont Gordon because he most certainly will be on an NBA roster in November. Sam Presti is a young innovative GM who Bennett trusts to make fiscally responsible decisions. Do I think that he is positioning our team to outstanding down the road? No. He talks to about not wanting to skip steps in order to succeed. Ask Danny Ainge if he minded skipping floors for his championship ring. He came into this situation with assets and got a minimal return on all of them. Sam Presti's history in a nutshell Jeff Green, the rentals of Wally Szczerbiak/Delonte West, Donyell Marshall and the expiring contracts of Adrian Griffin and Ira Newble for Ray Allen - Advantage Boston Rentals of Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson, Serge Ibaka, and 2009 and 2010 First Round Picks for Rashard Lewis - Advantage Sonics Devon Hardin for Carl Landry - Advantage Houston No free agents have even sniffed the Key Arena facility. Rick Sund put a competitive team on the court during his stay in Seattle. He was hampered by some financial restrictions of ownership but he made the Sonics a team with tradeable assets. This draft withstanding, of all the moves that Presti has made the only players that he has brought to the team with any trade value are Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. That makes his tenure very suspect in my mind. My draft grade for the Sonics is a C because I think that they could have traded down (and received an asset in the process) to get Westbrook and I think that could have gotten far more value at #24 than a 18 year old who is 3 or 4 years away from being NBA ready (especially when LHospitalet seems primed to offer a deal that far outweighs that of a 24th salary pick). Presti is overrated but he is sticking to his long term rebuilding plan. For that I can at least respect him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jun 27 2008, 03:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Here is what I don't like about the draft -- with 3 first round picks (one of which is at #4) we should feel like we are considerably better now than we were prior to draft night. I don't feel that way at all. Westbrook is not a better NBA point guard right now than fellow Bruin Earl Watson. Earl Watson isn't good enough to be a starting point guard on a team with playoff aspirations. Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson are both signed until 2010. Why aren't we looking to package those guys for a better veteran lead guard who can assist with Westbrook's maturation into a full time point guard?</div> How do you know we're not? I don't think this was a particularly deep draft, either. Three standouts talent-wise and a lot of mid-lottery filler. We bombed out in the draft lottery really, but that doesn't matter because we lucked out when it really counted last year. But, with the picks we had and the talent level of the draft, I don't think we were ever going to come out "considerably better". In the long term who knows. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why are we looking to stash players who may or may not want to come over to the league at pick #24? There is a ton of value still available at pick #24. You could have had a potential lottery pick in Darrell Arthur at pick #24. Instead we pick a player who I already hear may never come over. Look how many players the Spurs have drafted and still have the rights to over the years that have never step foot in America. Difference between the Spurs and the Sonics is that they did it with a second round pick -- and with guarantee money sitting there you would like to think that you will be getting a reward on your investment.</div> I agree with this to an extent, but I didn't see anyone available at 24 who was going to help us immediately anyway. I like Arthur and maybe we could have taken him and fielded offers, but it's not really a draft-breaker for mine. If we'd gone big with #4 I'd have liked Chalmers but the Westbrook selection made that redundant. Joey Dorsey was another I'd have liked but not at 24. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Jeff Green, the rentals of Wally Szczerbiak/Delonte West, Donyell Marshall and the expiring contracts of Adrian Griffin and Ira Newble for Ray Allen - Advantage Boston</div> Don't see the problem here. We were not going anywhere with Ray, wrong side of 30, he had a reputation of dodgy knees and becoming one-dimensional, and we get a guy who will be a solid 10-year pro and probably a borderline All-Star. It's only "Advantage Boston" because McHale handed the Celtics KG on a platter, allowing Ray to wind down his career as a third option. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Rentals of Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson, Serge Ibaka, and 2009 and 2010 First Round Picks for Rashard Lewis - Advantage Sonics</div> I wouldn't underestimate this move. Rashard was always going, and we essentially got three first rounders for him (even if one was used on Ibaka). Very shrewd. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Devon Hardin for Carl Landry - Advantage Houston</div> Long bow to draw. How many people gave two shits about trading Landry? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No free agents have even sniffed the Key Arena facility.</div> Not really Presti's fault. Who was the last big name to sign in Seattle? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Rick Sund put a competitive team on the court during his stay in Seattle. He was hampered by some financial restrictions of ownership but he made the Sonics a team with tradeable assets. This draft withstanding, of all the moves that Presti has made the only players that he has brought to the team with any trade value are Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. That makes his tenure very suspect in my mind.</div> So he's been in the job a year and already put two stud blocks in place, potentially a third, and you're unhappy? Most of the moves he has made have been simple housekeeping and the one big one landed someone who will be an outstanding player for the next decade. Should we have paid Rashard $128M instead? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>My draft grade for the Sonics is a C because I think that they could have traded down (and received an asset in the process) to get Westbrook and I think that could have gotten far more value at #24 than a 18 year old who is 3 or 4 years away from being NBA ready (especially when LHospitalet seems primed to offer a deal that far outweighs that of a 24th salary pick).</div> I doubt we'd have gotten anything by trading down except a future pick. Most of the guys in the 4-9 range were similar, and Westbrook has a lot of upside and brings a quality the team really lacks and has done for a while. Pick 24 I'll certainly concede on, but I don't think we lost out too much in the big scheme there. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Presti is overrated but he is sticking to his long term rebuilding plan. For that I can at least respect him.</div> He's growing on me. Walking into the mess that was our roster at the time he did would be testing for an experienced GM, let alone a rookie. I feel Presti can only really be judged in 3-5 years time and if Green is an All-Star and Westbrook an All-NBA defender, that's a nice core with Durant. He didn't draft Sene and Swift either.
We had the worst record in franchise history in Presti's first season. If the foundation for our team is going to be continually being in the top 5 of the lottery and maneuvering trades to have multiple picks in the first and second rounds we will be the 21st century version of the old Donald Sterling Clippers -- where we refuse to spend any money on quality player that are older than 23. I understand that Presti is also hampered with financial restrictions as Bennett and company are putting everything that they have into the relocation efforts. But the notion that you feel as if we are positioning ourselves to be contenders in the near future is laughable. Who is to say that when Durant's contract is up that he will not want to bolt for greener pastures? If he doesn't see significant progress soon, and he is mired on a lottery bound team his first four season in the league, you don't think that being an East Coast kid he may look to get out of dodge? Durant is the only person who makes this team even worth talking about. You can talk about how well Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook will develop but if Durant chooses to leave -- because the master plan for the Sonics is taking far too long for his liking -- we will be in a situation where this franchise will literally be a consistent cellar dwellar. You can make all of the excuses in the world but the bottom line is that Presti has really only positioned our team to be significantly under the salary cap and in doing that he hasn't made our team attractive to fans, free agents, or even to the current players. Obviously he was probably instructed to do so. But at the same time a core of Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Kevin Durant has and will always sound better than a core of Durant, Westbrook, and Green. I understand the economic impact that it would take to have made that trio stay together and to be honest I do think that Presti (outside of the Carl Landry trade and to a small extent the Ray Allen trade) has made sound trades that have enabled us to become younger and save money. But for someone to annoint Presti as one of the better GM's in the league just because he is young, bright, and innovative does not take into account that Kevin Durant was gift wrapped to him and that his vision shares a strikingly simiar vision of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats (a team full of high character people on rookie contracts). This will not enable the Sonics to become an elite team in the league. Yeah Rick Sund made a horrible pick in drafting Mo Sene and the Robert Swift pick looks to have been horrific as well (but Sonics fans all know that his injury and terrible rehab really stunted his development). Did Sund ever build this team into a championship contender? No, but his long term vision made us a very competitive team in 04-05 and made us primed to be a contender in 07-08 had there not been an ownership change. Besides their have only been 7 teams to win an NBA championship since we last won ours 29 years ago. I wouldn't hold Sund accountable for not bringing the Sonics a championship in his 6 seasons in Seattle. Presti brought in P.J. and the jury is still very much out on him. Scott Perry, assistant GM, left the Sonics after one season. GM's have a responsibility to pursue free agents that can add to the team and regardless of the excuses Presti hasn't done it. Sund had a knack for bringing in very good undrafted free agents and cost efficient veteran free agents. Thus far I will say that Presti has established that he is willing to stick to his game plan. But just like in competition you have to make some amendments and adjustments to your game plan to ensure its success. We were the worst defensive team in the league for most of the season -- and that was the climate Presti wanted to change the quickest. We have to make significants strides in our player and overall team development to make sure that not only we retain Durant and Green but also we are attractive to available FA's. If that doesn't happen than we might as well say what Samuel L. Jackson (Hezus) said to Simon in Die Hard With a Vengeance: "You can stick your well laid plan up your well laid ass." I'm not calling Presti out as a poor GM. But he definitely shouldn't be lauded as one of the league's best either.
I lost some of my respect for Presti when he took Westbrook. #4 is too high for a career bench player
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir Desmond @ Jun 27 2008, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Devon Hardin for Carl Landry - Advantage Houston</div> Long bow to draw. How many people gave two shits about trading Landry? </div> It's not too often that you get the first pick in the second round. Like I have said in earlier columns it is essentially getting a first round player at a reduced price. Had we not traded that pick (which we ended up using with Sasha Kaun not Hardin--and we traded that pick to Cleveland for cash anyway) we probably wouldn't have had to draft White and would have been able to nap a Mario Chambers or Chris Douglas Roberts with our earlier second pick. Have you noticed that outside of Danny Ainge on the Ray Allen deal and Jim Paxson (who we just acquired the expiring deal of Adrian Griffin) all of Presti's dealings have been with people he has worked with. RC Buford (SA), with whom he worked with in S.A., Danny Ferry (Cle), with whom he worked with in S.A., Steve Kerr (Pho), with whom he managed in S.A., and Scott Perry (Det) with whom he worked last season in Seattle were all people with whom Presti made deals with (I don't even count Otis Thorpe -- that was all Sweet Lew agents doing). Daryl Morey, who I don't think Presti ever worked with, got the better of him with the Landry trade and Ainge got the better of him with the Allen trade. The Sonics were a trade fascilitator with the Bulls/Cavs so Presti neither won nor loss in that exchange -- other than the fact he was able to shed payroll with getting rid of Wally's contract. I honestly want Presti to do right by this franchise. He obviously must be pretty engaging to get the better of the deals with people that at one point in time were his superiors and/or friends. As unconventional as he comes across, he does have a vision that he feels will eventually pay dividends. I am just not a patient person. When I see what Kevin Pritchard has been able to do down I-5 I see a franchise that will be contending sooner rather than later. How can anyone be a Sam Presti advocate when under his leadership our team had its worst record in its most important season? We may lose this team because of the perceived lack of interest in this ball club -- and considering the fact that we added one of the league's most marketable stars last season in K.D. and Presti purposely through him to the wolves with as little help as he could -- I would like to think that as a Sonic fan you wouldn't embrace the wonderkid just yet. Presti believes that a solid foundation and time will heal all of the wounds. Well for Seattle Sonics fans, time is running out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jun 27 2008, 10:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I just hope the Sonics stay in Seattle, they're going to be a fun team to watch, especially with all the young talent.</div> Agreed. I have visited Seattle and Oklahoma city and, unless you are from OK, Seattle is far and away a better city than OK city IMO. Other than my disagreeing with the Westbrook draft pick, I see them building a nice young nucleus down there in Sonic land.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jun 29 2008, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I understand the economic impact that it would take to have made that trio stay together and to be honest I do think that Presti (outside of the Carl Landry trade and to a small extent the Ray Allen trade) has made sound trades that have enabled us to become younger and save money. But for someone to annoint Presti as one of the better GM's in the league just because he is young, bright, and innovative does not take into account that Kevin Durant was gift wrapped to him and that his vision shares a strikingly simiar vision of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats (a team full of high character people on rookie contracts). This will not enable the Sonics to become an elite team in the league.</div> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jun 29 2008, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I honestly want Presti to do right by this franchise. He obviously must be pretty engaging to get the better of the deals with people that at one point in time were his superiors and/or friends. As unconventional as he comes across, he does have a vision that he feels will eventually pay dividends. I am just not a patient person. When I see what Kevin Pritchard has been able to do down I-5 I see a franchise that will be contending sooner rather than later.</div> Portland might contend sooner rather than later, but they also went through several tough years to get to this point. They blew up their roster and rebuilt with high character people on rookie contracts just like Charlotte has been doing and Seattle is starting to do. I think a big reason why they are further along in the rebuilding process than Charlotte boils down to two things, they had the luck of getting Oden and Charlotte is rebuilding with pretty unathletic high caracter guyes on rookie contracts IMO. Seattle also had good luck with Durant and he's pretty athletic. I don't think their other high draft picks are horribly unathletic either. As long as they can convince players that Oklahoma City isn't a really bad place to play, I think they have a decent future. Playing in the same Division as Portland is their biggest problem IMO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jun 29 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We had the worst record in franchise history in Presti's first season. If the foundation for our team is going to be continually being in the top 5 of the lottery and maneuvering trades to have multiple picks in the first and second rounds we will be the 21st century version of the old Donald Sterling Clippers -- where we refuse to spend any money on quality player that are older than 23.</div> What choice was Presti faced with? We were going nowhere with Ray Allen and his contract. Would you rather be a team that scrapes for the 7th and 8th seeds every season without ever having the scope to win a title? Blowing it all up may end up like the Clippers, but it may also end up like the Blazers, another team who have been in the top five of the lottery and gotten multiple picks. You don't think they're going places? I think it's a worthwhile risk. Charlotte's personnel decisions have been shaky at best. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I understand that Presti is also hampered with financial restrictions as Bennett and company are putting everything that they have into the relocation efforts. But the notion that you feel as if we are positioning ourselves to be contenders in the near future is laughable. Who is to say that when Durant's contract is up that he will not want to bolt for greener pastures? If he doesn't see significant progress soon, and he is mired on a lottery bound team his first four season in the league, you don't think that being an East Coast kid he may look to get out of dodge?</div> All I said was I like what Presti has done with the roster in his short time here. Whether or not we're contenders in the near future to me is irrelevant, because right now we're no further from a title than we were with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. I think we're dong the right thing in terms of Durant too; making him the focal point and surrounding him with suitable pieces. It's obvious now the focal scorer is in place, Presti is looking to add defensively capable players, and if we're still a lottery team in three years, then Presti will have failed and I won't blame KD for walking. No arguments from me there. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Durant is the only person who makes this team even worth talking about. You can talk about how well Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook will develop but if Durant chooses to leave -- because the master plan for the Sonics is taking far too long for his liking -- we will be in a situation where this franchise will literally be a consistent cellar dwellar. You can make all of the excuses in the world but the bottom line is that Presti has really only positioned our team to be significantly under the salary cap and in doing that he hasn't made our team attractive to fans, free agents, or even to the current players. Obviously he was probably instructed to do so. But at the same time a core of Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Kevin Durant has and will always sound better than a core of Durant, Westbrook, and Green.</div> Again, do you want to pay Rashard $128M? He was always going and I can't blame him for that sort of cash. By the time Presti was hired the wheels were well and truly in motion on that one, and he very did well to get something out of it. A core of Ray Allen and Durant is better than a core of Durant, Westbrook and Green? I will disagree heavily on that. One is giving three talented kids a chance to grow together. The other is still a lottery base without other pieces. Hell, we got Durant in the first place with a core of Lewis and Ray Allen. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I understand the economic impact that it would take to have made that trio stay together and to be honest I do think that Presti (outside of the Carl Landry trade and to a small extent the Ray Allen trade) has made sound trades that have enabled us to become younger and save money. But for someone to annoint Presti as one of the better GM's in the league just because he is young, bright, and innovative does not take into account that Kevin Durant was gift wrapped to him and that his vision shares a strikingly simiar vision of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats (a team full of high character people on rookie contracts). This will not enable the Sonics to become an elite team in the league.</div> All I said was I think he's doing a good job given his inexperience and the situation he came into. He has a long way to go before he's considered "one of the better GMs in the league". As for Durant being giftwrapped to him, do you think he would have pulled the trigger on the Boston trade if we were picking fourth or fifth? I seriously doubt that. Getting Durant or Oden gave him the excuse to blow it up and rebuild properly, because he had a central piece already. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah Rick Sund made a horrible pick in drafting Mo Sene and the Robert Swift pick looks to have been horrific as well (but Sonics fans all know that his injury and terrible rehab really stunted his development). Did Sund ever build this team into a championship contender? No, but his long term vision made us a very competitive team in 04-05 and made us primed to be a contender in 07-08 had there not been an ownership change. Besides their have only been 7 teams to win an NBA championship since we last won ours 29 years ago. I wouldn't hold Sund accountable for not bringing the Sonics a championship in his 6 seasons in Seattle.</div> You're putting words in my mouth. I am a big fan of Rick Sund. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Presti brought in P.J. and the jury is still very much out on him. Scott Perry, assistant GM, left the Sonics after one season. GM's have a responsibility to pursue free agents that can add to the team and regardless of the excuses Presti hasn't done it. Sund had a knack for bringing in very good undrafted free agents and cost efficient veteran free agents.</div> 1) PJ wasn't my first choice, but as someone who has a reputation for being good with young players, it made sense. IMO not bringing back Casey was inexcusable, but at the same time I would guess Presti was under instruction to sever as many ties with Seattle as possible. 2) Bit quick on the trigger, aren't you? Only his second off-season in the hot seat. Let's see what he does in the next three months. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Thus far I will say that Presti has established that he is willing to stick to his game plan. But just like in competition you have to make some amendments and adjustments to your game plan to ensure its success. We were the worst defensive team in the league for most of the season -- and that was the climate Presti wanted to change the quickest. We have to make significants strides in our player and overall team development to make sure that not only we retain Durant and Green but also we are attractive to available FA's. If that doesn't happen than we might as well say what Samuel L. Jackson (Hezus) said to Simon in Die Hard With a Vengeance: "You can stick your well laid plan up your well laid ass." I'm not calling Presti out as a poor GM. But he definitely shouldn't be lauded as one of the league's best either.</div> He's not one of the league's best, I just like what he's done to date. It's early days.
Link Good listen. Basically how I feel about Presti and the Sonics. Mike Kahn gets it -- and for a football guy John Clayton isn't that bad either. <span style="color:green">Windows media necessary to access link</span>
A little revisionist history but I was certainly wrong with how I assessed Sam Presti during his second year. As a die hard Sonics fan I wanted to see him put together a competitive team while he was the GM in Seattle......but there is no doubt that this team is definitely one of the best managed team's in the league. The foresight to draft Ibaka and the vision of bringing in players who all share the same willingness to improve speaks volumes of Presti's vision for this franchise. I am not a fan of Oklahoma City at all, but they have positioned themselves to be one of the better teams in the league much quicker than I ever would have anticipated. I wished that he could have done this sooner and in Seattle, but Sam Presti now deserves the credit that Sir Desmond was lauding him early in his career. Good call Nick Mockford.
N-Mock knows his shit. The old Sonics crew was the best. It sucks that it no longer exists. Nice to see you, Shiek. Pay attention to the Celtics. I think they're making a deep run.
