timvp
05-08-2007, 01:55 AM
Presti a prime candidate for Sonics GM
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
About a year before Lenny Wilkens took over for Bob Hopkins in Wilkens' second tenure as Sonics coach in 1977, the team's potential new general manager was born in Massachusetts.
Wilkens can say with confidence he's forgotten more about the game of basketball than most 30-year-olds know, but that may not be the case as it pertains to San Antonio Spurs vice president and assistant general manager Sam Presti, who is emerging as one of the top candidates for the Sonics GM position, according to league sources.
Wilkens has not spoken on the record about the team's search for a coach and general manager, but it appears the Sonics president is seeking the GM first and then the coach. Detroit assistant general manager Scott Perry, whose club is facing the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals, has yet to be contacted by the Sonics.
But Presti and Perry appear to be the leading candidates. Presti is particularly intriguing. Compared favorably to contemporaries Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox and Chris Snow of the Minnesota Wild, Presti is one of the league's top young executives, someone who is awaiting the opportunity to construct his own team.
Presti, 30, is partially responsible for building the Spurs roster. He pushed general manager R.C. Buford to draft a talented but inexperienced French guard named Tony Parker in 2001. Parker is now one of the NBA's top point guards. The Spurs have relied on Presti to nab key international prospects such as Fabricio Oberto, Beno Udrih and Francisco Elson.
Sonics owner Clay Bennett is a former minority owner of the Spurs and has a good relationship with Buford, who has promoted Presti on four occasions, including a bump to vice president before the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
Presti, an Emerson College graduate, joined San Antonio as a $1,000-a-month intern and advanced quickly in the organization, getting promoted from intern to special assistant to director of scouting to director of player personnel to vice president.
With Buford a fixture in San Antonio, it seems Presti's shot at being a GM will have to occur with another club. Out of respect for San Antonio's postseason run, apparently, Wilkens has been hesitant to conduct interviews with potential candidates. But with the Memphis Grizzlies also looking for a GM and the NBA pre-draft camp approaching at month's end, it would appear Wilkens' timetable is short.
Presti could not be reached for comment Monday but it has been known in Spurs circles for nearly two weeks he could be a top Sonics candidate.
Presti has established his reputation by building the Spurs' scouting system. He is considered a salary-cap expert around the league, though it is uncertain whether he would be a shrewd GM who could broker deals with men twice his age.
Wilkens has apparently told friends he would have to make a splash with a younger GM as opposed to a retread, and Presti would appear to fit that bill. But Seattle's GM and coaching jobs may not be the most coveted around the league for a few reasons.
Firstly, the Sonics are in turmoil and club officials have remained silent during the search. Wilkens, tabbed the face of the franchise since being named president, refuses to speak with the media and is considered a mystery because of his guarded personality.
The question is whether a hot general manager candidate would depart from his comfortable position to work with Wilkens, who has his share of adversaries around the league.
Secondly, the Sonics could move after the 2007-08 season, which could damage the team's chances of attracting top free-agent players. How does a GM sell Seattle to a premium player when there is no guarantee the club will not be in Oklahoma City in a matter of months?
The Grizzlies have had trouble over the years signing free agents since their move from Vancouver. A new Sonics GM could face similar obstacles in the coming months.
Are the Sonics, who don't seem to be that far from being a playoff club, attractive enough to lure highly regarded candidates such as Presti or Perry? That question will be answered in the next few weeks.
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
About a year before Lenny Wilkens took over for Bob Hopkins in Wilkens' second tenure as Sonics coach in 1977, the team's potential new general manager was born in Massachusetts.
Wilkens can say with confidence he's forgotten more about the game of basketball than most 30-year-olds know, but that may not be the case as it pertains to San Antonio Spurs vice president and assistant general manager Sam Presti, who is emerging as one of the top candidates for the Sonics GM position, according to league sources.
Wilkens has not spoken on the record about the team's search for a coach and general manager, but it appears the Sonics president is seeking the GM first and then the coach. Detroit assistant general manager Scott Perry, whose club is facing the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals, has yet to be contacted by the Sonics.
But Presti and Perry appear to be the leading candidates. Presti is particularly intriguing. Compared favorably to contemporaries Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox and Chris Snow of the Minnesota Wild, Presti is one of the league's top young executives, someone who is awaiting the opportunity to construct his own team.
Presti, 30, is partially responsible for building the Spurs roster. He pushed general manager R.C. Buford to draft a talented but inexperienced French guard named Tony Parker in 2001. Parker is now one of the NBA's top point guards. The Spurs have relied on Presti to nab key international prospects such as Fabricio Oberto, Beno Udrih and Francisco Elson.
Sonics owner Clay Bennett is a former minority owner of the Spurs and has a good relationship with Buford, who has promoted Presti on four occasions, including a bump to vice president before the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
Presti, an Emerson College graduate, joined San Antonio as a $1,000-a-month intern and advanced quickly in the organization, getting promoted from intern to special assistant to director of scouting to director of player personnel to vice president.
With Buford a fixture in San Antonio, it seems Presti's shot at being a GM will have to occur with another club. Out of respect for San Antonio's postseason run, apparently, Wilkens has been hesitant to conduct interviews with potential candidates. But with the Memphis Grizzlies also looking for a GM and the NBA pre-draft camp approaching at month's end, it would appear Wilkens' timetable is short.
Presti could not be reached for comment Monday but it has been known in Spurs circles for nearly two weeks he could be a top Sonics candidate.
Presti has established his reputation by building the Spurs' scouting system. He is considered a salary-cap expert around the league, though it is uncertain whether he would be a shrewd GM who could broker deals with men twice his age.
Wilkens has apparently told friends he would have to make a splash with a younger GM as opposed to a retread, and Presti would appear to fit that bill. But Seattle's GM and coaching jobs may not be the most coveted around the league for a few reasons.
Firstly, the Sonics are in turmoil and club officials have remained silent during the search. Wilkens, tabbed the face of the franchise since being named president, refuses to speak with the media and is considered a mystery because of his guarded personality.
The question is whether a hot general manager candidate would depart from his comfortable position to work with Wilkens, who has his share of adversaries around the league.
Secondly, the Sonics could move after the 2007-08 season, which could damage the team's chances of attracting top free-agent players. How does a GM sell Seattle to a premium player when there is no guarantee the club will not be in Oklahoma City in a matter of months?
The Grizzlies have had trouble over the years signing free agents since their move from Vancouver. A new Sonics GM could face similar obstacles in the coming months.
Are the Sonics, who don't seem to be that far from being a playoff club, attractive enough to lure highly regarded candidates such as Presti or Perry? That question will be answered in the next few weeks.