Mr.Bottomtooth
06-04-2007, 06:14 PM
Sonics close on GM pick
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: June 4th, 2007 01:00 AM
It appears San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti has emerged as the leading candidate for the Seattle SuperSonics’ vacant general manager position, league sources indicate.
Though no agreement officially has been reached, sources say, the Sonics could call a news conference sometime this week to announce the hiring of the 30-year-old Presti as the replacement for Rick Sund, who was fired five days after the regular season ended.
Presti has interviewed with Sonics chairman Clay Bennett and continues to have contact with the Oklahoma City businessman, who once was a part owner of the Spurs organization before selling his stake in the team in 1997.
But Bennett has a solid respect for the Spurs organization, which is attempting this year to win its fourth championship since 1999, the reason he has tabbed Presti ahead of Portland consultant John Gabriel, Washington Wizards assistant general manager Tommy Sheppard and Atlanta Hawks assistant general manager Gary Fitzsimmons.
While Presti continues to have contact with Bennett, the other candidates, sources say, have not had conversations with Bennett since their initial interviews.
The sides apparently still are attempting to reach an agreement on compensation, though it is unclear where those discussions stand. Sund made $1 million a year for two years – and still will be paid that sum in 2007-08 because his contract does not expire until after next season – but sources say the Sonics are offering considerably less for this position than what Sund was earning.
If Presti is hired this week, as expected, he will be immersed immediately in business. Team president Lenny Wilkens has said the new GM will have a say in the hiring of a new coach to replace Bob Hill, who was fired the same day as Sund. Wilkens has not given a timeline for the hiring of a coach.
The Sonics have the second, 31st and 35th picks in the June 28 NBA draft. They will work out Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Acie Law, as well as a deep pool of talent for the second-round picks.
After graduating from Boston’s Emerson College in 2000, Presti joined the Spurs as a summer intern. He has gotten a promotion almost every season since, and has implemented the Spurs’ scouting database. He is credited with first spotting Spurs point guard Tony Parker, whom the Spurs drafted with the 29th pick in 2001.
SAM PRESTI FILE
Age: 30. Born: Concord, Mass.
Previous title: Assistant general manager, San Antonio Spurs (promoted September of 2005).
Bio: Led the design and implementation of the Spurs’ scouting database, a system that is now being used by numerous teams throughout the NBA. … Credited with encouraging the Spurs to draft point guard Tony Parker in 2001. … Played a key role in the Spurs landing key foreign players such as Fabricio Oberto, Beno Udrih and Francisco Elson. … Earned bachelor’s degree in 2000 in communications, politics and law from Emerson College in Boston.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/77838.html
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: June 4th, 2007 01:00 AM
It appears San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti has emerged as the leading candidate for the Seattle SuperSonics’ vacant general manager position, league sources indicate.
Though no agreement officially has been reached, sources say, the Sonics could call a news conference sometime this week to announce the hiring of the 30-year-old Presti as the replacement for Rick Sund, who was fired five days after the regular season ended.
Presti has interviewed with Sonics chairman Clay Bennett and continues to have contact with the Oklahoma City businessman, who once was a part owner of the Spurs organization before selling his stake in the team in 1997.
But Bennett has a solid respect for the Spurs organization, which is attempting this year to win its fourth championship since 1999, the reason he has tabbed Presti ahead of Portland consultant John Gabriel, Washington Wizards assistant general manager Tommy Sheppard and Atlanta Hawks assistant general manager Gary Fitzsimmons.
While Presti continues to have contact with Bennett, the other candidates, sources say, have not had conversations with Bennett since their initial interviews.
The sides apparently still are attempting to reach an agreement on compensation, though it is unclear where those discussions stand. Sund made $1 million a year for two years – and still will be paid that sum in 2007-08 because his contract does not expire until after next season – but sources say the Sonics are offering considerably less for this position than what Sund was earning.
If Presti is hired this week, as expected, he will be immersed immediately in business. Team president Lenny Wilkens has said the new GM will have a say in the hiring of a new coach to replace Bob Hill, who was fired the same day as Sund. Wilkens has not given a timeline for the hiring of a coach.
The Sonics have the second, 31st and 35th picks in the June 28 NBA draft. They will work out Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Acie Law, as well as a deep pool of talent for the second-round picks.
After graduating from Boston’s Emerson College in 2000, Presti joined the Spurs as a summer intern. He has gotten a promotion almost every season since, and has implemented the Spurs’ scouting database. He is credited with first spotting Spurs point guard Tony Parker, whom the Spurs drafted with the 29th pick in 2001.
SAM PRESTI FILE
Age: 30. Born: Concord, Mass.
Previous title: Assistant general manager, San Antonio Spurs (promoted September of 2005).
Bio: Led the design and implementation of the Spurs’ scouting database, a system that is now being used by numerous teams throughout the NBA. … Credited with encouraging the Spurs to draft point guard Tony Parker in 2001. … Played a key role in the Spurs landing key foreign players such as Fabricio Oberto, Beno Udrih and Francisco Elson. … Earned bachelor’s degree in 2000 in communications, politics and law from Emerson College in Boston.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/77838.html