Mr.Bottomtooth
06-05-2007, 12:04 AM
Sonics narrow GM field to two
Finalists said to be Spurs' Presti and Wizards' Sheppard
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
The Sonics appear close to making a decision on their general manager search, and the two finalists are San Antonio vice president Sam Presti and Washington Wizards VP Tommy Sheppard, NBA sources said.
Presti interviewed one-on-one with Sonics president Lenny Wilkens on Thursday and spoke by phone with owner Clayton Bennett, who was a part owner of the Spurs until 1997.
Presti, according to sources, wowed Wilkens and Bennett and is widely believed to be ready to run his own team, despite being five months shy of his 31st birthday.
Presti joined the Spurs after graduating from Emerson College in Boston and is considered a wunderkind because of his scouting system that has been widely adopted around the NBA.
The question regarding Presti is whether he has the ability to evaluate high-level talent and whether he is shrewd enough to maneuver deals with the league's veteran GMs.
There may not be a sense of urgency for Presti to leave San Antonio, given the organization's pristine reputation and a chance to win a fourth NBA title in nine years. He has also been promoted four times since joining the organization in 2000.
Meanwhile, the Sonics are guaranteed to remain in Seattle for only the 2007-08 season. Bennett promised to file relocation papers Nov. 1. That could create some uncertainty with the job, though the buzz at last week's NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., was that the Sonics' current roster, the ability to re-sign Rashard Lewis and landing the No. 2 draft pick make it an intriguing job.
One Sonics official said opposing front-office members consider the Sonics one of the league's emerging clubs for next season.
Wilkens said last week that he would like to make a decision on a general manager soon, and an announcement is expected as soon as Tuesday.
Wilkens wants the new general manager to begin an immediate search for a coach and for that job, there is a list of candidates, including former Sonics assistant Dwane Casey, Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons and former Sonics Paul Silas.
Sheppard talked with Bennett last week and impressed the owner enough to become one of the leading candidates. Sheppard is a former public relations director for the Denver Nuggets. He joined the Wizards' front office four years ago.
He has Seattle ties (his wife is from Issaquah) and is considered one of the league's rising front-office executives.
Wilkens said the team is not necessarily pushing to hire a coach by the June 28 draft, but the interview process should begin in the next several days.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/318477_sonx05.html?source=rss
Finalists said to be Spurs' Presti and Wizards' Sheppard
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
The Sonics appear close to making a decision on their general manager search, and the two finalists are San Antonio vice president Sam Presti and Washington Wizards VP Tommy Sheppard, NBA sources said.
Presti interviewed one-on-one with Sonics president Lenny Wilkens on Thursday and spoke by phone with owner Clayton Bennett, who was a part owner of the Spurs until 1997.
Presti, according to sources, wowed Wilkens and Bennett and is widely believed to be ready to run his own team, despite being five months shy of his 31st birthday.
Presti joined the Spurs after graduating from Emerson College in Boston and is considered a wunderkind because of his scouting system that has been widely adopted around the NBA.
The question regarding Presti is whether he has the ability to evaluate high-level talent and whether he is shrewd enough to maneuver deals with the league's veteran GMs.
There may not be a sense of urgency for Presti to leave San Antonio, given the organization's pristine reputation and a chance to win a fourth NBA title in nine years. He has also been promoted four times since joining the organization in 2000.
Meanwhile, the Sonics are guaranteed to remain in Seattle for only the 2007-08 season. Bennett promised to file relocation papers Nov. 1. That could create some uncertainty with the job, though the buzz at last week's NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., was that the Sonics' current roster, the ability to re-sign Rashard Lewis and landing the No. 2 draft pick make it an intriguing job.
One Sonics official said opposing front-office members consider the Sonics one of the league's emerging clubs for next season.
Wilkens said last week that he would like to make a decision on a general manager soon, and an announcement is expected as soon as Tuesday.
Wilkens wants the new general manager to begin an immediate search for a coach and for that job, there is a list of candidates, including former Sonics assistant Dwane Casey, Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons and former Sonics Paul Silas.
Sheppard talked with Bennett last week and impressed the owner enough to become one of the leading candidates. Sheppard is a former public relations director for the Denver Nuggets. He joined the Wizards' front office four years ago.
He has Seattle ties (his wife is from Issaquah) and is considered one of the league's rising front-office executives.
Wilkens said the team is not necessarily pushing to hire a coach by the June 28 draft, but the interview process should begin in the next several days.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/318477_sonx05.html?source=rss