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spooky!
but cool.
The Alamo Connection
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 a second-round pick to Seattle, which is run by former Spurs assistant general manager Sam Presti, last July for 2008 and 2010 first-round picks. (The Suns received an $8 million trade exception in the deal.)
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.)
http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/live/
spooky!
but cool.
I love it!
Im in ur leag. makin ur trades.
Not to mention Presti and Ferry going in together on a deal with Chicago. I think Aldridge may have paved the way for collusion talks for the next decade.
Who else in the future? Can anyone see Vaughn coaching? What about future front office guys?
Say o to Oklahoma, the 2013 NBA champs.
Popz Runs Da Leeg.
Sometimes the student surpasses his teacher.
o hai thar i upgraeded ur traeds. kthxbai!
Entertaining article. However I don't view Kerr as being in the Axis of Trust.
Edit (consolidation) - see below
Last edited by Solid D; 02-21-2008 at 06:55 PM.
I heard a bunch of nonsense of collusion when the Lakers nabbed Gasol...
What about PJ (former San An assistant) and Presti (Scout of the spurs) making this deal to nab Thomas for nobody's....hmmmmmmmmmm
I'm just saying, oh and I like this trade for you guys. Good pick up.
That's an interesting article, never realized the connections until it got spelled out.
I don't doubt the Spurs called in their favors or whisked out some naked pictures on each other.
Danny Ainge called up McHale.
Jerry West does not work with the Memphis organization or the Lakers anymore....on paper at least.
But I'm all for it, it makes the NBA much more compe ive when trades are done rather than just talked about (which is usually the case)
To further the point a bit -- from TrueHoop during the 2007 Finals:
UPDATE: Profile of Cleveland assistant Michael Malone (Brendan's son) who was hired in Cleveland, reportedly, strictly on the basis of a Gregg Popovich recommendation. He's like the Godfather. Seriously. There are so many people around the league beholden to him. When he tires of coaching, he should mount an insurgent campaign for David Stern's job. (Or not. The Spurs are ratings killers.)
(can't get to the link now for some reason, though I obviously got the text -- it seemed to crash right after I got it; the text was written sometime around 6/10/07).
That is freaky. This is a small market controlling the whole league lol.
Head coaches - formerly part of the Spurs organization
Mike D'Antonio - Phoenix
Doc Rivers - Boston
Larry Krystkowiak - Milwaukee
Maurice Cheeks - Philadelphia
Avery Johnson - Dallas
Mike Brown - Cleveland
PJ Carlesimo - Seattle
Mike Dunleavy - Los Angeles Clippers
George Karl - Denver
GMs
John Paxson - Chicago
Danny Ferry - Cleveland
Sam Presti - Seattle
Steve Kerr - Phoenix
Kevin Pritchard - Portland
plus former Spurs Broadcast Analyst
Bernie Bickerstaff - Charlotte
George Karl hates you.
I'm not sure you can compare trading Barry, Elson and a first rounder for Thomas to the deal the Lakers made by trading a bag of chips for Gasol.
I
I was waitin for it...
Seriously, I can't stand Karl but I kind of understand his animosity towards the Spurs since he was a career Spur and seldom is recognized by the org or it's fans in any way.
Almost seems mean to leavue Doug Moe out as well since he's assisting in Denver.
Assisant Coaches would take a while to compile, whottt.
Mark Iavaroni has Spurs ties, too.
Janitors
Rex Hughes - Outer Mongolia
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