Sam Presti: A Look at His Best and Worst Trades as GM
By Ben Bundy
VERDICT: BAD TRADE
The first major deal that Presti ever made came just three weeks after he took over as GM for the franchise. On June 28, 2007 Presti made a deal with the Boston Celtics that sent 7-time All-Star Ray Allen and rookie Glen “Big Baby” Davis to Boston for guard Delonte West, forward Wally Szczerbiak and rookie Jeff Green.
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At the time of the deal the Sonics were feeling the need to trade Allen instead of possibly losing him to free agency later that year. The deal ended up being a win-win for Boston, acquiring Allen and, in turn, freeing up salary cap space that ultimately allowed them to land Kevin Garnett. Davis would become a key bench player for the team and the Celtics went on to win the NBA Championship in 2008, something that would not have been possible without this trade.
For the Sonics, the trade wasn’t nearly as successful. The deal allowed the team to trade Allen instead of getting nothing for him. It didn’t land any of the big names for Seattle that it did for Boston, but it gave the team a promising young forward in Green (who would end up back in Boston anyway) and a couple of role players. The most important part of this deal was that it put in motion the future of the soon-to-be Oklahoma City Thunder.
Next: A Future Investment