Thunderous Intentions
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Complete guide to Sam Presti’s trades as General Manager

By Nick Delahanty

Sam Presti, Billy Donovan, OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
Sam Presti, Billy Donovan, OKC Thunder (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 27: Kurt Thomas #44 of the Seattle SuperSonics drives agaist Vladimir Radmanovic #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at Staples Center on November 27, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 106-99. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 27: Kurt Thomas #44 of the Seattle SuperSonics drives agaist Vladimir Radmanovic #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at Staples Center on November 27, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 106-99. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Presti uses trade exception to his advantage

Trade Details

Phoenix Suns Receive

Conditional Second-Round Pick (from Orlando)

Trade Exception

Supersonics Receive

Kurt Thomas

Two First-Round Picks

The Phoenix Suns were struggling to get under the league’s luxury tax. General manager Steve Kerr had no choice but to find a way to free up salary cap space.

Luckily for Kerr, the Supersonics were a team that could possibly help make that happen. Having recently acquired a trade exception from the Magic, the Supersonics had the ability to take on a pricey contract.

Presti was able to turn the Magic’s second round pick and trade exception into Kurt Thomas and two first round picks. For a rebuilding franchise, collecting the two draft selections definitely made the deal worthwhile.

Luckily for the franchise, Presti struck gold on one of the draft picks.

With the Magic’s first round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the organization selected forward Serge Ibaka. The Congo native spent his first seven seasons with the franchise, averaging 11.6 points 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He was a major contributor on Thunder teams that made deep runs into the NBA playoffs.

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