Wow.

I know they wanted to clear payroll, but this seems really steep.

Could this be a precursor to a KG deal?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2943588


Suns gain $8M trade exception by trading Thomas
Associated Press

Updated: July 20, 2007, 3:05 PM ET

SEATTLE -- The Seattle SuperSonics on Friday acquired veteran forward Kurt Thomas and the Phoenix Suns' first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010, in exchange for a conditional second round draft choice.

Seattle also used its $9 million trade exception with Phoenix to complete the deal. The Sonics gained the exception from Orlando earlier this month when they completed a sign-and-trade deal that sent Rashard Lewis to the Magic.

Thomas, who turns 35 in October, averaged a career-low 4.6 points per game in 67 games last season while averaging just 18 minutes per night. But he does provide the veteran presence Seattle was seeking to tutor Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, the second and fifth overall selections in last month's draft. The Sonics, who finished 31-51 last season, traded leading scorer Ray Allen to Boston last month. Then Lewis, their second-leading scorer, joined Orlando.

Thomas also comes at the limited cost the rebuilding Sonics were seeking. He has just one season left on a contract that is due to pay him $8.1 million next season.

The deal provides some salary cap relief for Phoenix, which had the NBA's fourth-highest payroll last season at $76.4 million.

Wow. That's some deal for Seattle. Kurt's in the last year of his deal, too, I think.

Stating the obvious here, but this makes the Rashard Lewis deal a little more palatable for the Sonics.

Are they just setting Steve Kerr up to fail here?

I think I might be able to score four points a game for 8 Mill.

Man that is a ridiculously good deal for the sonics. No doubt the picks are lotto protected, but who cares. Phenomenal rebuilding effort for the Sonics. Not to mention that Seattle will still have Kurt Thomas's salary to move at the deadline if they wanted to. Hell they could get another first rounder.

Presti made some really nice moves for the Sonics, he's rebuilding them on the fly...impressive for a 30 year old GM rookie, he sure learned some things at San Antonio

The Seattle GM should get GM of the Year for that and his draft day moves. Yet another thing to make Detroit and Joe Dumars look cheap and less than inpressive.

Boy guys, it's amazing that 28 other GMs just wern't as smart as every message board poster in the world, isn't it?

Grant Hill must be feeling real confident about being backup PF. :)

Upon further review, this trade is not only great for Seattle but stupid for the Suns. They now have virtually no big men and if Amare goes down they are done like dinner. I understand the whole luxury tax thing but YIKES, this is a huge gamble. I must be missing something........RIGHT?????

Hopefully, we could have some serious trade pieces with them if Amare does go down. If they aren't willing to pay the tax this season, then they are already over for next season. Some of their pieces may be readily available, even Amare.

Phoenix now has the thinnest front court

Seattle now holds five first-round picks over the next three drafts.

Phoenix now has the thinnest front court
Shawn Marion is doomed to play a 6'7" PF.

Maybe I'm missing something but why is this deal so fabulous for the Sonics? They get a couple of Suns first rounders which are basically just high second rounders (even if Amare gets hurt) and turn over a 9 million dollar trade exception for Kurt Thomas, who helps their youth movement how?

I mean, I can see that it works out for the Sonics (they basically just bought two future picks since Thomas is an ending contract) but I don't know about the "GM of the year" stuff because of it. I think everything Sonic related is getting a little "we have Durant" afterglow on it.

And we've all known that the Suns were trying to get thinner in the front court for 2 years with the Marion trade attempts.

this trade is just another illustration of how retarded the current cba is.

<---- misses days of talent being traded for talent.

Maybe I'm missing something but why is this deal so fabulous for the Sonics? They get a couple of Suns first rounders which are basically just high second rounders (even if Amare gets hurt) and turn over a 9 million dollar trade exception for Kurt Thomas, who helps their youth movement how?

I mean, I can see that it works out for the Sonics (they basically just bought two future picks since Thomas is an ending contract) but I don't know about the "GM of the year" stuff because of it. I think everything Sonic related is getting a little "we have Durant" afterglow on it.

And we've all known that the Suns were trying to get thinner in the front court for 2 years with the Marion trade attempts.

Those picks combined with their other picks give them some trading pieces plus I doubt that they would have used the trade exception to bring in extra salaries.

Like I said, they bought to early 2nd rounders for a TE. Whoodeewhoo! GM OF THE YEAR!

I really wouldn't say two "early 2nd rounders" for three reasons.

1 - If Amare or Nash get hurt, the Suns aren't a great team.
2 - There could very well be several teams that could have better records (Dallas, SA, GS (w/KG), etc.) especially in three years.
3 - 2010 is a long way away.

And Kurt Thomas = 8 mil expiring. Which by itself is better than a TE, as he could have value to a team.

Would any team have accepted this trade with Banks + 2 1sts instead of KT?

I'm still not understanding why the Suns had to throw in 2 firsts for this trade. MAYBE 1, but I'd think they could have done this with KT+2nd for the TE. I mean, they'd still be giving the Sonics an expiring deal to move later in the season, and a pick.

I'm still not understanding why the Suns had to throw in 2 firsts for this trade.
That's sorta why I was asking what I was above -- seems like two low picks could've gotten them more than the privilege of giving up an expiring who can still actually play minutes in most systems.

In the last 2 drafts their 2 firsts got them a few million dollars.

I think they screwed up their cap so much they don't want to pay those future firsts. It makes no sense though. They could have used some to package Marion for a cheaper player and stopped doing salary moves over and over.

I do fear that they may be setting the price bar a little high for anyone else trying to trade an overpriced big. Saaay, I don't know, a Nazr Mohammed or somebody.