How Sam Presti Turned a Bag of Dust Into Three First Round Picks

I'm busy as hell, and the Lakers/Suns match up is about to come on the tube, but I had to get this up. It was just announced that Sonics GM Sam Presti has traded Kurt Thomas to the Spurs for a 2009 First Round Pick, Brent Barry, and Francisco Elson. If you're paying attention, Sam Presti basically turned a trade excemption and a second round pick into three first round picks. Here's how it all went down. First Presti acquired Kurt Thomas and first round picks in 2008 and 2010 from the Suns for a future second round pick and their trade exception. The Suns didn't want to pay Thomas' salary this season, so they basically paid Presti--in the form of two future first rounders--to take Thomas on. That deal was already a steal for Presti, but now with the follow up deal to the Spurs, Presti is showing that he's really good at what he does. Kudos to you Mr. Presti. If I'm ever a GM, I hope to be able to turn straw into gold in the same fashion that you have.

Uh, dude, were you sleeping yesterday?