Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | July 20, 2007
Nine days after creating a trade exception in the sign-and-trade deal that sent free-agent forward Rashard Lewis to the Orlando Magic, the Seattle SuperSonics put it to work Friday. Using the exception and the conditional second-round pick acquired from the Magic for Lewis, the Sonics got veteran big man Kurt Thomas and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010 from the Phoenix Suns.
"Obviously, when you're able to acquire one of these trade exceptions, you want to try to maximize it by adding players or adding assets that are going to help your team in terms of the position of your organization and your plan going forward," explained Sonics General Manager Sam Presti. "We feel very fortunate to add a player like Kurt who brings so many of the things to the table that we felt we needed to add over the summer, and to be able to add two first-round picks over the next three summers, that was a deal that we felt like we needed to do."
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"I started out a little slow, but my teammates picked me up and I was able to score a bit."
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty
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When the Sonics agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Magic rather than Orlando signing Lewis outright as a free agent, they added an exception which allowed them to add salary without needing to send out a matching contract. For other teams, that meant an opportunity to shed payroll, making Presti a popular GM at last week's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Suns, over the NBA's luxury-tax level, were one of the teams interested in working with the Sonics. In what new Phoenix GM Steve Kerr called "a tough decision," the Suns were willing to part with Thomas, a key part of their frontcourt rotation, particularly during the postseason, as well as the pair of future unprotected picks.
"This was a tough decision to make, but one we had to make to keep our core players together," Steve Kerr said in a statement. "This move allows us to keep a championship-caliber team on the floor and remain flexible moving forward."
From the Sonics perspective, the decision was much easier. In Thomas, they add a player who fits into the culture they have tried to build under their new front office. A 12-year veteran, Thomas' toughness and professionalism were valuable in Phoenix. On a young Sonics squad - he is now the team's most veteran player - Thomas' experience becomes even more important.
"Kurt's a player that we value a great deal," said Presti. "He brings toughness and a defensive mindset to the frontcourt. He's a true professional and adds a veteran presence to our team. He's somebody we certainly covet."
Thomas joins what is, besides 
Nick Collison, a young group of Sonics centers - 
Johan Petro, 
Mouhamed Sene and 
Robert Swift are all 21. A veteran mentor for this group has long been a Sonics desire, not only to help the development of the inexperienced centers but also to help relieve some of the pressure on them. Thomas fits that role.
Make no mistake, at age 34 Thomas is still a capable player. He averaged 4.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in a reserve role last season in Phoenix and was amongst the league's leading per-minute rebounders (12.5 per 40 minutes). Thomas is a standout post defender, which made him an effective option against Tim Duncan when the Suns took on San Antonio in the Western Conference Semifinals. He started five of those six games, averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds.
After Thomas' career has concluded, the Sonics could still be reaping the benefit of the two additional first-round picks they acquired in this deal. They are currently the only NBA team guaranteed multiple first-round picks in next year's draft, and the only one with an additional pick in 2010 as well.
Having five first-round picks in a three-year span gives Presti and the Sonics extra flexibility in adding to the young core that features rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.
"Obviously having the opportunity to add additional first-round picks to your team's portfolio is huge," said Presti, "not just because you have the opportunity to add young players to your core but additionally, in general, the NBA views those first-round picks as great assets in trade- and deal-making."
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