Next GM Watch

[F Gump]

What are the rules in terms of a lateral move like that? Do the Mavs need permission to interview him? Do they have to wait for his current contract to expire? How long is that contract? If they don't have to wait, would stealing him involve draft capital compensation? What amount of money would it take for you to leave a decade long build, right after the first championship payoff when it looks like there are more rings on the way and you still have ammo in your war chest?

All are good questions. None of this falls within the CBA, which means that whatever the NBA's general guidelines might be, it's all going to be flexible to some degree -- iow, it's mostly a case of whatever deal you can negotiate. He likely has an agent to represent him, and explore broad parameters informally. Obviously Presti is under contract NOW and who knows how long it runs, which means you are negotiating with BOTH Presti as well as with OKC ownership. 

That makes it seem like a brick wall in the way. 

But then again, EVERYONE has their price. Right? 

Which to me means a deal has to be out there and doable at some price point, and it's about how do you make that a number you can accept. 

But I just accept that as the landscape, and then chase a deal with the knowledge that it won't be cheap. Why not figure out HOW to do it, and then do it as long as you can stomach the cost, rather than shrinking from the challenge? (Worth remembering - Dumont did get Welts, who was thought to be impossible to get, to run the business side of the team.) Also worth weighing - what is a title or 3 going to be worth? And Presti is currently working for a small market with shallow-pocket ownership -- what more would he do if he had more resources to work with? You might have to wait until June to make acquiring him workable, but isn't he worth the wait? Just tank until then, hold off on trades, max out your values as best you can, and then get Presti to go to work in the summer. 

I think Presti understands the NBA setup and how to negotiate within it better than the rest, and it's not even close. He knows how to get his price, and an extra pick, and have teams eager to deal with him. And pay his price. He knows how to evaluate the draft and negotiate contracts. He's worth the hassle and the cost. And he knows how to not only chase a title, but to position the team for the long run AT THE SAME TIME.