Spurs add Kurt Thomas
The San Antonio Spurs have traded guard Brent Barry, center Francisco Elson, and a 2009 1st-round draft pick to the Seattle Supersonics in exchange for Kurt Thomas.
Spurs get:
- Kurt Thomas
Supersonics get:
- Brent Barry
- Francisco Elson
- 2009 1st-round draft pick
Brief digression: I love this time of year (sans the cold weather).
Ok, back to the trade at hand. This trade is simple:
- The Spurs want to ensure their survival in the playoffs by adding a veteran role player in Kurt Thomas.
- The Sonics want to ensure their survival as a team in the future by acquiring a 2009 1st-round draft pick.
I think Kurt Thomas is going to be a great addition this year for the Spurs — even if he is 36. But I recall the last team that acquired a veteran big man relatively close to playoff time was the Mavericks. And the Mavericks got upset big time in the first round last year. But that was because they’ve always had trouble with the Warriors, and not because they happened to sign Kevin Willis…or is it??? Pretty weird, don’t you think? The Mavericks were doing soooo well until they decided to add some veteran depth in Kevin Willis. Is the whole ’sign a veteran big man last-minute to help us in the playoffs’ strategy a good one? Probably. Unless the Spurs get upset in the first round, or the second, then probably.
