LeBron James calls Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti 'the MVP' following quiet trade deadline for Los Angeles Lakers

CLEVELAND — LeBron James used a question about Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey as an opportunity to heap praise on Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti at a news conference Saturday following his team's practice for the NBA All-Star Game.

«The MVP over there is Sam Presti. He's the MVP,» James said of the 44-year-old front-office executive who has held the post since 2007. «I mean, Josh Giddey is great. But Sam Presti, I don't understand this guy's eye for talent. He drafted [Kevin Durant], Russ [Westbrook], Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey and the list goes on and on and on. This guy is pretty damn good.»

The comment about the rival executive came just days after James took to Twitter to share his appreciation for Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead and the T-shirt he wore to the Rams' Super Bowl parade with «F--- them picks» printed on it.

LEGEND! My type of guy!!! https://t.co/QaHTlBAbJn

James wrote that Snead's irreverent reference to his credo in building the Rams into a champion made him «my kind of guy.» Snead traded away two first-round picks apiece in order to acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford and cornerback Jalen Ramsey and parted with other picks in deals for Von Miller, Marcus Peters and more.

The timing of James' musings about other front-office architects in the professional sports landscape is notable.

It was just a week and a half ago that the Los Angeles Lakers, losers of six out of eight games at the time, let the trade deadline come and go without making any deals.

A couple of hours after the deadline passed, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said he consulted with the Lakers' captains, James and Anthony