Word to the wise, never play Sonics GM Sam Presti in any type of music trivia. Before my interview with him in a Minnesota hotel lobby on Friday, he asked what I was just listening to on my iPod. I said, "A Tribe Called Quest," but when he asked what song, I looked at the thing and said "Long View" because the next track had just started.

"That's not the Tribe, that's Green Day," he quickly said.

Dang! Presti 1, Evans 0. (The Tribe song was "Find A Way" for those keeping score.)

But Aaron, that should show that Presti does have a personality, and it's actually pretty cool. To answer your question about his responses being so rehearsed, that's a funcation of the position he has. He said many times in the interview that he doesn't want to be the spotlight - that should be for the players and coach P.J. Carlesimo. And there are a lot of things he just can't say because of sensitivity to a deal. What GM really speaks his or her mind, anyway?

So the interview wasn't that enlightening on the record. To James Le's question about Presti's holiday wish-list, it's "continued growth in areas that are important to this organization." He declined to pick a specific position.

To the questions about how rebuilding the team would help muster support with arena situation, Presti said, "We want to make the best decisions we can for our basketball team and hopefully garner support with our play and work in the community. We work everyday to put a team together that will make the city proud and keep people coming out. The fan is an integral part."

Presti decline to talk specifically about trades, the center or point-guard positions, except to praise the work of Kurt Thomas and the professionalism of Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour. He also likes Delonte West and, along with Carlesimo, said the organization had hoped he be a bigger part of the season, but injuries happen. For the most part it seems Carlesimo has control of stating what he needs on the court. "We're on the same page," Presti said.

Lastly to David's question about how the win-loss record affects the budding "winning culture," Presti isn't worried about that yet.

"We're doing a good job and doing the work," he said. "Hopefully, it will dictate in our win-loss record as we lay that foundation. I like the way our group has approached this season."