From groundbreaking trades to teamsaving negotiations Bob Whitsitt reveals the behindthescenes deals that changed the destinies of three iconic Pacific Northwest sports teams the Seahawks the SuperSonics and the Trail Blazers.amp160In 1994 Whitsitt was named the NBA Executive of the Yearbut in 1978 he was just an intern for the Indiana Pacers. Over the next decade and a half he would find his way to the front lines of an athletic revolution leading a transformation that took the NBA from an asterisk in sports to a global phenomenon.amp160By 1986 at the tender age of thirty Whitsitt had been recruited to salvage the Seattle SuperSonics whose glory had faded after the 1979 NBA championship. In just one season and after many daring player trades Whitsitt guided the team back to fighting form and into the playoffs. Whitsitts grit and risktaking moves caught the eye of billionaire Paul Allen who coaxed the savvy executive into taking the helm of the Portland Trail Blazers and leading them back into championship contention. Whitsitt went on to play a pivotal role in convincing Allen to purchase the Seahawks to keep them in town lobbying for a new stadiumamp8212and the implosion of the iconic Kingdomeamp8212and ushering in a new era of professional football in Seattle. Whitsitt is the only person to have been both the president and general manager of the Seahawks Sonics and Trail Blazers.amp160Inamp160Game Changer Whitsitt offers insights and stories from the glory days of three beloved teams includingamp160amp160how he earned the nickname Trader Bob by mapping his trades many movesamp8212and even yearsamp8212aheadamp160his prescient recruitment of one of the first straighttopro basketball players Shawn Kempamp8212and why his second signing of Kemp was one of his worst misstepsamp160his timetested negotiation tips for any situationamp160how he knew the mercurial George Karl was the right man to coach Shawn Kemp Gary Payton and the rest of the scenestealing Sonics teamamp16