Can you imagine how bad it could have gotten in the next week if the Sonics hadn't pulled it out in the 4th quarter last night? The next three games are at the Clippers, then home against the Spurs and Kings. Add 3 losses to a loss last night, and you've got yourself a nice seven-game losing streak. Bob Hill's seat would have been so hot you could've boiled Michael Cage's hair gel on it.Instead, all Sonicdom is rejoicing the Johan Petro sighting. Thought to be extinct, Petro re-emerged and scored 12 points against the Nets, or 6 more than Jason Kidd did.
Honestly, the Sonics and Petro are as likely to keep this up as a Steven Seagal Honourary Oscar, but that's just my opinion. What do you guys think&mdash are the Sonics in need of drastic changes, or should they stay the course and play the hand they've been dealt? What trades should Rick Sund be exploring? Let us know your thoughts.
Here are the flaws I see in the team that I think could be fixed in a trade without dealing anyone all that important to the future of the team:
ReplyDelete1) The problem with Watson as a backup is that while he's a better defensive player than Luke, he's about the same size (meaning small). Teams with larger point guards can give the Sonics a lot of trouble, and since they have to have either Luke or Earl on the floor at all times, there's really no solution other than trying to find a bigger backup PG.
2) A lack of shooters beyond Ray and Rashard. After years and years of the Sonics having a slew of guys who could shoot, they're down to two (and Luke, who should be shooting more in my opinion). Since Hill for some reason occasionally likes to have both Allen and Lewis on the bench, this leaves them with a lineup on the floor that can't score with any frequency. They've got two redundant parts in Wilkins and Gelabale, so swapping one of them for a shooter would seem to make sense.
As for guys they could deal: Danny Fortson is of course at the top of the list, but either Wilkins or Gelabale is a possibility, and if they could somehow interest someone in Watson I could see him leaving.
I totally agree about the shooter part of your argument. I think the biggest blunder of Sund this summer was failing to acquire an adequate veteran backup for Ray Allen. Maybe Kareem Rush is the answer, I guess we'll find out when/if he's ever healthy. (Does anyone know what his status with the team is?)...
ReplyDeleteHere's my pipe dream scenario:
ReplyDeleteDanny Fortson and either a #1 or #2 pick to Indiana for Jeff Foster. It works cap-wise, and Foster would make an immediate impact on the Sonics. Plus, he's only got one more year left on his deal. The Pacers might be willing b/c it would give them an expiring contract, rather than having Foster's for this year plus the next.
I'll take Foster over Fortson any day of the week, and I think anybody else would, too. Heck, I don't mind trading Collison to get Foster if that'll make you happy, but it's not realistic. As I see it, Foster is a stop-gap measure until Petro or Swift is ready to take over. Clearly, Petro's not ready yet to be a starting NBA center. Next year? Maybe. And by then Foster's deal will be ready to be traded away...
ReplyDeleteIf you've got alternatives, let me know, but Fortson ain't helping us right now.
"What trades should Rick Sund be exploring? Let us know your thoughts."
ReplyDeleteFirst off, i'd have a new GM making those choices.
I've got to say that as much as I'd like to bag on the Sonics front office staff, Sund has been above-average so far. The Allen-Payton trade was fantastic in retrospect, and he's drafted pretty well (fondness for underachieiving centers notwithstanding).
ReplyDelete@Ryan:
ReplyDeleteKareem Rush has been cut when we signed the greek kid to play(or better sit) for us, cause Rush's injury probably took to long to recover.
I think a shooter of the bench would be great for us and I wouldn't mind trading Wilkins for such a player. Gelabale should stay, IMO.
As far as Watson goes. Sure it would be nice to have a bigger guy to back up Rid, but I think we should be fine, as long as Watson accepts his role, finally plays good D again and maybe even finds his stroke again.
BTW: How about Kiki Vanderweghe at GM?
Cheers Silvio
I wonder if Rush will come back when he's healthy; that Greek guy sure isn't doing anything for us.
ReplyDeleteKiki? The same guy who gave a max contract to Kenyon Martin? A guy who was largely a product of the system in NJ and had a horrific injury history (which of course has continued to haunt him). Seriously, Denver has something like $20 mil/year tied up in Martin, Camby, and Nene even though they combine to play 100 games a year. If they hadn't gotten Carmelo, they'd be one of the worst teams in the league.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good rule of thumb to never hire anybody who had anything to do with Colorado sports teams. Elway, Mutumbo, Neuheisel, Vandeweghe, Mychal Thompson, Dan Issel ... seriously, I don't any of those people touching Seattle sports in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.....new management has hired a group for the developement of the new arena, which also build the Pepsi Center(Nuggets Arena) and Invesco Field at Mile High. So it looks like Bennett & Co. don't care about that rule....^^
ReplyDeleteVanderweghe was just somebody I had in mind. But who are the people you think could do better at GM for us?
Cheers Silvio
I still feel Fortson is a good fit. When he is used correctly it totally changes the tempo and throws a curve at the opponent that can keep them off balance all game long. I like the small guard lineup, but would definitely like to see a veteran Forward coming off the bench for consistent inside help. This team is not far off from a top 8 squad.
ReplyDeleteThe following are my newest trade proposals.
ReplyDeleteFROM THE ATLANTA HAWKS
PF Shelden Williams ($2,952,840)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Indiana Pacers) [Top-10 Protected]
FROM THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
SG Alan Anderson ($664,209)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Toronto Raptors Through The Cleveland Cavaliers) [Lottery Protected Through 2008]
FROM THE PHOENIX SUNS
SF Shawn Marion ($15,070,000)
PF Kurt Thomas ($7,355,625)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Atlanta Hawks) [Top-3 Protected In 2007; Unprotected In 2008]
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Cleveland Cavaliers Through The Boston Celtics) [Top-10 Protected]
FROM THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
SF Rashard Lewis ($9,350,649)
PF Chris Wilcox ($6,250,000)
PG Earl Watson ($5,400,000)
TO THE ATLANTA HAWKS
PF Kurt Thomas ($7,355,625)
TO THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
PG Earl Watson ($5,400,000)
TO THE PHOENIX SUNS
SF Rashard Lewis ($9,350,649)
PF Chris Wilcox ($6,250,000)
TO THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
SF Shawn Marion ($15,070,000)
PF Shelden Williams ($2,952,840)
SG Alan Anderson ($664,209)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Atlanta Hawks Through The Phoenix Suns) [Top-3 Protected In 2007; Unprotected In 2008]
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Cleveland Cavaliers Through The Boston Celtics And The Phoenix Suns) [Top-10 Protected]
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Indiana Pacers Through The Atlanta Hawks) [Top-10 Protected]
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Toronto Raptors Through The Cleveland Cavaliers And The Charlotte Bobcats) [Lottery Protected Through 2008]
http://tinyurl.com/y2axde
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
http://nbadraft.net/draftnotes.asp#atl082206
FROM THE DENVER NUGGETS
PF Joe Smith ($6,807,000)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Dallas Mavericks Through The Golden State Warriors) [Unprotected]
FROM THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
PF Danny Fortson ($6,596,990)
C Mouhamed Sene ($1,958,640)
PF Peter Fehse (Draft Rights)
SG Yotam Halperin (Draft Rights)
PG Paccelis Morlende (Draft Rights)
TO THE DENVER NUGGETS
PF Danny Fortson ($6,596,990)
C Mouhamed Sene ($1,958,640)
PF Peter Fehse (Draft Rights)
SG Yotam Halperin (Draft Rights)
PG Paccelis Morlende (Draft Rights)
TO THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
PF Joe Smith ($6,807,000)
2007 First-Round Draft Pick (Via The Dallas Mavericks Through The Golden State Warriors And The Denver Nuggets) [Unprotected]
http://tinyurl.com/ymbp76
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
http://nbadraft.net/draftnotes.asp#atl082206
Apropos of the ’sonics, the above trade proposals would increase cost-efficiency, retool for this season, and rebuild for the future.