Sonics draft Frenchy center - a million fans weep

Johan Petro: He totally dominated the French Vineyard League!

Somewhere in the depths of Canada, Nussbaum is shaking his fist at Wally Walker.

With the 25th pick of Tuesday's NBA Draft, The Seattle Supersonics picked Johan Petro, a seven-foot "project" from France. (Groan):

NEW YORK - The Seattle SuperSonics have picked up a Frenchman with the 25th overall pick in Tuesday night's NBA Draft, getting Johan Petro.

Petro played for Pau Orthez in the French Pro A league the last two seasons. He averaged 6 points and 3.3 rebounds in Pro-A, and 5.1 points in the Euroleague last season.

Petro played well in the 2004 European Championship, averaging nearly 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.2 steals in five qualifying games. In the challenge round, he averaged 9 points and 7.8 rebounds in four contests.

The seven-footer is just 19 years old, but he's already earned significant playing time against upper-level international players. He has a nice touch inside and will clean the offensive glass from time to time.

Petro also entered the NBA draft last year before withdrawing his name from consideration.

from KOMO TV

Since I know nothing about Petro (except for his ridiculous name), I suggest we all take a deep, cleansing breath, and read about Mr. Fancypants here:

Johan Petro bio
Johan Petro interview
Official Johan Petro Website!

And, in case that wasn't bad enough, the Sonics drafted another French Guy in the second round! Sacre bleu!

Feeling Drafty?

This guy went number one. Seriously.

As the Sonics prepare for the #25 pick in today's NBA Draft (yawn!), Supersonicsoul looks back at the best and worst in Sonics Draft History:

Best Pick: Gary Payton (1990)
Worst Pick: Rich King (1991)
Worst Traded Pick: Scottie Pippen (1987)
Where are they now?:Vladimir Stepania (1998)

What do you think? Do you have a favorite draft memory/nightmare? Do you think the Supes will make a trade (or fake a trade, like the Kemp for Pippen one in '98?)

One thing's for certain: The Sonics have had some up and down draft picks over the years, but at least they never drafted Sam Bowie.

Shocker! Union, Owners avoid lockout

In the most shocking turn of events since the Michael Jackson verdict, NBA owners and the Player's Union agreed to terms on a new six-year collective bargaining agreement today:

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- A one-year increase in the minimum age to be eligible to play in the NBA was part of a new six-year collective bargaining tentatively agreed to Tuesday by owners and players, averting the possibility of a lockout.

Commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter flew to the NBA Finals from New York and announced the agreement prior to Game 6 between San Antonio and Detroit. The deal came on the fourth consecutive day of talks between the sides to replace the seven-year pact that expires June 30.

``We're gratified that we were able to avoid a work stoppage,'' Stern said. ``This agreement creates a strong partnership with our players, which is essential for us.''

The sides reached agreement on several key issues that had held up a settlement since serious talks began in late February. Among them were a one-year increase in the minimum age for draft eligibility, a reduction in the maximum length of long-term contracts from seven years to six, and reductions in the size of annual salary increases in those long-term contracts from a maximum of 12 1/2 percent to 10 1/2 percent.

Read the rest here.

Sund Signed Soon?

"No, I'm not Kevin Calabro's dad!"

According to today's Seattle P.I., Sonics GM Rick Sund is about to re-sign with the team. Does this mean Nate could be next?

General manager Rick Sund is just about done negotiating a new deal with the Sonics.

He's just not done negotiating for the Sonics.

Sund is expected to re-sign with the team this week for what is believed to be a three-year contract. It's the first agreement for the Sonics in a summer with a long to-do list. Eight players and head coach Nate McMillan are unsigned beyond next season, and teams can begin contacting free agents beginning July 1, barring a lockout.

When reached last night, Sund declined to comment on the situation other than to say, "I'm optimistic that something will get done in the next couple of days."

Read the rest here.

Dwane Casey to coach T-Wolves

Coach Casey: "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

According to the Seattle P.I., longtime Sonics coach Dwane Casey is expected to become head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves as early as this week:

A year ago, Dwane Casey sat in his office and joked he had earned Ph.D. status in the NBA.

"Paid his dues," Casey said.

It should pay off this week with his first head-coaching job in the NBA. According to multiple sources, the Minnesota Timberwolves are ready to name him their new head coach as soon as contract specifics are worked out.

The sides were in negotiations yesterday and could have reached an agreement last night. One source said there aren't any snags anticipated and an announcement could come as early as this week.

Casey, 48, has been a Sonics assistant coach since 1994 when he was hired by George Karl. When Nate McMillan was promoted to head coach after Paul Westphal was fired in November 2000, Casey became associate head coach, the position he has served in the past four seasons.

Read the rest here.

Well, everyone here at Supersonicsoul is sorry to see Coach Casey leave (especially to coach our biggest division rivals!), but as Zach said in the comments below, it's about damn time someone made him a head coach. Good luck, D.C.!

Paying Respects... Better Nate Than Never

"Let's see now. New York: Spike Lee. Detroit? Slim Shady and Kid Rock. Portland? That fat kid in the Shilo Inns t-shirt."

Nate McMillan's stock seems to be rising during a Finals series he's not even involved in.

In Tuesday morning's Daily Dime, Marc Stein gives Coach and the Supes some props for giving the Spurs some competition this year:

McMillan's Seattle SuperSonics, remember, toppled San Antonio twice early in the regular season and then did what Brown's Pistons are trying to do now in the NBA Finals.

...The Sonics know how to erase a 2-0 playoff deficit after San Antonio opens a series with two cushy home wins … even though without the team's second-best player (Rashard Lewis) and the best scorer off the bench (Vladimir Radmanovic).

Similar thoughts have comforted me in this early off-season. "We woulda won that series if we had Rashard and Vlade!" "We coulda beat Phoenix AND Detroit no problem if we got past San Antone!" Ah, where would sad-sack sports fans be in the offseason without their trusty Coulda-Wouldas?

[Hm. Coulda-Wouldas. Sounds like an 80s animated cartoon/toy line. "Up next on NBC: 'The Fuzzy Wuzzy Coulda-Woulda Fun-Time Hour!'" Probably coulda matched up well with the Mon Chi-Chis and Care Bears of that era. Curses! If only I'd been a marketing prodigy in 5th grade instead of a "Yars Revenge" prodigy.]

Oh, and Stein also casually mentions Nate as a possible successor to Larry Brown, should Brown leave Detroit for Cleveland. Just imagine the coulda-wouldas then:

"We coulda won the 06 'Chip if Nate woulda stayed instead of going to the Pistons."

--chunkstyle23
SuperSonicSoul Summer Intern

Where Are They Now? The Other K-G

Kendall "Don't Hit Me in the Face" Gill

Former Sonic Kendall Gill is taking his I Wanna Be Like Mike obssession beyond wearing a sweatband on his bicep, with his own pursuit of "a lifelong dream."

Thanks to B "Huggy Bear" Soto for the tip.

I don't love the Sonics that much

Did you date DaFort in College? I'm sorry.

The hilarious har-har factory called McSweeney's has a great story called "Understanding the Seattle Supersonics by comparing them to girls you met in college":

On Ray Allen :

"You knew it wouldn't last—she was smarter and funnier and way better-looking than you—but you treasured your time together all the more since you knew how finite it was"

Reggie Evans:

"Wow. There was this party right before spring break. And you were both going to be on campus for spring break and just wow. You almost hated to see the bruises fade."

Read it and weep.

(Thanks to the 400 people who sent me this link last week while I was sick in bed with the stomach flu - the Danny Fortson one alone prolonged my illness by four days.)

Nate to Sign?

According to the Seattle Times, Nate and the Sonics are talking again. Well, Nate's agent and the Sonics are talking, but you know what I meant.

No figures were revealed, but here's a list of what some other coaches in the league with Nate's credibility are making:

Doc Rivers: $5 mil per season (4 years)
Rick Carlisle: $4 mil (4)
Jim O'Brien: $4 mil (3)
Byron Scott: $3.3 mil (3)

Nate's coming off a 4 year, $10.8 mil contract, so, obviously, he's going to look to make more than that, and he'll get it, especially considering the number of suitors that will come calling on July 1st if Wally Walker hasn't gotten Nate's signature by then.

Given that most of the coaches are signing 4-year deals, that's probably what Nate will get. I'd put his value at above the Fratellos, Scotts, and Bickerstaffs, and below that of the Browns, Popovichs, and (Jeff) Van Gundys. What does that add up to?

Here's one guess: 4 years, $17 million.

Feeling a Draft: Part III

ANDRAY BLATCHE - PF
Ht: 6’11 Wt: 248 Age: 18
College: South Kent Prep HS (Conn.)

Believe it or not, Blatche can drain an NBA 3. And, believe it or not, that’s about his best offensive skill.

With good speed, above-average leaping, and aforesaid shooting skills, Blatche is a unique talent. After not showing any proclivity for playing in the low post throughout his HS career, Blatche showed an ability to do so in post-season tournaments. Draftcity.com tabs his upside as a future Chris Bosh ... or a present-day Cliff Robinson.

Obviously, with no low-post background, Blatche will need to be a work-in-progress for whoever picks him. Luckily, the Sonics have big guys that can play right now (Collison, Radman, Fortson, Evans), meaning Blatche can play a few minutes, take a couple of 3s, and learn how to score in the block from his teammates and coaching staff. His frame apparently is ready to take on more weight (a la Shawn Kemp, who took that advice a little too far), so it’s possible he could develop into a player who can hit the 3, score down low, and guard the big fellas.

To me, that seems like a lot of “could be’s.” If Seattle wants Blatche to be a faster version of Vladimir Radmanovic, then we’re okay. If they’re looking for more than that, well they’re expecting too much, in my opinion.

Blatche isn’t a bad pick for the Sonics at this part of the draft, he’s just not someone you can realistically expect to be major contributor right away. Still, with his ability to knock down jump shots, Blatche could help off the bench, and would most likely fill at least some of Radman’s minutes should the Sonics make a trade/let Vlade walk away.

Feeling a Draft: Part II

MARTELL WEBSTER – SG
Ht: 6’7” Wt: 235 Age: 18
College: Seattle Prep / Committed to UW

At 6’7”, Webster is the ideal size for a shooting guard, almost too tall even. The star guard from Seattle Prep has committed to the Huskies, but after playing well in post-season all-star games, and hearing from NBA scouts, realized it would be well worth his while to explore the draft.

A seemingly mature young man for his age, Webster already possesses a strong jump shot. Built like someone who’s already in the league, Webster doesn’t seem to have the ability (yet) to use it in the post against smaller players. Defensively, he will need to work on his lateral ability, and there are plenty of areas of his game that could use improvement to become ready for the league. Still, at 18, how many guys come in ready to play?

It is expected that Webster will sign the Goodwins as his agent(s), which, of course, does not bode well for Seattle-Webster negotiations should he drop to the #25 spot in the draft (Interesting quote from the PI on Webster’s relationship with the Goodwins, from his great aunt/guardian Beulah Walker: "He's been talking to them," she said. "I told them to back off. I don't trust them."). He started out as going as high as 11th in the draft, but has slipped recently, to the point where draftcity.com has him at the 23 spot to Sacramento. Meanwhile, cbssportsline.com has him at 11th or 14th in their mock draft.

Webster averaged 27.7 ppg his senior year, a remarkable figure that attests to his ability to drain the long ball. It’s this ability that makes me think he’d be a good pick for the Sonics. I can imagine a scenario where Seattle re-signs Ray Allen, drafts Webster, then allows Allen to tutor Webster for the next 3-4 years, as the youngster slowly gets more and more playing time. By the time Allen starts to lose his game, Webster should be ready to step in.

Add in his obvious ties to the area, and it makes a good fit for both parties. He’ll likely go higher than 25, but in case he falls to this spot, he’s got my vote.

Feeling a Draft

Free agency beckons, of course, but the Sonics also have 3 draft picks in the upcoming Stern-a-thon. Who should they take? Should they trade the picks? Does this column have any upside? These are the questions you need to know. I thought I’d take this opportunity to start looking at some of the players the Sonics could possibly pick.

CHANNING FRYE – PF/C
Ht: 6’11” Wt: 250 Age: 22
College: Arizona

Frye is long-limbed, fast for a big man, and relatively agile, making him an effective player on the fast break and in blocking shots (at least at the NCAA level). Combined with the ability to hit a 15-footer, Frye is a more than capable offensive player for a big man. Further, his jump hook is a potent weapon that can score in any league. Add in an 80% rate at the line, a seemingly calm, professional demeanour, a history of playing in front of big crowds and in big games, and Frye seems to be the whole enchilada. Husky fans will no doubt remember his 30-point outing against the Dawgs last February in Seattle, although they’ll probably remember UW’s 93-85 win even more. You also have to like that he’s played well in the tourney, consistently getting double-doubles in the best competition the NCAA has to offer.

The negative is that Frye is relatively lean, and may not be able to bang with NBA centers. Built more like Keon Clark and Chris Bosh, Frye is going to struggle to score in the post when people like Jerome James, Greg Ostertag, Shaq, etc. start shoving. Frye has been able to get away with using his height to get rebounds in college – that won’t work in the NBA, where people like Reggie Evans will give up their first-born son for a board. Labeled as “soft” throughout his tenure at ‘Zona, Frye will have to work hard to overcome that adjective. As draftcity.com mentions, it’s hard to figure exactly how he’s going to score and who he’s going to guard. Likewise, knickerblogger’s comment that Frye’s a “tweener” is apt.

To me, Frye would work best as part of a Twin Towers set-up, alongside a 7-footer with some heft. With the Sonics, Frye would likely be paired with Collison, Fortson, or Radmanovic (assuming the roster stays somewhat intact, a dubious assumption). None of those combinations is good for Seattle, since it leaves nobody to cover the big man down low. In an offense like the Kings’ or Suns’, Frye could be an effective player, but not on the Sonics. He’s not worth a 1st-round pick to Seattle, who would be better off looking for someone with more heft. After all, don’t we already have a thin 7-footer taking up space on the bench?