Notes

Just some random notes gleaned from the internet ...

The Nuggets are apparently interested in Flip Murray.

The Jazz’ draft-day selection of Illini guard Deron Williams has cooled Antonio Daniels interest in signing up with the Mormons.

Even if the Sonics were interested in Flip Saunders, it appears he ain’t interested in them. Of course, for what it’s worth, that same article mentioned there was zero chance Bret Boone would be joining the Twins.

As in Utah, both AD and Grizzlies’ PG Earl Watson have expressed interested in playing in Miami, replacing free agent Damon Jones.

Daniels and Vlade Radmanovic are both rated as among the top 10 available free agents by one website.

Coach Question Mark

Well, it seems like everyone's got a favorite candidate to coach the Sonics. I'm still holding out for Lenny (c'mon, he's only 90!), but here's what sane people are thinking:

The Seattle SuperSonics have told prospective candidates for their coaching vacancy that they have trimmed their list of potential replacements for Nate McMillan to Marc Iavaroni, current assistant Bob Weiss and at least one other person, sources said.

A third candidate is thought to be Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whom Sonics general manager Rick Sund contacted in the past few days to inquire about Izzo’s interest.

Also, the Sonics have let it be known that they are going to be cost-conscious, which would seemingly rule out coaches such as Flip Saunders and Doug Collins, who would command larger salaries because of their NBA experience.

That said, it seems as if Iavaroni, an assistant to Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni and a close friend of Sonics CEO Wally Walker, is the front-runner for the job. Iavaroni was likely to get the Portland Trail Blazers job if McMillan didn’t take it.

from the Tribune

Meanwhile, the real brains behind the Sonics, Danny "Da Fort" Fortson, says his pick is Bob "The Original Wheedle" Weiss:

"He'd be my No. 1 vote," forward Danny Fortson said yesterday during a telephone interview. "He's well-deserving. He's paid his dues. I think a lot of us can relate to him. ... Now, it might not happen for him, but I'd be very comfortable with Bob Weiss as my coach."

Weiss, a member of the first Sonics team in the 1967-68 season, has strong ties to the franchise, has detailed knowledge of the players and favors the up-tempo offense the Sonics have adopted.

from The Times

So, what do you think? Weiss? Izzo? Iavaronionioni? How about Nussbaums's darkhorse, Eric Musselman? Did I mention Lenny?

Musselman

Eric Musselman: Future Sonics coach?

G-State W-L in the five years pre-Mussels:
19-63
21-29
19-63
17-65
21-61
Warriors in Mussels’ two years:
38-44
37-45
Warriors post-Mussels:
34-48

Plus:
Does not rely heavily upon the 3-point shot
Gets the most out of his talent
Capable of coaching up-tempo or slow-down game
Workaholic
Develops young players. Arenas, J-Rich, Boykins, Brian Cardinal, Troy Murphy, and Dampier are all players who had some of their best seasons under Mussels, or else began to show improvement in play during his reign.
Knows the importance of rebounding. GS went from outrebounding or matching their opponents in his two years to being outboarded by a 320-rebound margin last year.

Minus:
Not a fan of Da Fort. Fortson went from double-double pre-Mussels to trouble-trouble and see ya later.
Did not develop Adonal Foyle or Mike Dunleavy. But, then again, neither has anyone else.
Didn’t take the Warriors over the hump and into the playoffs.
Had a less-than-fantastic relationship with his team.

To me, the minuses do not outweigh the pluses. The Sonics are a veteran-type team that needs a guider more than a punisher. Unlike the Warriors, who needed guidance but didn’t want it, the Sonics have an established leader who knows that winning is the only thing separating him from true greatness. Collison, Ridnour, Lewis, Radman, Allen – these are all solid citizens who just need someone with a bit of intelligence to help them along. It’s unknown if Mussels can handle Sugar Ray’s (thanks, Hank) large number of FGA, or if he and Fort can coexist, or if he can enable Lewis to develop into a legitimate all-star.

Still, he’s relatively inexpensive, has a good hoop pedigree, and has a modicum of NBA experience. Unlike Saunders (too expensive), Carlisimo (too much of a headache), Silas (not enough energy), and Iavaroni (no experience at all), Musselman is ready to help the Sonics right away at a fair price. Most important, putting Mussels in place doesn’t mean the Sonics will take a back step next season. If I’m Wally Walker, I make the call today.

Portland steals Nate, kicks Sonics in groin

Portland's that way... jerk.

In the worst blow to civic pride since Griffey Junior headed to Cincy, Nate McMillan succumbed to the dark side today, taking the money and running all the way to Portland:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers will hold a press conference Thursday, July 7, to introduce Nate McMillan as the club's 11th head coach in team history.

McMillan will be introduced at an afternoon gathering open to the public at the Washington Park Amphitheater at 4:30 p.m.

McMillan joins the Trail Blazers after serving as head coach of the Seattle Supersonics since November 27, 2000, compiling a record of 212-183 (.537).

Read the rest (if you haven't already killed yourself) here:

I don't know if words can describe how much I hate Paul Allen right now. No, wait, they can: I HATE PAUL ALLEN!!!

Ray-Ray Returns!

Thanks Ray, the lunchbox is in the mail!

Break out the "fine champagna": it looks like Ray-Ray is re-signing with the Sonics.

All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen has agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the Seattle SuperSonics, SI.com has learned.

Terms of the deal were unknown. Last February negotiations broke down on a five-year extension in which the Sonics were offering $75 million while Allen was holding out for an $80 million deal.

Allen's return to the Sonics is expected to help them in their contract negotiations with coach Nate McMillan, who expressed reservations about returning to Seattle unless Allen and other free agents were re-signed.

from SI.com

All right, Nate, now it's your turn!

UPDATE: It's official: Ray Allen re-signs with the Sonics for five years, $80 million.

Nate Watch

Don't leave us, Nate!

The Nate McMillan watch continues this week with several conflicting and probably untrue stories and/or rumors. First, the Seattle Times reports that the Sonics have given Nate until tomorrow to decide if he wants to stay with team.

Speaking of the Seattle Times, the Northwest's worst sports columnist Steve Kelley (who famously gave up on the '87 Sonics) tells Nate to "chase the money" to Portland. Nice. I'd tell you to do the same, Stevie, but no one except the Times is stupid enough to pay you.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reports that Nate is "moving closer to finalizing a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers". GUH?!

So, what do all these crazy stories and/or rumors mean? It means that, until tomorrow, no one really knows what Nate McMillan is going to do except Nate McMillan.

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