Russell Westbrook at #4

That's the pick. Here's the bio from nbadraft.net.

He's a big-time transition player, and now he's a Sonic.

Reasons to be excited:
- Westbrook is tenacious, fast, and a good defender. He can guard any PG, and most SGs. He can get in the lane and score and can run the offense relatively well.

Reasons not to be excited:
- He shot 17 of 31 at the line this year. He made 31 3's in his NCAA career, or as many as some guys make in a couple of weeks. He doesn't have a good outside shot.

Hey, wait, don't the Sonics already have a UCLA point guard who can't shoot?

Start Your Guesswork

So, who are the Sonics going to take? We're 15 minutes from the Bulls making their choice, so that means about 30-40 minutes till the Sonics make their selection.

Or are we? Maybe we'll have to wait about 1 hour until the Clippers/Sonics pick at #7.

I'm guessing the Sonics move down, pick Brook Lopez, and all of us start throwing things at our tv screens.

Arguments Are Over

Judge Marsha Pechman has heard her last arguments from the City and the PBC, and now two cities — Oklahoma City and Seattle — wait until next Wednesday, July 2 at 4 pm, when the Judge issues her verdict.

There will be plenty of fireworks around the country on July 4th, but expect some other explosions on the 2nd as well.

Assume

Let's assume that draftexpress.com and all the other prediction sites out there were right for the past three weeks, and that the Sonics were interested in taking Jerryd Bayless with the #4 pick.

Well, have you seen the DraftExpress board today? Take a guess at where they have Bayless going.

4th? Nope.

6th? Nope.

8th? 9th? 10th? Nope, nope, nope.

11th.

Yes, that's right, 11th. Which means, that if the Sonics are truly interested in Bayless, then they'd be pretty dumb to pick him at the #4 spot, considering that none of the next six teams wants him.

Which means, of course, that the smoke emanating from the Great Draft Day Rumor Mill may be caused by just a little bit of fire, and that the Sonics are, indeed, interested in trading down.

Deal Confirmed?

Chad Ford is reporting that a deal is in place between ... well, I'll just quote him:

The Clippers and Sonics have agreed to swap picks as long as the Wolves take O.J. Mayo at No. 3. If Mayo isn't drafted at 3, the deal is off according to two sources close to the information.

According to Ric Bucher (also of ESPN), the pick will be in 2009. and will be subject to restrictions.

UPDATE: Percy Allen at the Times quotes sources at the Sonics saying this deal is, in fact, a fabrication. So, in the words of Gilda Radner, "Never mind."

Stern Will Say Seattle

According to the Daily Oklahoman, David Stern will announce the Sonics' pick(s) today with the words "Seattle Supersonics," and not omit the city's name. An NBA official confirmed this to the Oklahoman.

I'd been wondering about this the past few days, but I'm glad it is so. Doesn't mean alot, but it means something to people here.

Ceis Not Testifying

Judge Pechman has ruled that Deputy Seattle Mayor Tim Ceis will not be allowed to be called as a rebuttal witness for the city.

Pechman decided Ceis, who ostensibly would rebut the argument that the city was involved in a "hand-in-glove" relationship with the efforts to force the PBC to sell the team, does not need to testify as he has already been deposed, and in that deposition he affirmed that he had not seen the "Poisoned Well" PowerPoint presentation.

In earlier testimony, the PBC called Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata, introduced two pieces of evidence, and, finally, rested their case. The city will wrap up its case today and then closing arguments will take place this afternoon.

While many will point to Pechman's denial of Ceis' testimony as a big loss for the city, I would argue that, as Pechman pointed out, Ceis already was deposed and spoke on this subject. While it would have been nice for Ceis to further illustrate this point, remember, this is not a jury trial. So long as the judge is aware of the situation, it is unnecessary for the city to go through histrionics to prove its point.

It's not a win for the city, true, but not a huge loss, either.

Trade Offer

According to Chad Ford at ESPN, the Clippers have offered their #7 pick and the rights to their pick next season for the Sonics' pick at #4.

Normally, I'd hesitate to trade down — the statistics bear out that once you get beyond the first five or so players, you're playing Russian Roulette — but since Sam Presti seems less than thrilled with his options at #4, it makes sense to make this move. The Sonics will walk away with someone they'll be happy with at #7, plus they'll get another lottery pick next year when the Clippers fall to 20-62 after Elton Brand breaks his back while attempting to carry [Insert Random Injured Clipper Here] back to the bench.

Random Draft Day Thoughts, Part I

• If Minnesota passes on OJ Mayo at #3 it will be a huge boon to the Sonics. After Rose and Beasley, Mayo has the most cache of anyone in the draft. Even if Presti wants no part of the SC guard, he’s the most tradeable commodity. The Sonics would easily be able to get a lottery pick in this year’s draft plus one in next year’s by dealing away Mayo. The upside is they’d still be able to get Lopez, Bayless, Westbrook, or whomever in the bargain ....
• My dream pick for the Sonics with their second pick of the first round would be Florida’s Marreese Speights, a 6’10” power forward who is plenty talented, but also plenty raw. A few weeks ago, Speights would have likely slipped to #24, but now it appears he’ll be selected long before the Sonics pick at #24. Assuming, of course, that Presti doesn’t deal away his #24 pick plus a second-rounder (or two) to move up in the draft.
• It’s early, but I’m guessing the Sonics walk away with no more than three actual warm bodies this year via the draft. Either that, or whatever number greater than three they draft, the overage will all be Euros/non-Americans who will not set foot in North America for the foreseeable future.
• Brian Robinson at sonicscentral.com can see Luke Ridnour being dealt today; I'd add Chris Wilcox to that mix, although I think Weezy's trade value will be higher next February.

Seattle Beats NBA in Court

Actually, it was between Seattle-area rapper Lil Kriz and the NBA. And the case — involving the NBA's use of Lil Kriz' single "Vegas" in a promotional spot without his knowledge or permission — was settled out of court.

But, can't we still take that as an omen?

Draft Day

Today's a big day for the Sonics — a total of six different players could be holding up Seattle (yeah, Seattle) jerseys for photographers during the afternoon and evening hours, and that's not counting the trade possibilities available.

We'll get to the rumors and suppositions as the day progresses, but, for now, here's my favorite column in the 3-odd years writing about the Sonics:

NFL vs NBA Draft .

One For the Little Guy

This Thursday, arguments between the City of Seattle and the Sonics come to a close, and the decision as to whether the team remains in Seattle for the foreseeable future falls into the hands of Judge Marsha Pechman.

There are other factors involved – will the city appeal a verdict and thereby postpone the movement, will Howard Schultz’ pending lawsuit delay relocation, will Clay Bennett staple Aubrey McClendon’s mouth shut, and so forth – but this Thursday is obviously a large step in the future of the team.

Sadly, it is entirely possible Pechman will rule for the team. Observers indicate the city failed to effectively persuade an impartial observer the Sonics provide intangible benefits to the region. Further, the now-infamous “Poisoned Well” PowerPoint file – created with the best of intentions to help keep the team – may wind up being yet another impediment to that goal.

All of this is for the judge to decide. And while my influence over her decision is equivalent to my influence over PJ Carlesimo’s roster decisions, allow me to make one argument:

Allowing Clay Bennett to walk away with the Sonics would be a disgrace.

Set aside the legal arguments for a moment, and approach this situation from a viewpoint a mile up into the clouds. Bennett bought this team with two partners with the intention of moving it to Oklahoma City. Only a naive person would believe otherwise.

At all forks in the road, Bennett and his group have consistently opted to take the path which hastened the team’s departure from Seattle.

Present a half-baked proposal to the legislature? Check.

Gut the team’s roster to save money? Check.

Repeatedly make comments indicating your intentions to move? Check.

Work in coordination with Oklahoma City to move while simultaneously telling Seattlites you’re a “man possessed” to keep the team here? Check.

Apply to the NBA to move a full year ago? Check.

In all instances, in all aspects, Bennett has lied, deceived, extorted and manipulated, all with the knowledge and willing participation of David Stern and the NBA. If the ongoing trial was an argument over whether Bennett’s group is pack of despicable liars with the moral authority of a Capitol Hill lobbyist, Pechman would have ruled for the city five minutes after opening arguments concluded.

Yes, Bennett has a legal argument the city worked hand-in-glove with local businessmen to forestall his departure. Yes, Bennett may be correct that the team would be sufficiently satisfying the remaining two years of its lease with a cash settlement.

But this case is a mirror upon one of the greatest ills of American society circa 2008 – the patronizing way in which the general public is treated by those in power. When faced with a housing crisis, the Washington power-brokers quickly acted to aid those making the bad loans, while ignoring those who were truly suffering. Opinion polls routinely show an American public completely and utterly sick of Washington, and a hopeless feeling spreads across the land like a case of West Nile Virus run rampant.

I understand Judge Pechman’s ruling will do little to remedy those problems. But still, would it not be nice, for once, to see the manipulative David Stern be forced to swallow a dose of medicine? Would it not be satisfying to watch Clay “The Extortionist” Bennett crawl back to Oklahoma City and admit defeat?

The evidence in this case is far from overwhelming for either side. For once, just once, let us hope the general public gets a chance to feel what it’s like to be a winner.