Robert Swift gets 3.6m QO from Sonics
Posted on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 9:58 pm by Mr. Baker (thinking good thoughts for George Karl))
According to the Seattle Times, Robert Swift was offered a 3.6 million dollar Qualifying Offer. This allows the Sonics to retain a free agent restriction over Mr Swift. They must have some interest in him. Having him go through next year on the QO one year contracts not the best option for the team, they are better off following his rehab and then if he is healthy as they near September they should make a move for a 3 year contract, that allows the team to trade him if they want, and for Swift to have a deal that has some length on it.
He is still a very young guy, and he is just as tall.
It is all up to you Robert, but that’s not really new, is it Robert?
Oft-injured Robert Swift has received a one-year qualifying offer by the Sonics, which makes him a restricted free agent.
The $3.6 million qualifying offer allows the Sonics to match any deal given to the 7-foot-1 center by another team.
Despite several setbacks, Sonics general manager Sam Presti said the team “still believes” in the fourth-year player who has played just 71 games and missed most of the past two seasons because of knee injuries., Seattle Times.
Run outside and play!
June 27th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Good luck Mr. Swift. Hope to see you make it
As for the draft, Marty Burns of Sports Illustrated gave the Sonics a B-minus. He said,
“They parlayed draft-high six picks into several intriguing prospects, most notably Westbrook and Ibaka. But will they regret passing on Kevin Love or Brook Lopez, and why trade up for the workmanlike White? Was he going to be off the board at 32?”
June 27th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Was he going to be off the board at 32?
Well… he was drafted at #29 so… yes.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Mike Kahn gave the Sonics a “C” grade, saying:
“The Sonics entered the draft with six picks, two in the first round and four in the second, and they came away with four players, plus more future picks. But they got a big, athletic point guard who is a great on-the-ball defender in Westbrook — although his offense is very raw. White gives them more depth up front, but Ibaka and Hardin seem to be throwaway picks. They’re not going anywhere other than maybe Oklahoma City anyway, so they’ve got time to develop these guys while they’re hanging out in the cellar.”
June 27th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
If White was gone before the #32 pick, the Sonics could have taken Deandre Jordan, who lasted to #35. Mario Chalmers was still there at #34.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Sporting News gave only one team an “F” Draft Grade. Guess who?
Seattle Supersonics. “Seattle doesn’t deserve this franchise. Seattle is too classy a city. They continue to stockpile draft picks and now players with late first-rounder Serge Ibaka, who’ll likely play overseas. Russell Westbrook is a nice combo guard talent, but they shocked everyone by picking him so high at No. 4. They traded up for D.J. White. Poor Kevin Durant. If only he had gone to an NBA team.”
June 27th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
It’s a good thing they didn’t draft Jordan. He has bust written all over him.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Thanks for the reports Rock - interesting reading.
Time will tell of course… I still like the Westbrook pick. It Sounds like he has the attitude and work ethic and athletic skills to grow. He will need to improve his shot - and it will take him a few years to get the hang of the NBA - But I think he will be a strong player - hopefully a great defender.
The sonics are still a few more players and years away - this is one very important step. Hopefully Presti can get some more help at the #4 & #5 in the next year or 2. But Luke & EW are not the answer at PG - Hopefully Westbrook is & in 2-3 years he will be playing well as KD & JG hit their stride.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Talked with a friend tonight who lives in LA - They said they went to a Bruin/USC game and Westbrook did a GREAT job on OJ Mayo - totally took him out of his game.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Meanwhile… I’m surprised to hear the Sonics may spend more money of Swift. I’m not optimistic - but I don’t see him in rehab either.
It may be a good sign in terms of Clay’s willingness to spend money??????
Good night all - SOS!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Excellent basketball decision. I suspected the Sonics would let him go just to save money. Giving up on Swift before this year would have been a bad move. 3.5mm is a bargain for a young center. Centers don’t generally mature and play well in the league until mid 20’s. One more year to gauge the likelihood of him capitalizing on his potential…
June 28th, 2008 at 12:59 am
frozenropers.im sure being a bball junkie like me youve read all the posts on this site over the course of the last few days?probably over 400.and having not tabulated them the vast majority excoriated presti for the picks.yes?
and im sure you noticed that there is a tendency towards group think,mob rule as it were.(even tho todays posts are much more positive.perhaps more group think?or even people have taken the time to think clearly)?
i will not attack you ala ak47 with personal insults nor with idiotic trade suggestions, nor like beantown(by the way whered he go?) offer to take every poster to the alley and prove his manhood.but that is the beauty of the internet as you can pretty much say anything you want.
but i will challenge anyone to try and think for themselves,to look at an issue with some clarity and some vision.something that seems difficult for most people,not just parrot their fellow posters.
while your welcome to your assertion that i communicated like a drunken skunk i would highly disagree.in fact i think i communicated my disdain for this group think quite clearly and if i say so myself quite elegantly.
while basketball is not rocket science,it is of some complexity considering that 30 teams a year try and accomplish the same goal and the vast majority of teams fail.but hey a hero to some and a drunk to others.
as for what presti.s doing please read my next post
June 28th, 2008 at 1:21 am
i would offer for peoples thought this analysis.its taken luck to get here,but its also taken vision and balls to make the moves presti’s made.(dont get me wrong he’s already made a mistake with landry)
so lets look at the celtics.with work kevin durant (with 30/40 more pounds)morph’s into kevin garnett.jeff green with a better outside shot becomes a paul pierce and now youve got the next rashon rondo,a pass first,ok shooting gaurd who is a terror on defence.now you need a sweet shooting guard who goes 10 for 15,5 rebound 5 assist guy(not that difficult to find) and then you need a passable big body in the center who now and then gets 20 points but clogs the middle and rebounds.
their already 3/5’s there.and they posses a better bench with collison watson anjd hopefully swift.
oj mayo,nor bayliss would not work in this scenario.they both are shoot-first players who would hurt this chemistry that history has proven has to work,not personality wise but basketball wise.
im not advocating we crown presti king but to fail to see what hes doing with the players he’s drafting and the team hes putting together is to not understand the game vey well.
sometimes in my other life i remodel hoiuses(much better then i type) and about 2/3rds of the way thru when theres still sawdust all over the floor and the sink to the bathroom isnt in,even tho it looks a mess and ive been working on it what feels like forever theres a point when it suddenly becomes clear how beautifull it will be.but untill that point it just looks like a god awfull mess.thats where were at with the sonics.
a couple more additions,a couple of more trades,some maturation and discipline and this team will surprise a lot of people.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I don’t think Detroit would have taken D.J White if we didnt do that trade. They only picked him because we had an arrangement with them. They already have Maxiell and Amir johnson as young bigs so they wouldn’t have needed white. But maybe presti thought someone between 29 and 31 would have taken white instead. I would have risked it and waited for 32 to pick him or someone else. Dorsey was still available too.
June 28th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I’m hearing the same kinds of things about Westbrook that I did about Danny Vranes when he was the 5th pick in 1981. “A stopper in a go-go league”. Ugh
June 28th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Besides, DJ is a 21 year old senior. Dorsey is like 24 or 25 already.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:27 am
WTF, my posts are getting all screwed up.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am
JJ, I love Westbrook already and I am delighted to have him on the team. There is a decent chance he will be an excellent player, possibly a star, especially on a team like the Sonics where he will get loads of playing time. There is a huge slot for him, even off the bench.
My beef is that he or someone with equal or greater potential could have been obtained at a lower pick for less salary. I fail to see why Presti could not drop down to the 7 or 8 slot (as I urged before the draft, when I said there would be great picks all the way to the #10 pick, which is where Brook Lopez went.)
Presti/Bennett did the same thing last draft, when he picked Green several slots higher than necessary. The art of being a general manager is to build the best team with what you have to work with. Presti has not maximized.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
DaSupes,
McDyess is a fossil now. Rasheed is on the trading block. And Amir Johnson is one of the rawest big men in the NBA. I’d say the chances were high they would’ve drafted and kept him if we didn’t trade for him. And considering they took 2 big men anyways in the 2nd round, they are looking to stockpile some large bodies.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Quoted Below is what SupersonicsSoul wrote:
As you might recall, Sam Presti dealt away two second-round picks from last year’s draft. Those picks turned out to be Glen Davis and Carl Landry, both strong contributors to their teams.
Yesterday, the Sonics began the day with four (!) picks in the second round of the NBA draft. Of those four picks, the Sonics did the following:
#32 - traded to Detroit for #29 pick
#46 - traded to Detroit for #29 pick
#50 - DeVon Hardin, not traded
#56 - traded to Cleveland for cash
All of which means, in the past two seasons Presti has had six second-round picks available to him, and, of those six, he has traded away five, receiving in exchange a future second-rounder, an end of the first-rounder, cash, and Jeff Green’s left arm (an approximation of what the pick’s value in the Ray Allen trade).
And so, to close the book on last year’s draft-day dealings and put an end to my extended ramblings, the Seattle Sonics essentially traded Carl Landry for half of DJ White. Not exactly a sweet flip.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Rock, Presti I think DID try to move down to the Clippers spot. The initial thought was that the Clippers wanted to move up to grab Eric Gordon with the #4. However they ended wanting to keep that pick and actually got the player they coveted all along. If we looked to drop any lower than that, Russell would’ve been gone.
I like Presti’s approach. If he sees a player that he covets, he will aggressively pursue him, such as the DJ White trade and the Ibaka pick.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Mantra, my point is that if Westbrook was gone (unlikely), then Lopez or Love would have been there (even better).
If White was gone (unlikely), a half dozen other players would have been there at #32, plus the Sonics would have another potential star seasoning in Europe with the #46 pick we gave away.
Presti has an eye for tweeners. Green is a tweener, Durant is a tweener, now Westbrook is a tweener. Ibaka probably won’t even be here this season. The Sonics are not looking to put a good team on the floor this next season, so why not put more rookies on the team and try to develop some stars out of an assortment of prospects?
June 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Here is a theory on the DJ white trade & pick…
Could it be that Presti is so high on White he prefered to get him in the late part of the first round in order to tie him up with a cheap but longer tern salary? My understanding is 2nd round salaries are completely flexible in terms of length and amount.
This is probably a reach as a theory - because if they took him at 32 they could still try & sign him up for longer terms? Just throwin out an idea that I don’t even know if is makes sense.
I don’t know - I agree with those who suggest White might have been there at 32 anyway - but who knows - maybe presti had what he felt was reliable info. that someone else prior to #32 was going to take White?
My guess is Presti simply wanted White bad enough that he did not want to risk losing him - Detoit was willing to deal - and with four 2nd round picks he did not need to bring in 4 new players anyway - they don’t have enough spots - so going 2-1 probably made sense to him.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
On the idea of Presti trading down…
My best guess is Presti simply did not want to risk losing Westbrook. He probably valued Westbrook so much more than say Bayless or Gordan or any of the others were were likly to go in the next few picks - that he simply did not want to risk missing out on the player he wanted to drop a few spots and in order to get another player or draft pick. I did read in a few places that the Knicks at #6 were high on Westbrook. Maybe that influenced Presti?
If you look at last years draft - 2 of the guys many were suggesting were better than Green - YI and Brewer - were taken right after Green. After their rookie years - I like Green more than either of those 2 guys - I looks like Presti’s scouting may have been solid there. IMO Yi & Brewer did not play as well as Green in their rookie years. It will take a bit more time to tell but Presti may end up with a good grade for the Green pick at #5 last year. And last year - we can say we wish Presti had traded down to get some more value and picked up green later - but again - Presti likely did not want to risk losing his shot at the guy he wanted.
If is fun and interesting discussion on this. We will never know if someone else would have picked up Westbrook or Green in front of us if we had traded down a few spots.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Rock… I do agree with your comment about using next year to develop some young players. the Team is simply not going to make the playoffs in the ultra-tough Western conference. Player development should be the main goal.
It would be my hope at this point that we give Lots of minutes to young guys. I know how down most people are on these guys - but I’d give big minutes to Petro, Swift if he is healthy & with us, and our 2 main rookies - Westbrook & white.
I’d love to see us trade EW or Luke prior to training camp - give Westbrook 24+ minutes a night all year. It takes time to learn the PG role - get him going.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Will sene even be available next year or is his knee injury going to cause him to miss the whole season?
June 28th, 2008 at 11:33 am
If Westbrook starts any games early next year, I’d be really surprised. They should really take it slow with him and wait until he gets into a comfort zone before they throw him out to the wolves. Watson for 32 mpg next year won’t be that bad assuming Durant and Green pick up their scoring.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I’m hoping Wilcox gets traded for another swingman so we can see a consistent big man rotation next year of:
SF - Green 25 mpg
PF - Collison 25 mpg / Green 10 mpg / White 13 mpg
C - Petro 30 mpg / Collison 10 mpg / Swift 8 mpg
Sometimes depending on matchups of course.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:44 am
If no trades happen - My guess is either Luke or EW will be the 3rd PG in the rotation next year - with Westbrook the back-up.
someone is not going to be happy.
Hope Presti can deal one of them.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
The Sonics did not make a qualifying offer of $3.6 mil to Switft to give him 8 min per game. Swift is not going to even be at the summer league due to contract issues.
If I was Swift, I would grab the 1 year contract. If he develops at all, he will be a total free agent and a soon-to-be mega millionaire. If he can’t play, then he is a young man with several million in the bank. Hopefully, the Sonics sign him to a long term offer with team options.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
There were definitely rumors that the Knicks were gonna take Westbrook. Everyone in NY is pissed that they drafted the Italian.
People were calling the radio stations angry that they didn’t take Westbrook. Alot of knick fans wanted him.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I don’t understand why anyone could think that Brook Lopez or Kevin Love would have been a better pick for the Sonics. Really? This team needs another unathletic, slow big man? Or an undersized power forward/center who isn’t an interior defensive presence? Yes, they might be more of a “sure thing” than Westbrook at this point, but I’d rather take a chance on a player who is already at the elite level in the NBA at a couple skills (athleticsm, defense) with the potential to be an all-star, than on a player who is ready to contribute immediately but who will likely max out as a solid starter at best.
Let’s be honest, this team isn’t even close to competing for the playoffs in the West. Presti is building a team of athletic, defensive-minded players (sans Durant, who was simply too talented to pass up) who have the potential to become offensive threats and complete all-around players. They aren’t trying to win now - they are loading up to be competitive in the future. Yes, the team might not be in Seattle for the true Sonics’ fans to enjoy, but I don’t understand how - from a basketball fan’s perspective - people aren’t excited about the potential for this team 2-3 years down the road.
I guess what I’m saying is the doubters need to get off Presti’s balls. He’s already proven that he has foresight in spades and makes the Sonics’ previous GMs look apathetic incompetent by comparison. There is no quick fix for a team so completely devoid of talent. Don’t expect to see results in the WL column for another couple years. Not only is it unrealistic it is just plain illogical. Other than Rose or Beasley there was not another player in this draft who could have significantly changed this team’s fortunes dramatically in the short term.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I think Luke’s salary restrictions come off on July 1, so he is no longer a base year compensation player. Luke should have been a star, he had the whole package for a highly successful PG. He had the eye, speed, coordination, passing ability, smarts, the shot, the brains, the instinct….. Then he lost his shot, his confidence, his swagger. He has been a head case. He’s a weird ultra-religious mantra muttering guy. Maybe his goofy god thing made him unable to adjust or he was too much of a bible-toting pansy or perhaps Ridnour was unmotivated by worldly goals, like being the best basketball player or winning a championship for his home state.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I need a clarification about the QO.
We can give him a contract cheaper than 3.6 millions right ? We just made him a restricted free agent allowing us to retain him if there is an outside offer but we are not forced to pay him that much for a year ?
I really think that almost 4 millions is way too much considering his situation.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I don’t think we can offer him less than that because of the CBA rules. He’s been in the league a couple of years now.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Hey -
I’ve been a season ticket holder for a while now, and I can’t beleive they are giving Swift another chance. He is a total waste of a spot. His playing ability isn’t even worth the chair he sits on. He’s horrible to the fans, and hasn’t played in 2 years. What are these people thinking?
Presti’s “genius” title is is serious jeopardy. I was unhappy at first with the Westbrook choice, but got over that when seeing the stats. But, SWIFT? Are you kidding?
The only thing Swift is qualified for is working the parking lot. If this team really wants to get serious, instead of half-assing it, like they are now, they need to get rid of Swift, Sene, and Luke.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Interesting thoughts on Luke Mr. Rock - I’m not going to analyze or bash him for his faith position - and some of his struggles could have been as simple as a bad combination of injuries last year and a bad coaching dynamic the year before when Hill benched him after he player great ball in November/December. Or a bummer for a young PG to have 4 different coaches in 5 years. Or for whatever reason Luke may need some more mental toughness.
IMO….
IF - IF - IF - Luke could have developed a superior outside shot he could have been an excellent PG on the offensive end of the floor. He is a terrific passer with great instincts and vision as a natural PG.
I think his effort has always been very good and he is an unselfish player.
He tries hard on the defensive end but simply has problems with guards who are bigger/quicker.
IF - IF - IF - Luke somehow develops a superior outside jumper - I still think he could be a good fit on a team that already has some other high quality defenders - especially a shot-blocking big man in the paint. On the right team they could cover for him way better that the Sonics have. Luke is a bad defender - but he also has been on a team with pitiful defenders around him and very questionable coaching since Nate left.
On the right team he could be a great PG on the offensive end IF he could get his jumper improved. I thought this was happening some in the fall of 06 - but after Hill benched him and he had some injuries and the whole team struggled Luke’s game also went downhill.
Could this change? I’m not expecting it to in Seattle - he may need a new situation and a “Fresh Start” somewhere else to maximize his development - or we may have seen Luke for what he is… a PG who could be an excellent backup but who will struggle as a starter - especially on the defensive end.
At this point if Presti can pull it off - I think it would be best to trade either EW or LR before training camp and let the one who stays around start and split the PG minutes fairly evenly with Westbrook.
But trading either will be tough - both can play in this league - but both are overpaid at about 6.5 million for 2 more seasons each.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I think Swift can accept the qualifying offer. Below are some of the rules, but the March 1 date does not make sense.
In order to make their free agent a restricted free agent, a team “must submit a qualifying offer to the player by June 30. . . The qualifying offer must be for one season. A player can elect to accept his qualifying offer (the qualifying offer must be accepted by March 1) and play the following season under its terms.”
“A team can withdraw its qualifying offer to a restricted free agent, in which case the player becomes unrestricted. The qualifying offer cannot be withdrawn after July 23 without the player’s approval.”
from http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#36
June 28th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I’m pretty sure the sonics are now obligated to pay Swift 3.6 million next year. He may be able to get another offer from another team but if he does I think the soncis can match it.
Not sure exactly how that works.
I’m not optimistic about Swift ever amounting to much. He showed some promise 2 years ago but this injury may have really ruined any potential for a good career and he may be a head case too.
I can only assume Presti sees some solid progress in workouts and Rehab that we can’t see that causes him to want to give him another year.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Luke has a superior outside jumper. He just doesn’t bring it to the game. He has been a head case as a basketball player. He had a choir boy upbringing in a sect-like religious community, so he can’t relate to the real world in which NBA basketball is played. He might have fine values and philosophies, but they don’t translate into a focus on the game that will propel him to achieve on the basketball court or in the lockerroom. He is not the first player to drift away from the game because of other callings. I am not saying Luke is a bad guy because he is a religious zealot, but rather that he is not the basketball player he could be, because of his personality and his aspirations in areas other than basketball.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Shawn, my understanding is that Swift can sign the QO and get that, end of story.
The Sonics can withdraw the offer until July 23. I think they could offer less money after that.
“A team can withdraw its qualifying offer to a restricted free agent, in which case the player becomes unrestricted…The qualifying offer cannot be withdrawn after July 23 without the player’s approval.”
June 28th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Anyone think this trade has potential?
Miami sends S. Marion to Seattle
Seattle sends Wilcox, Watson, D. Wilkins & A. Griffin to Miami
According to the ESPN trade machine this works.
Why would Seattle like it?
1. Unloads D. Wilkins and Watson’s contracts for 09/10
2. Marion is a great player - who knows - if the vibe works well in this new setting maybe he resigns with Sonics after this coming season for a few years at a reasonable salary. If not - the Sonics have more salary cap room next summer than they would if Wilkins and Watson were still here.
3. Sonics unload 4 players for 1 - this created more room to bring in young player who they could try and develop.
4. Watson, Wilkins, Griffin are not likely to be long term players that will stay with Sonics as they build around KD/JG. Wilcox might - but with 1 more year on his contract - if you don’t think so you may want to trade him now and not risk losing him next summer as an unrestricted free agent.
5. Everything is focused on becoming a 50+ win and contending team in another 2 years or so - winning next seaosn is not the priority - the salary reduction for 09/10 is the big bonus regardless of Marion staying or not.
6. Marion is an amazing defender - his attitude and effort in this could help some of the younger sonics.
Why might Miami like it?
1. They likely are not going to want to give Marion huge $$$ next summer - the extension negotiations did not work this summer - trade him now.
2. They get a chance to see is Wilcox can play well for them - and then they have an option to re-sign him for a long-term deal next summer if they want.
3. They have roster spots open - going 4-1 is OK.
4. Watson is a servicable PG - better than anything they have now.
5. Griffin has just 1 year left at low dollars.
6. Wilkind can be a decent reserve - the Heat needs some depth - and he only has 2 years left on his contract.
7. Heat are taking on some more contract obligations in Watson/Wilkins for 09/10 - but they will still have plenty of room the next summer when some of the big FA’s come available and when Mark Blounts contract is up as well.
Thoughts?
June 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Mantra, we could take that further & project the whole roster PT just for the heck of it:
PG - Watson 25 min, Westbrook 15 min, Ridnour 8 min
SG - Durant 35 min, Westbrook 8 min, Ridnour 5 min
SF - Jeff Green 30 min, KD 3 min, Gelabale 15 min
PF - Collison 30 min, DJ White 12 min, Green 6 min
C - Petro 15 min, Hardin 12 min, Swift 10 min, Elson 6 min,
Collison 5 min
I don’t know if Swift will be healthy enough to play or not, or who will get traded or cut. I didn’t project any minutes for Wilkens or Wilcox or Marshall or Griffin or Sene because their status is in doubt. I think all 3 draft choices (not counting Ibaka who will play in Spain) will be able to get PT, because that will be a priority for this team (giving the young guys PT) and the veteran competition isn’t that great anyway.
PT by player in descending number of minutes, it would work out to: Kevin Durant - 38 min, Jeff Green - 36 min, Nick Collison - 35 min, Earl Watson - 25 min, Russell Westbrook - 23 min, Johan Petro - 15 min, Mickael Gelabale - 15 min, Luke Ridnour - 13 min, DJ White - 12 min, DeVon Hardin - 12 min, Robert Swift - 10 min, and Francisco Elson - 6 min. (Does that add up to 240 total?) That is 12 players right there, so they can’t have any more on the active roster, but could carry 1-3 more on the inactive roster. We may have to keep Donyell Marshall or others due to guaranteed contracts, I’m not sure.
That’s one possible scenario, but it’s a little early to be guessing PT since we don’t know who will remain on the roster. We just know that they can’t all stay here. We’ll know more in the free agency period. I’m excited for Summer League to start in Orlando for our young guys.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Rock… Intersting thoughts on Luke.
This year will likely be a pivitol year for him. I think it would be best for him, Earl & Westbrook and the team if Presti could trade either Luke or EW before trainign camp - and then let the one who stays do the best they can as the clear starter this year while grooming Westbrook.
Could luke step up his game if he remains and EW is gone and he has a clear role or find fresh start in another setting that might ignite his game to another level? Maybe - maybe not.
But keeping EW and Luke both around next year IMO is not ideal - but Presti may be stuck with that dynamic because trading either will likley be difficult.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
If NY can’t get Felton I would offer them Ridnour for Malik Rose (expiring)
D’antoni doesn’t really value defense and could use him I guess.
At this point getting rid of Ridnour for expirings is the best we can get. We clear the logjam at PG and keep a terrific defensive rotation at the PG position.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I don’t like Marion at all and I think calling him “a great player” is a stretch, but if we have a chance to get rid of the contracts of Earl Watson and Damien Wilkins then we should do it.
The reason I don’t like Marion is because he is very dependant on the PG to be able to have any effect on the offensive end. He’s not a guy that will be able to score unless he’s got a playmaker creating for him. I like the fact that he defends, but he’s somewhat of a crybaby and only cares about money instead of wins. I wouldn’t mind only having him for one year.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
JJ I think it has potential.
Marion might fit with Green and bring 3 point shooting.
A key is what he will have to re-sign for.
He could well walk from Sonics but they might be fine with that.
It is really in Riley’s hands. Not sure whether he wants to keep (at right price). He probably waits and hears as many offers as possible - late July or even til trade deadline.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
We can probably trade Watson a lot easier than Ridnour. Watson put up some very good stats as the season went on and of course he has a reputation of playing tough defense. Perhaps Miami might still be interested if Chalmers isn’t ready to play big minutes. Derek Fisher isn’t getting any younger, perhaps the Lakers might want to start looking for a veteran PG to compete with Farmar?
June 28th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Taking Westbrook over Love is in the past now but I will note that moving up to get White is an important subsidiary move that might mitigate.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I hate the fact that a lot of people are comparing Serge Ibaka to Sene. When you consider that Ibaka picked up the game at age 7, they aren’t similar at all. I realize Ibaka is unpolished offensively, but atleast he has a jumpshot with range out to the 3 point line. That does not sound like Sene at all to me. The comparisons need to stop!
June 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Re: My post at 1:14PM above that just appeared and having 5 different Centers share the minutes with 5-15 minutes each: It may be a little cumbersome or counterproductive to do that for very long. Obviously, one would hope that one or maybe 2 of the centers would clearly assert their superiority at the position and gain the majority of the minutes. You could run a revolving door for 20-30 games or so, then re-evaluate. Maybe alternate starters and only let 3 centers play per game, but rotate them among different games.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Mantra…the problem is their shooting mechanics are IDENTICAL. Serge may have more range, but their style of play is quite similar. Having said that, Ibaka does have more game.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
We really need to add 3pt shooting somehow, we are just awful right now.
Maybe a good surprise from Durant and/or Green but I won’t count on it.
I don’t think we’ll spend money on the FA market and he will probably have offers from better teams but James Jones is available and would be a nice addition.
Trade for Redick ? He sucks but at least he can shoot. He is cheap and probably available with Courtney Lee now with the Magic.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Jeff Green will apparently play in the Summer League.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Probably a better way to list the minutes for each player’s PT would be by a range of minutes rather than specific minutes. Then players could be grouped by their range of time on the court, like so:
A Group: 35-40 minutes each:
1) Kevin Durant 2) Jeff Green 3) Nick Collison
B Group: 20-25 minutes each:
1) Earl Watson 2) Russell Westbrook
C Group: 10-15 minutes each:
1) Johan Petro 2) Mickael Gelabale 3) Luke Ridnour
4) DJ White 5) DeVon Hardin 6) Robert Swift
D Group: Anyone else on the roster not playing at least 10mpg
June 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I have no problems with the picks at all. I trust that Presti and his scouting dept. know more about these players than any of us on this board.
Westbrook fits our lineup better than Love or Lopez. His defense is solid and has tons of athleticism. There’s evidence that Presti did try to move down a bit with the #4 pick, but it takes two teams to do a trade. It’s easy to say “Presti should have traded down”. But if there weren’t any teams that wanted to trade up, then how could he have traded down?
Ibaka - No one on this board knows anything about him other than what we’ve read on the internet. Presti’s and Co. have seen him play. They’ve interviewed him. They’ve given him a private workout. At age 18, he already has an “NBA body”. Most everyone agrees that he was the most athletic player in the draft. Most agree that if he lived in the US, he’d be a high school all american this year. This was not a “throw away” pick. It was a further investment in the future.
White trade - Presti had his eye on him and he fell to a spot that was huge value. I imagine there is some truth about not wanting to take him in the second round because of the contract.
Overall, I have huge respect for any GM that targets players he wants on his team, then figures out how to get them. I would much rather have a plan than go the “best player available approach”
-=cysco
June 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Westbrook’s workout video for the Blazers:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cI-fBx8n97c
His shooting form looks solid. I think he’ll develop that jumper a lot faster than people think.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Mantra, thanks for posting that video. It is encouraging to see such a solid-looking stroke from outside. His mechanics seem fine (unlike Jeff Green’s), so it’s probably only a matter of time before he becomes an adequate shooter.
One thing that shines through in that video is his humble demeanor. I’ve got to say I really love the fact that our young core (Durant, Green, Westbrook, Collison) is composed of hard-working, humble, relatively well-spoken guys. Not your stereotypical NBA thugs. I could see some really nice chemistry developing over the years.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Has anybody brought up this set of logical facts yet?
Presti wanted a pg and Pf in this draft = westbrook/White/Chewbaka/Hardin
Couldn’t he have done something infinitely better like:
Love/Chalmers (24) /White (same trade)/Hardin?
Ma I missing something here? Did he really want Westbrook and Chewbaka that bad or did he misread this?
June 28th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
AKismyhomie, your argument rests on the assumption that the disparity between Love and Ibaka is greater than that between Westbrook and Chalmers. Only time will tell. Ibaka is a YouTube all-star though.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I think he really wanted Westbrook and Ibaka. He probably felt that Westbrook is a better fit on this team than Love with a far greater upside. It remains to be seen, but I just don’t see Love becoming anything more than a solid NBA starter. I don’t have any problem at all with passing him up.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
youtube allstar… so is westbrook. He has some amazing youtube film. We’ll see. Please let it translate to the NBA, baskeball god in heaven.
And as an aside, it looks like we could have received Mayo for Love or at least have had the option. I’m sure Presti could have fleeced Mchale because of his bromance for Love.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
ZenDoc, you missed Wilcox. Was that a slip?
June 28th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Russell Westbrook 2 minutes of highlight video. He actually has a very sweet stroke - good form and a quick release. He will improve more but he’s a pretty darn good shooter now and an incredible dunker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJUkr1xDiJs&NR=1
I like this pick more and more every day. He may end up being better than Mayo, Bayless, and Rose in the long run. If not, he’ll be right there with the best of them. Presti did his homework on both Westbrook and Ibaka, and actually ended up getting 2 lottery picks (equivalents). If they had waited one more year to draft Ibaka, he probably would have been a top 5 pick.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Rock, No, it wasn’t a slip leaving Wilcox out. I explained that in my 1:14PM post that appeared a little later due to moderation.
“I didn’t project any minutes for Wilkens or Wilcox or Marshall or Griffin or Sene because their status is in doubt.”
It’s definitely a guessing game, but the rumors are flying. What do you think? Do you think Chris will be here or elsewhere next season?
June 28th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
http://tinyurl.com/3mv39o
*cry. I miss you 1990-96.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I sure hope Presti has a strategy in place and/or agreement - with Ibaka and his agent. Otherwise, from what Shawn is saying, he is not likely to ever be seen by the Sonics.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
mrcysco, I would say that that is a really solid assumption on your part (also an understatement):
“I trust that Presti and his scouting dept. know more about these players than any of us on this board.”
That’s exactly why I don’t understand all the pissing and moaning and people acting like they know better than Presti & the scouts & coaches. A lot of people sure like to bitch / complain about the draft w/o trying to understand why the picks were made and how they fit. Get ready for a really exciting Summer league team. I wonder if they’ll keep Ibaka here and have him play on the summer team or if they even can if he’s not under contract.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
“He had a choir boy upbringing in a sect-like religious community”
Just curious, but where do you get the “sect-like religious community” thing from?
June 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
maybe he wanted Westbrook, Knicks would have taken him before the Clippers pick.
It is better to overpay for what you need.
They did not draft Westbrook, Durant, and Green to have them come off the bench, Westbrook will start. Either Luke or Earl will come off the bench, the other will get traded faster than you can say Wally Z.
Earl is entering his prime, and will be exiting his prime before Durant hits his, Luke is close to the same age as Earl (I just can’t call what Luke is doing as prime). Next year Earl becomes the higher paid of the two by a couple hundred thousand. No point in keeping 12 million in backup pg. The team also has too many people on it that do not have a vested interest in the team future, are young enough to get their numbers before they think if anything else or are at the end of their careers. Nick, Luke, and Earl are veterans to Durant, Green, and Westbrook. Marshall, Weezy, Griffin need to be combined with Earl or Luke and sent out.
If Carlos Delfino is available, I would like to have him here.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
well said, bnrupowyposu.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I totally agree with bnrupowyposu.. The Sonics should stay in Seattle forever..
Swift= Wild Bobby Ginger
June 28th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
JJ:
“Anyone think this trade has potential?
Miami sends S. Marion to Seattle
Seattle sends Wilcox, Watson, D. Wilkins & A. Griffin to Miami”
JJ, I like the trade for Seattle. As you stated there are several aspects that would help Seattle including getting rid of a logjam of players. I’ve always liked the matrix and disagree with Mantra that he can’t get his own offense–at Phoenix he had a superstar PG getting him the ball but he was the 3rd option always down the court and often scored on offensive rebounds or garbage plays. His athleticism would look good next to Collison.
Down side for Seattle is the matrix huge salary and with a flakey attitude how would he play for PJ? He doesn’t seem like the type to go for the throat or anything, but he may tune out and just go thru the motions.
Comes down to how much Riley would like Wilcox. Marion is one his very few blue chips to play with so he will be careful about what he gets back.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Rock,
Not sure how we could judge whether there is any truth to your analysis of Luke in terms of religion. Maybe it has kept his focus away from ultimate achievement in the game in some way, but I’d think it has equally kept his focus off of the myriad of powerful distractions young agressive males experience in the NBA–so does it help or hurt? Impossible to tell really.
I totally agree that he may need a fresh start elsewhere. Along with all the coaching changes you mentioned above he has had to play in the fishbowl of Sonics stupidity for several years. As pro players we all expect them to fully perform no matter what, but in reality playing for this team has likely hurt the mental health of all these guys.
All this pretty much goes for Watson too–he could use a new start. Neither one of these guys is ever going to be really good but they might be more productive in a better situation.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I’m sorry, guys….but what was supposed to impress me about the Blazers’ work out of Russell Westbrook?
Also, you don’t draft Westbrook that high unless you are going to give a legit chance to start. Unless he is unbelievably attrocious….he should have be starting in place of Ridnour and Watson…I don’t care what Watson’s stat line is for the second of the season. He just doesn’t cut it, he doesn’t fill the stat column that I am interested in…..the W’s.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Zonics, can you give me the literal word-for-word translation of that phrase that “bnrupowyposu” was saying because you seem to understand the language.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
For 3 point shooting James Jones would be a good target if they’d spend cash but they’d probably prefer trade. Sign & trade for Bogans might appeal more than Redick.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
If they got Redick for little, what the heck.
Delfino is probably available.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I’d bid on Kleiza, Azubuike though it probably won’t work.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
JJ, I like the trade for Seattle. As you stated there are several aspects that would help Seattle including getting rid of a logjam of players. I’ve always liked the matrix and disagree with Mantra that he can’t get his own offense–at Phoenix he had a superstar PG getting him the ball but he was the 3rd option always down the court and often scored on offensive rebounds or garbage plays. His athleticism would look good next to Collison.
Getting garbage baskets isn’t exactly creating your own offense. It’s creating off other’s misses. Check out his stats in Miami with a mediocre PG. He’s one of the most overrated players in the game. If he wasn’t paid 17 million a year AND asking for a raise, I would think differently.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Good thoughts & discussion on a lazy Saturday… just came in from some time in the sun - incredible.
I suspect the next month there will be plenty of rumors and discussions. It sure seems to me that Presti should try to make some moves. IMO his priorities should be:
1. Unload either EW or LR - give the starting PG job to the one who stays and hope thye do well enough - maybe even better than the past 1-2 years if they have a sense that their role is solid as starter with Westbrook the back-up.
2. Try and trade more players for less. Our roster is FULL. It would be nice to create some more roome for some young players to come in and try to develop them.
Wilcox is a big ? mark IMO. Personally, I think he will come in and play very well this season in large part because it is his contract drive. His best bal came in that situation 2 years ago. But the past 2 season have caused me to think he likely will slide back into some inconsistent play once he gets his money. He is a solid player - but would I want to give him a 4-6 year deal next summer at big money? I don’t think so. But he might have more value artound the trade deadline if he is having a great year. And maybe I’m wrong about his Long-term potential. Solid #4 players are tough to find.
What to do with Wilcox?
That is a big question for Presti & Co. to figure out.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
On the Marion trade I was just tossing it out as an idea. I’d probably do it if I was Presti & could get Riley to agree - but that may be a tough sell.
I’d look at it like this… Griffin, Wilkins and EW are not relevant for long-term Sonics team. I’d bascially be giving up Wilcox for marion - and getting some salry cap relief next summer and clearing some room on my bench for some new/younger players to develop.
Different opinions on Marion himself - i get that. He is not a star offensive player but IMO he is a fantstic defensive player and rebounder. Miami was so screwed up last year I would not judge him to much on those stats.
Is he a head case? I don’t know.
I would do this with the attitude that even if Marion did not re-sign with the Sonics I’m OK with that. If that happens I’ve got major cap room.
I’d just love to see us trade either EW or LR - and wilkins too if possible.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Westbrook had a late growth spurt. Let’s hope he grows 3 more inches so he can play the #2 guard. It’s nice to see his dunks and defensive work, but what about his ball handling, passing, running the team, 3 pt shooting and other needed skills?
One thing I saw in the Youtube videos of Westbrook is his guts - he isn’t timid like Luke.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
If Green is playing summer league he should put 5+ 3s a game and experiment with the point forward role.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
The QO is a good idea for now. Robert has to show for dough.
Not sure I would sign him to a long-term deal without seeing an entire season’s worth of really solid production, and that’s always been Robert’s problem. Injuries, putting on too much weight … he’s simply got to get out there and show that he can play center in the NBA for more than a few weeks in a row. A great deal also depends on if Johan follows up his play last season with another step forward. If he does I probably sign Johan instead…
I really have no idea what Swift’s value would be as a unrestricted FA. When you see dudes like Jerome James and Nene get sick money for having a couple of good months or half a season I could see a team signing him to a multiyear deal. He’s still young enough for someone to take that risk.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
It is ridiculous to do a one year contract with Swift. If he has a couple good months, he will get more money on a long term contract than it would be worth giving to a fragile player. If he sucks, it was still a waste. The Sonics could have bought a 1st round pick for $3 mil and had a rookie locked up for 4 or 5 years for much lower pay. Deandre Jordan was available and several others.
The Sonics should have cut Swift loose. I like Swift, but not for the money he will have to be paid. As a free agent, no other team would give Swift $3.6 mil right now.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Think Golden State would take Green and Wilcox for Biedrens and Wright?
June 28th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Rock
Luke is a head case because he is a head case. It has nothing or little to do with his faith. I could mention David Robinson, AC Green or other Christians who were tough folks. I could also make a list of people with no faith who were tough or were flakes. People are who they are.
Luke has a confidence problem. Plain and simple. If he would believe in his talents, he would be considered a decent (not good or great) starting point guard. At this point, regardless of faith, coaching environments, teammates or whatever Luke is a good, yet inconsistent back up.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
When Swift was rehabbing the first time I was stoked that he got all muscular and was thinking that he would be an awesome big. Now i’m not sure what to believe, i think this is the team going through the motions and then releasing him. Not sure
June 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
On the actual basketball front, I think they are going to wait out the contracts of Earl and Luke, unless a quality PG shows up. Once the contracts of those two go away, they have the cash to spend on a good PG. I think they use Westbrook to allow Durant to play the 3 more. In that situation Gelly or Damien is the odd man out, not EW or LR. With that in mind, Westbrook can begin playing right away and not have to handle many PG duties. That is my opinion.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Rock-where did you get the “sect-like” upbringing with Luke??
June 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
“Rock Says:
June 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Luke has a superior outside jumper. He just doesn’t bring it to the game. He has been a head case as a basketball player. He had a choir boy upbringing in a sect-like religious community, so he can’t relate to the real world in which NBA basketball is played. He might have fine values and philosophies, but they don’t translate into a focus on the game that will propel him to achieve on the basketball court or in the lockerroom. ”
Not sure what your issues are about Luke, but your fundamentalism is more abrasive than any supposed religious zeal Ridnour has. I’ve never heard players say anything about the guy how he’s not a good player on the court or in the locker room.
It might be interesting to hear what your definition of success is because I’m sure Luke has achieved–already–most of what you might consider success.
Luke Ridnour has played a very high level of basketball at the highest level possible (NBA); he has all the needed skills (except as an on-ball defender, which would be okay if he was in the right system. The system this team has said it was trying to build for years) to be a playoff level player, and possibly even a championship level player in the NBA.
If the terms fanatic and zealot were used of Ridnour as describing the man’s approach to training, preparation, and desire to see his team win, then I think it would be an apt description. Blaming his faith stance for what you perceive as his lack of success in the NBA seems to be more your issue than his.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
there is no way you trade jeff green.given his skill set and the his learning curve thu his rookie year.he scored what 33 points and 13 rebounds towards the end of the year.why do you think riley asked for him?
the situation with wilcox is every gm in the league knows that hes limited offensively and atrocious defensively.
westbrook was drafted to be a point guard,why would you want to put him at sg when he doesnt have much of a shot?
rock it sounds like you dont like any moves presti has made.pity you arent the gm,no?
June 28th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
http://www.breakawaymag.com/Sports/A000000043.cfm
excerpt—”Ridnour doesn’t buy into the idea that Christians aren’t competitive, that they don’t care about winning.
“When you’re doing something for the Lord, you want to do it at your very best,” Ridnour says. “That’s what the Bible says to do. I give it all I have.”
Off the court, Ridnour is soft-spoken and shy. On the court, he’s manic.
His dad carried him to the locker room after several high school games because he was totally spent. Once, after losing to a school with three players who ended up playing at major colleges, Rob found his son collapsed outside of the gym, dry-heaving.
“He’s a fierce competitor,” Rob says. “He hates losing.”
In three years at Oregon, Ridnour played in 96 games. Counting exhibition and possible playoff games, he’ll match that in his first season as a Sonic.
“That’s a lot of basketball,” Ridnour says, beaming. “But it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Spoken like a true gym rat”
Something happened to Luke after Nate left—phyically and mentally he needs to get it back–probably won’t happen with this club-if ever.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I like Luke, I think that he is turned off by the satan that is his boss.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Clap your hands Luuuuuuke..
http://tinyurl.com/6s55d3
June 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
http://tinyurl.com/5dm4sk
clay is not a happy camper..
June 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
It is a bunch of pretty small differences in the stats between Luke’s best year and worst. They add up.
New season upcoming, who knows maybe he bounces up.
Having a big year from 3 point land would welcome and might have a snowball effect.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Dry heaving because he lost a game against a good team. I have watched a lot of basketball. Not sure that I have ever watched anyone get carried off the court that was not injured. I played in over 30 DI football games. My pride would not have let anyone carry me off, let alone my daddy.
He was mental in HS.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
With all of that money, why can’t Clay get a good hair cut?
June 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I asked the same thing of John Kerry malaman….
You never know, his wife probably controls SOOO MUCH information in that town that no one will ever be able to tell him
June 28th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Knicks shopping David Lee for a vet pg.
Lee, Rose (final year), for Earl and Griffin. Sonics take on a tiny bit of salary, move a pg. If they are looking at Tyron Lue, then anything is possible.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I would take on a little extra contract space in a heartbeat to bring Lee in. That gives you great help at the 3 and 4 in David Lee for years to come. To me, David Lee seems to fit Presti’s system and culture.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I assume Lee will get offers of at least $8mil 1st year when he is a free agent next summer. You could probably justify that. $10mil and up might be too steep.
Generally I expect PBC will go slow on adding salary but Lee might be a case Presti could sell the bosses on, in part for marketing assistance.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
With Lee, wor PF’s would be Lee, Rose, Wilcox, Collison, White, Petro. Kind of stacked. This list does not include Jeff Green either.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
The Sonics did not make a qualifying offer of $3.6 mil to Switft to give him 8 min per game. Swift is not going to even be at the summer league due to contract issues.
Rock, I don’t mean to sound like an ass but with that logic, Jerome James should see more minutes than David Lee, Eric Snow should be playing more than Delonte West, and Brad Miller should be playing more than Spencer Hawes etc etc.
June 29th, 2008 at 5:30 am
anybody read reina’s(of real gm)grades of the draft?almost every pick he second guesses.as an example bayliss going 11the only to be traded for a thirtenth pick.now how is it that a player that 6 gm’s, people who have spent their lives working and living basketball for most of their lives see a player and give him far less value then all of us?and yet like many on this board have the chutzpa to think they know better.and you see this phenomena everywhere.on every board and every subject.i mean i understand being passionate or believing in your opinion but is there no flexibility?when cdr goes 40th,hello 40th in the draft then isnt that telling us something,same with dorsey or arthur.
yes they make mistakes and collossal ones but that realization should only temper our own dogmatic views,myself included
June 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
From the Oklahoman: http://newsok.com/if-sonics-owners-win-when-will-moving-vans-arrive/article/3263633/undefined?pg=2
How are the Oklahoma City owners viewed in Seattle?
Brad Keller, an attorney for the owners, said in his closing arguments that fans view the owners “as nothing but a bunch of carpetbaggers from Oklahoma who came to take their team away.” He said Bennett can’t come to town without personal security guards and can’t sit courtside at games. HUNDREDS of fans gathered outside the courthouse on the first day of the trial and many had unkind — and unprintable — things to say about Bennett.
They are still saying “hundreds”–how humerous!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 8:54 am
http://tinyurl.com/5dm4sk
clay is not a happy camper..
What you’re seeing right there is a sense of impending doom. The cracks in the armor are starting to show and are about to break open.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:05 am
This is what he’s thinking..
http://www.the-ocean.com/looney/sounds/vryangry.wav
June 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
More disappearing threads
June 29th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
if Gelabale doesn’t get a QO by tomorrow he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Clay Bennett not came home Oklahoma stay your Seattle
with team Seattle Sonics for future.
Seven P. own Save Our Sonics Rise fan people how long time
next year watch play Basketball.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Steven Pyeatt “Co Founder/Save Our Sonics”
Big Lo “Sonics Superfan”
are Win or Loses?
Steven Pyeatt and Big Lo Go Kickass Game