Seattle Reshuffles; Many Questions, Answers Coming
Sonics Fan Since
For the Seattle Supersonics, the 2001 NBA season will start much like any other in recent memory.
Swiftly. And off the heels of massive turnover, botched trades, and new promises.
It wouldn't be October if we didn't hear some rumblings of Baker comeback rhetoric and Payton humanitarian talks. Or the [insert free agent] signing that promises to solve the problem in the middle, the [insert rookie] selection that showed all this promise in the summer league, and the [insert obscure center with difficult last name] addition who's shooting and versatility will belie his 270-pound frame.
Yes, its October again, the ballots are counted, most experts have written the Sonics off, and the Sonics have less nationally televised games then a year before.
But despite the frightening similarities, and to what started out a devastating NBA off-season, the upcoming season figures to be one showing potential, character, and promise.
What you won't see this year are the cereal box inspired uniforms that held little connection to the Sonics glory days of the late 70s and early 90s.
Good riddance.
Gone are the perceived deadweight underachievers, problem childs, Patrick Ewing, Emmanuel Davis, and scarlet red.
What you will see are All-star guard Gary Payton, the enigmatic forward Vin Baker, and newly resigned guard Shammond Williams, back with a youth core flanked by Rashard Lewis, Brent Barry, and Desmond Mason.
They will be joined by newly signed free agents Calvin Booth, ex-Sacramento center Jerome James, 2 Yugoslavians; Pedrag Drobnjak and rookie sensation, forward Vladimir Radmanovic, and possibly UCLA guard, Earl Watson.
With so many new additions and unproven talent, as always, the Sonics training camp will feature competition of roster positioning and missions for playing time.
Perhaps the most telling is a familiar one, keying two returning Sonics from last season. At shooting guard, guards Brent Barry and Desmond Mason, two former slam dunk champions, are expected to battle it out for the right to pair up with Gary Payton in the starting backcourt.
Last year, it was Mason who emerged as the opening day starter under then head coach Paul Westphal, mainly hoping to force opposing teams to play Payton with their small guard. Sound in principle, that experiment never reached fruition and soon ended when McMillan took over 15 games into a 6-9 season, and opted for the experienced Barry.
Shammond Williams is also expected to make an outside push for the position having the mindset of not being designated anyone's backup.
It is unclear at this point whether McMillan has a pre-preference to start either shooting guard over the others. But it should be noted that this is McMillan's first full NBA season, and awaiting him is one of toughest November schedules in Sonics history. He may again opt for last year's NBA 3-point percentage leader, the more experienced Barry with the early onslaught of NBA titans and new legalized zones looming.
The Sonics will have little margin for undue error the first few weeks of the season, and will have to avoid its playoff hopes prematurely ending after just 30 days, like last season.
The competition doesn't stop there as the center position has undergone a complete makeover. The 2001 season will start with no center returning from last year. The 35M man, Calvin Booth is likely to be man who'll get the starting nod, largely because of the 6-year investment the Sonics made in him.
However, the 2001 European Champion Yugoslavian National Team's Pedrag Drobnjak is expected to make a major push for minutes behind both Calvin Booth and Vin Baker.
Drobnjak, (pronounced Drob-nee-AK), is one of many to participate in both the Sonics summer leagues in Boston and Los Angeles. His performances have impressed many onlookers including the Sonic coaching staff. His range is akin to a shooting guard or small forward, and is able to hit shots consistently as far back as the 3-point line.
Despite his lumbering size and relatively slow foot speed (at first look, he may remind you of ex-Portland center Arvydas Sabonis), he is able to put the ball on the floor and finish in transition.
Much like most European-to-NBA players, he'll need some fine-tuning in the physical areas of the NBA game.
Less is known about Jerome James except that he is massive in size (7-1, 300lbs) and has a nice touch around the basket. He also was a tremendous shot blocker at the collegiate level, averaging well over 4 blocks a contest. He was drafted by, and played briefly with the Sacramento Kings before eventually playing over seas. Because the Sonics need size and will need it often, James should have adequate time on the floor, particularly when the opponent wears purple and gold.
Perhaps the most underrated draw will feature the two extremely young, talented small forwards, the 22-year old Rashard Lewis and the 20-year-old Yugo sensation Vladimir Radmanovic.
Radmanovic has drawn comparisons to one of the NBA's most dangerous small forwards, Sacramento's Pedrag Stojakovic. The comparisons go much further then the two being countrymen, the 3-point shooting, versatility, and high potential will link the two for years to come. Radmanovic at 6'10" is said to be the most athletic player to ever come out of Yugoslavia, and since that telling day of choreographed pre-draft workouts in Chicago where Vladimir stole the show, his name has been mentioned as a possible Rookie of the Year.
Radmanovic followed up that performance with a solid summer league, drawing praise from national sportswriters.
While Radmanovic impressed in Boston, Lewis, the Sonics new co-captain, strutted his stuff in Australia for team USA in the Goodwill games. He finished as one of the team's leading scorers and also ranked near the top in rebounds. He is said to have worked on his game, particularly in trying to handle the ball and in the post. Judging by his performances down under, his shooting remained excellent but ball handling, particularly 'meaningful' ball handling, is still a work in progress.
Radmanovic and Lewis together won't be in a fight for a starting position as is the case at shooting guard.
Lewis is all but guaranteed the starting nod at small forward being the Sonics must accommodate him as much as possible in his big free agent year. But ever since what some would call mysterious drafting of Radmanovic in late June, another young natural small forward, expect his and Lewis's names to frequently be linked together since neither is ready to play power forward fulltime in the NBA.
Despite the special situation at small forward, the Sonics have made clear that they will play Radmanovic this year, even if it means moving him out of position to do it. Radmanovic is not your typical European export, and appears ready to play immediately.
The Sonics have 3 weeks to get their rotation ready for the nightmare that is the Western conference. Starting on October 31st in Sacramento, the Sonics will face a schedule that more resembles late May than November.
However much the Sonics improved, it should be noted so they aren't the only team boasting of improvements. From Sacramento to Los Angeles to San Antonio to Phoenix, all the great masses out west had a key trade, free agent signing, good draft or all 3.
The Sonics feel they have a playoff team, particularly with a rejuvenated Payton and a slimmed down Baker, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough in the much-improved Western Conference where the 8th seed could push 50 victories.
Fortunately for us fans, we won't have to wait long for answers. Big tests await the Sonics starting tonight, and again in 3 weeks, and we will soon see how different this season will be from last.