December 11th, 2001

Trade Shammond Williams. Deal Shammond Williams. Swap Shammond Williams.

Lose Shammond Williams.

Do you get what I am saying? The kid has got the talent, but unfortunately has been squeezed out the rotation by both Watson and his own play. I am not a fan of the shoot first point guard and Shammond Williams is the worst I've ever seen in this category. He basically is not a point guard and has no intentions to be. Remaining at shooting guard, he sits somewhere south of Mason and Barry.

We are trying to build a team here and it has become obvious that the future most likely will not include Williams any longer. I'm not so certain he hasn't told himself "Fuck it, I'm shooting. I'm not getting the minutes in Seattle anyway, what do I have to lose. They'll trade me? They'd be doing me favor."

Oh and the dribbling! Don't get me started on the dribbling!

I speak for myself here, as always, the comments and opinions expressed by columnists on Sonics Central are in no way the collective sentiment of its members or other columnists.

But he already has hinted that being traded wouldn't be such a bad thing. The writing is on the wall there, in my opinion, his wish will be carried out sometime this season or by the summer.

Now, it would be unfair for me not to address another player on our roster, but criticizing him is a bit more difficult because he is still a part of our future and an exceptional human being.

Everyone is wondering, just what happened to Rashard Lewis?

First, let me point out what happened to Rashard Lewis. Nothing.

Lewis has never came right out and said "I am a Max player, I will be the star this year, I this and I that." The most I have ever heard him say is "he is going to try and step up this year", things of that nature. I doubt Lewis asked to be a co-caption alongside Payton, and I also doubt the hype of Rashard Lewis is facilitated by Rashard Lewis.

He was branded the next superstar out of Seattle, all at the age of 21.

Lewis obviously worked on some of the weaknesses in his game -- I think we all see he is posting up a lot more, and going to the hole a lot more then in the past.

But after starting the season hot, he dropped like the Free Fall at Great Adventure.

As Mason emerges, as Radmanovic emerges, I have to wonder if the 45-minute game for Lewis is a thing of the past. And it very well should be. No Sonic player should be in that long, particularly when they are struggling.

I remember in the summer on the America Online Sonics message board, I wrote this long post about what I felt ultimately would be the best starting lineup.

I know at least Coolguy777, and SonicGal can attest to that, being from the same Sonics AOL community. But the post, at the time, made a declaration that ultimately the best lineup would not include Rashard Lewis.

At the time, Desmond Mason was thought to be the likely starter at shooting guard, coming off the heels of a solid rookie season and hype of the Slam-Dunk contest. He too I left out what I felt would ultimately make the best five.

The five was as follows:

Gary Payton
Brent Barry
Vladimir Radmanovic
Vin Baker *
Calvin Booth/Marc Jackson

Baker was included because I felt he had all been promised a starting job in July. I went on to say how this was the closest model to the team that had the most success in Sonics history. That team being from the George Karl era:

Gary Payton
Hersey Hawkins
Detlef Schrempf
Shawn Kemp
Johnson/Perkins/Brickowski

I chose Barry over Mason because I thought, despite the summer hype over Mason, that Barry was just flat out better (although Mason has bridged the gap more rapidly then I expected in terms of scoring). At the other point of contention, I chose Radmanovic over Lewis because I felt he had more tools and was more versatile then Lewis. He essentially would play the "Schrempf-role" of the new Sonics.

It got more in depth, but I felt -- ultimately -- that's the key word; this would be the best lineup we could put out there.

After backing off that somewhat, I am wondering if that ultimately is going to prove to be true.

Regardless if that proves to be true this season or not, some are saying that Lewis and Radmanovic cannot coexist. Both will be starting caliber small forwards and neither is likely to flourish in the power forward position. Even still, to put Radmanovic and Lewis in the starting lineup together would require one of two large investments, Calvin Booth or Vin Baker, to either become a well-paid reserve or dealt.

Speaking of salaries, there is going to be a point during this season when Lewis is likely to turn it around, but one has to wonder how much longer can he go to opt out and still warrant a pricey deal from the Sonics? The Washington Wizards, the other widely recognized suitor for Lewis, will likely be looking to add a key free agent; someone who can play off Michael Jordan in his final season (or flat out replace him if Jordan decides to step away), and also someone to act as a complimentary player to the 2001 #1 overall pick, Kwame Brown.

What's interesting, if you can remember, the only way we could have moved Vin Baker was to include Rashard Lewis. The Sonics balked at such a deal. Baker improved his trade value, and Lewis may have become tradable, all the while Schultz trying to avoid the luxury tax.

Before Lewis becomes a free agent and potentially a high priced tax burden; a deal with Baker and Lewis combined could squeeze a lot of convenience and talent by way of receiving about an estimated $14M 15M+ in return if done under this current deal, instead of holding on to Baker while anteing up on Lewis, and for both to be on the Seattle books starting at about $24M next season. These aren't exact figures, I merely estimate to save time.

Is there any available big man worth such a package?

That remains to be seen.

But one thing I know for sure is that Rashard is not blind, nor stupid. His agent may act like he is this summer by opting out to get more money, but we know he is not. He must know of the competition Radmanovic is bringing to his spot; and in terms of his negotiating power, knows he is now replaceable. He has to know he is not having a "let-me-opt-out-for-Max "caliber season. Has to know superior players like Peja Stojakovic do not even have a Max contract and we can only give so much money towards potential. His best option may be to not opt out at all.

His agent, who if it's the same guy as in 1998, for those who have forgotten, lobbied for the Sonics to trade a then-starting Ruben Patterson so the Sonics could strike into Lewis's untapped talent. If he still represents Lewis, he has to be eating his words now, and I don't think I'd hear him say that again as the now younger Radmanovic [or even an older Mason] is the talent on the bench, while Lewis is the one starting.

I want to make clear I don't lobby for a trade of Rashard Lewis. Quite simply, he can go out and score 36 tomorrow against the Lakers. Additionally, like I said earlier, Lewis has never to my knowledge overtly requested a maximum salary and doesn't even have to opt out of his deal, which officially expires at the end of 2002. But Schultz says he won't be a luxury taxpayer. It is clear Lewis is years away from being a consistent go to player. Washington appears ready to throw money at Lewis and this is Lewis's greatest chance to secure a big payday for himself and his family if he does decide to opt out this year. Schultz said no one is untouchable and Schultz's handpicked draft selection, Vladimir Radmanovic appears to be able to fill Lewis's shoes.

Lewis may also be the Sonics last chance to release them from Baker's contract while still being able to avoid giving up a player they absolutely cannot do without. As every good GM will do, I expect Sund to listen to proposed deals. I also expect him to create a few himself.

But the bottom line is, the landscape of the Sonics future is changing as these new players prove what they can do. When the Sonics are a .400 team even with star players, a responsible owner knows no one is untouchable.

And the most easily replaced players, in a sequence of Sonics seasons that resembles a game of Musical chairs ....

When the music STOPS: One less seat; of those players that could be left standing, one happens to be the quiet one.

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