Favorite Player: Vladimir Radmanovic
Favorite Sonics Match-up: Sonics vs Lakers, Kings, Knicks
Boards Historically Frequented: SonicsCentral.com, Bskball.com, AOL

Aliases: SFS, Sty, Sonics Fan Since

Quotable: "From Schrempf, to Patterson, to Lewis and now Radmanovic, there is something about our small forward position that siezes my attention completely ...."

Story: Fanatical roots originates to the beginning of the Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton era. Was a Shawn Kemp fan initially before becoming a Sonics fan in early teens. Biggest and only dedication exam came when Shawn Kemp was traded to Cleveland. The end result was the realization that the love for the Sonics had already grown more then the admiration for any single player. The Sonics are a major part of life's interests. In the off-season, experience symptoms of serious withdrawal, reading old articles and watching old game film. Affiliation with SonicsCentral headman originates to Internet message board.

Two months ago, fan favorite Olumide Oyedeji, 20, was time and again mentioned with Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason as likely cornerstones of the Sonics franchise.

This came off the heels of a promising rookie season, where during one stretch, Oyedeji showed flashes of basketball brilliance.

But after two summer leagues, one in Los Angeles and the other in Boston, his name has went from cornerstone to inconspicuously absent.

The Nigerian born man-child was drafted by the Sonics in the second round of last year's draft after being projected into the lottery. The scouting report on Oyedeji is that he's a strapping rebounder with an NBA body, two characteristics McMillan vows will always secure him a place in the NBA.

Up front, the Sonics have made long term investments in Calvin Booth, Vin Baker, and have added skilled center Predrag Drobnjak and the massive Jerome James. With the signing of ex-Portland big man Antonio Harvey imminent, one has to wonder where in the rotation Oyedeji is likely to end up.

To complicate things, the Sonics appear bent on grooming Vladimir Radmanovic to eventually play power forward.

Oyedeji, who is entering free agency at the end of the season, probably didn't help his cause much with his substandard performance in the summer leagues.

Whether this was due to the newly legalized zone defenses, Oyedeji played sparingly in most games, and often times barely at all. When he did play, his effort, rebounding and hustle were apparent, but his effectiveness, particularly on offense, was minimal.

The general sentiment on Oyedeji is that he has not only not noticeably improved since last year, but that he may have actually regressed.

It is not a shocking development for a rookie to out-do himself in his rookie season, only to fall back to earth a year later.

Whether that is the case with Oyedeji, the summer league came against lesser talent and many expected Oyedeji to have his way. Clearly that was not the case, and may have left him with some work ahead to move back up in the rotation.

Since day one, Oyedeji has been considered a project, and, as with any project, obviously requires time. How much time he'll be allotted given the new additions and other young projects is uncertain, but this much is cold reality:

The Sonics cannot hold onto players for the sake of holding on to players. Oyedeji's career really has yet to unfold, and sitting behind several players makes it even more difficult for his talent to blossom.

See Jermaine O'Neal.

Oyedeji, who initially became disenchanted by being drafted so late and almost didn't report to Seattle, obviously has higher expectations for himself. Even if he is offered a contract extension, becoming Nate McMillan's victory cigar may not be what he had in mind.

Conversely, Olumide is a perfect fit for Shultz's all-integrity team, but a sudden drop in his sophomore season could have him navigating those ill-fated waters that swallowed ex-Sonic Jelani McCoy.

For now, with the recent roster additions of young skilled big men, Oyedeji has gone to possible cornerstone to fading off the radar screen.

What it boils down to is a classic "catch-22". To avoid the sophomore jinx he needs to show the improvements to get the minutes while needing the minutes to show he can improve.

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All opinions expressed in this column are solely the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of other columnists or staff of Sonicscentral.com