<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SEATTLE -- Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan couldn't say Monday if he'll return next season, simply because he hasn't had time to consider the question. "You're going 100 miles per hour and then, boom," McMillan said. Meeting with reporters at team headquarters, McMillan listed reasons he thinks the Sonics -- eliminated by San Antonio last week -- will continue to be competitive. He spoke of how much he has invested in the organization and the players, sounding as though the job isn't finished. "We can win," said McMillan, whose contract expires June 30. "I see potential. I see growth."</div> Just basic stuff really, Nate will want a break before even thinking about what he'll be doing season. Still, if he wants money, there will be plenty of interest and Mr Schultz won't be able to pay him below market value.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Those with knowledge of McMillan's relationship with Walker said the Sonics will likely ask for a "hometown discount" and rely heavily upon his 19-year residence in Seattle. They'll also likely remind McMillan that his teenage son, Jamelle, will be a highly recruited junior at O'Dea High, the returning Class 3A basketball boys basketball team. Walker declined to reveal if any team has contacted the Sonics regarding McMillan and Sund, but said he expects there will be inquiries and plans to deny all requests. </div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times.</font> That approach worries me.
Phil Jackson will set the bar at 10 million or so - Flip Saunders and Nate will fall in after that. I think the thing that makes Nate so attractive - besides the fact he did a helluva job this year - is that being young, black and a former player he'll be sought after by teams looking for someone who can 'relate to today's NBA player'. Just about every team with a vacancy has some young stud right out of high school. It's the Doc Rivers syndrome - once he had that success in Orlando teams were falling all over themselves looking for Rivers redux. Which is kind of funny since Nate is old school ala George Karl/Jerry Sloan and Ray Allen alluded to the fact that everyone being mad at Nate brought the team closer together You hear Nate saying over and over about 'playing the game the right way' - I think he and the Sonic players this year were finally on the same page about what that meant. Good luck achieving that all over again in Atlanta (a wasteland), Portland (Zach Randolph is your franchise player), Minnesota (KG = good, Spre, Cassell, Eddie Griffin and Olowokandi?) and New York (lol). So anyway, on FSN last night there were a couple interviews with Nate and he said 'no matter what happens, Seattle is home' and 'let's wait and see'. I think (hope) right now he and his agent are obviously trying to get themselves in the best bargaining position possible - who wouldn't? especially with this management. I think he'll take less to stay in Seattle, but the question is how much less. Suffice it to say it'd be ironic to lose 'Mr. Sonic', just like if Edgar Martinez was traded to the Yankees or something
man... i seriously think we have the worst managing team in all of sports. If they dont keep McMillan and Allen, i'm jumpin ships!! lol. What better coach are they gonna bring in?? If they lose McMillan i expect to see someone just as good... say: Byron Scott, Rudy T, or someone.
