All from the New York Post. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">One way or the other, don't count on McMillan to desert the only franchise he's every worked for during 19 years in the league as a player (drafted No. 30 in '86), assistant and head coach. No sports personality has been more adored in Seattle over that stretch than the product of Jim Valvano's North Carolina State. Sonics fans appreciated and respected Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp before he went off the deep end, but they absolutely treasure McMillan for his old-fashioned integrity and hardcore effort, no matter what the challenge</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Clearly, the Sonics own an imposing future, but only if they're able to reassemble the majority of principal players, beginning with Ray Allen. Look for him to extend for roughly $75 million guaranteed over five years; no way he wants to be Scottie Pippen to LeBron James, or headline some other rebuilding program.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seattle has the right to match on restricted free agent Vlade Radmanovic and no doubt will exercise it unless he's presented with a Carlos Boozer-type offer sheet. In order to maintain their frontcourt toughness and flexibility that San Antonio had difficulty combating, Reggie Evans and Jerome James also must be re-enlisted</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On the other hand, it's almost definite Antonio Daniels will relocate, either to Cleveland or Utah, both of whom figure to offer mid-level maximum deals and starting spots, something he can't get in Seattle because of Luke Ridnour</div> My gut feeling is the whole frontcourt comes back (except for Pot), Flip and AD leave, and we pick up the best guard available at 25, unless someone expected to go earlier slips. If Evans leaves, then someone like Diogu or Simien may be a possibility.
Not enough money, fam. Not enough money. For a team who is estimating a 10 million dollar net loss per year, we are not going to give 5 free agents pay raises. Expect Ray back, Jerome if he isn't offered something absurd from another team, and Reggie. Everyone else (w/ the exception of possibly Wilkins) will be playing elsewhere next season. Vlad has been waiting for an opportunity to start his entire career and he isn't going to stick around Seattle as long as Sweet Lew is still here. You can count on that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post"> Vlad has been waiting for an opportunity to start his entire career and he isn't going to stick around Seattle as long as Sweet Lew is still here. You can count on that.</div> He may not have a choice - who is going to use their capspace on him this offseason? I think a qualifying offer is the most realistic scenario and then he'll bolt after that as an unrestricted FA. You'd think that one of Reggie and JJ will be priced out of coming back; my guess is it will be Evans, given the progress made by Collison last season.
I fully expect Jerome to be gone. I think he will get an offer between 4-6 million a season (probably a 3-4 year contract) and I dont think we will (or should) match it. Daniels should be a priority ahead of James.
I say get rid of JJ..He makes me mad the way he is soo inconsistent, we've had him for enough and he cant even be a decent big man for us. I thought he would play the same as the Sacremento series, but it was all just a fluke or something. Hopefully we can get a consistent big man that can put up like 10 points a night.
Many teams are probably impressed by James's play against Sacramento, and that would probably help him get an Adonal Foyle-like contract. I don't think that Radmanovic would hang around though. It's obvious that he will never start with Lewis around and he'd bolt at the first chance for a starting spot with any team. Besides, I've never been a fan of him. Guy's 6-11 and he plays like he's 6-7. I like my seven-footers to be inside players and rebounders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Many teams are probably impressed by James's play against Sacramento, and that would probably help him get an Adonal Foyle-like contract. I don't think that Radmanovic would hang around though. It's obvious that he will never start with Lewis around and he'd bolt at the first chance for a starting spot with any team. Besides, I've never been a fan of him. Guy's 6-11 and he plays like he's 6-7. I like my seven-footers to be inside players and rebounders.</div> Vlade does what he does well.
People are talking as if Vlad is an unrestricted free agent. He may not have a choice on whether he sticks around at this point, depending what other teams are prepared to offer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">People are talking as if Vlad is an unrestricted free agent. He may not have a choice on whether he sticks around at this point, depending what other teams are prepared to offer.</div> MLE is waht everyone has been talking about... They can match this one easily...
..lol i feel sorta dumb for asking this..but wtf is MLE?..i see it on every basketball site i go to and im clueless.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting legendisdope:</div><div class="quote_post">..lol i feel sorta dumb for asking this..but wtf is MLE?..i see it on every basketball site i go to and im clueless.</div> Mid-Level Exception. Its a contract teams get every year that they can use once per offseason to sign a free agent. when they started it I think it was around 2.5 million. I believe its somewhere close to 6 million now. As for Vlade leaving I think if Vlade voices a serious desire to leave I wouldnt be surprised if Seattle signed and traded maybe for some future picks. Realistically I dont see Vlade ever getting to start in Seattle (unless Rashards toe is acting up) and that matters to him and I dont think Seattle will want to bring back a disgruntled player.
Serious question: Who had the potential to be a better all-around player, Rashard or Vlade? Both about the same age, right? Rashard made some strides this year, I think we can all agree. Supposedly he's aware he needs to get better, based on what he said after the All-Star game. Right now he's a 20-5 guy, probably will stay there in our system. I doubt he'll ever be a dribble drive threat or create for his teammates, and his D is decent. He developed a baby hook that seemed to work for him, so now he's got 2 moves he can go to in the post. Everyone (well at least the TNT crew) says Vlad is a future All-Star. This is the first year he finally seemed to get it, but even before he was injured he was plagued with inconsistencies. Having said that he's a deadeye 3pt shooter, can take it to the rim and also drive and dish - he really impressed me with some of the shovel passes he made on the move this year. His D is better on 4's but I've seem him do OK on certain 3's. Tend's to get lost off the ball, though. So let's say he wants to start at the 3...do we lose him or 'make some arranggements'?
I'm not all that excited either way. Rashard is soft as hell and Vlade is really inconsistent. At least Vlade creates matchup problems though. Would any teams be interested in a sign and trade for a post-up guy or someone to replace AD?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Seattle.:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not all that excited either way. Rashard is soft as hella and Vlade is really inconsistent. At least Vlade creates matchup problems though. Would any teams be interested in a sign and trade for a post-up guy or someone to replace AD?</div> Im sure we wouldnt have to much of a problem getting a backup pg for Vlade..but one as good as Daniels? Im not sure theres a backup pg in the league as good as Daniels..
I agree but Daniels most likely isn't coming back, that's why I was saying we would need someone to replace him.
i'd hate to lose Daniels... esp after the series with the Spurs. He pretty much made sure there was a game 6. Damn... if it's imminent we're gonna lose him, we gotta get a big guard in the draft. Garcia fits the bill perfectly.
