Hmmm. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soni...804_soni16.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Weiss singled out Scales for his explosive ability to score inside and outside. Even Ray Allen noted that the free-agent guard was making a memorable impact. "He has an NBA game," Allen said. "He deserves to be at this level. You see him out there, and he looks like he belongs." Brunson was considered a lock to make the roster when the exhibition season began because the cash-strapped Sonics, who rank among the bottom third in the league in payroll at $46 million, were unlikely to eat such a large contract. However, the cases for Scales, Felix and Cleaves are strengthening, while Brunson's testimony is weakening.</div>
I seriously doubt that the Sonics management would eat Rick Brunson's contract before the season started. We are a cost efficient team and we made the financial mistake last season of giving Ibo Kutluay a guaranteed deal and then cutting him. If anyone is going to be out of a job it is going to be Cleaves. Here is what I believe our rotations are going to look like: Luke Ridnour/Flip Murray/Rick Brunson Ray Allen/Flip Murray/Alex Scales Rashard Lewis/Vlad Radmanovic/Damien Wilkins Reggie Evans/Nick Collison/Vlad Radmanovic Vitaly Potapenko/Danny Fortson/Robert Swift/Johan Petro It is interesting that cutting Brunson is even up for discussion. I was watching the repeat of Sonics Real Training Camp and they seemed pretty high on Brunson. He was pretty vocal and look like he would be that veteran guard that they were looking for. Cutting Cleaves (who I guess doesn't have a guaranteed deal) is going to be a big blow to the morale of the franchise. I never thought that I would say this but I think that Cleaves is the most important player in the league on injured reserve.
I'd like to see this kid Noel Felix make the team - been doing some reading up on him: 6-9, long arms, athletic and defensive minded. We don't have anyone like that on the squad. Plus apparently he's got a consistent 15 footer.
Before the Portland game Weiss was asked about the "open" roster spot. He said that everyone remaining in camp was an NBA caliber player who would be in the league in the next year or two. He then said that if two guys really make a case for a roster spot he and Sund might be "forced to look at a trade." The question is what kind of trade and with who? They obviously would want to send two guys somewhere, and probably look for another center. We see where we are with injuries to Fortson and Potapenko...Swift or Moore would have to start. It would be one of the PF that would go, and probably a guard. Perhaps Brunson and Vlade somewhere for a center?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd like to see this kid Noel Felix make the team - been doing some reading up on him: 6-9, long arms, athletic and defensive minded. We don't have anyone like that on the squad. Plus apparently he's got a consistent 15 footer.</div> I completely agree - versatile defenders are so so valuable in this league. If you find someone who can defend the post one night and the perimeter the next it's a huge bonus. It's not like we lack offensive options either. I really like the sound of Scales, but do we really need another scoring guard? He is only 6'2, it's not like he can log minutes at the three.
Scales could be good as an insurance policy. If he makes the team I see him having the same type of role that Flip had last year: ride pine until Ray gets injured or something.
