<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHILADELPHIA ? The front line of the Sonics' future may not include forward Vladimir Radmanovic, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and is expected to ask for at least a $50 million contract. New coach Bob Hill inserted him in the starting lineup after taking over a week ago, but Hill hinted on Monday that the team is considering moving rookie center Johan Petro to power forward and elevating second-year center Robert Swift to the starting lineup. "I think he's [Petro] a guy that can certainly play big forward if he's next to a center that's [big]," Hill said before the 107-98 loss to Philadelphia. "If Robert continues to develop, I think you can play them both. They can both run. I think Petro is going to be able to make the midrange shot eventually. "It's too early to say. They're good right now. Everybody loves them. They're different. No one has two 19-year-old centers." Swift actually turned 20 last month, but it has been easy to confuse his age because of his unspectacular play so far. But on Monday, he scored six points and collected four rebounds in 13 minutes. "The two big kids have responded so positively and I'm proud and happy for them, Robert in particular tonight," Hill said. "He played like he belonged out there. "If they keep moving forward like this, I will not be afraid to put them both in at the same time and play Johan at big forward because ... that's where he's going to be anyway."</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">So should we trade Collison now while he still has some value or what...?</div> No. We should play him over 25 minutes a game and look to trade Rashard Lewis or Ray Allen. Nick Collison is not going to command a max out deal when he is up for free agency and obviously Rashard Lewis is going to be looking for a contract close to that range. What is the point of keeping a player of his value on a team that obviously has more needs than his primary strength--outside shooting. I don't even know if we could get a perennial All-Star player for Ray Allen. He's 30 and has 4 1/2 years left on a contract that in hindsight may look like a huge mistake. If we packaged Sweet Lew and Robert Swift and a second round pick could we get Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins? Would trading Ray Allen and Vitaly Potapenko get us Al Harrington and Zaza Pachulia and a first round pick? Who knows? At this point in the season I don't think that this roster is capable of making an extended run in the playoffs. I don't even think that this roster right now is capable of getting into the playoffs. Nothing that Bob Hill has implemented has shored up any of our deficiencies on the defensive end and no roles have seemed to be established in the rotation either. I do like that Swift and Petro are being given an opportunity to play but I don't want their minutes to come at the expense of Collison and Fortson. I do like that Radmanovic is becoming a viable offensive option but not at the expense of us getting hammered inside. Bob Hill seems to be more enamored with himself holding the keys to the car than actually worrying about whether the car is fit to be driven. Before we get on the road for the long trip that this 48 game season still entails, we might want to have our vehicle thoroughly inspected first. Some parts may need to be discarded while others added. We can't afford to pay for the luxury of some accessories until its been established that the vital necessities for this car are currently in good working shape and are built for the long haul. How is that for an analogy, fam. This Sonics team is starting to make me sick.
I agree that the team is sickening and we do need a trade, but I don't think it's fair to judge Bob Hill after just a few games, especially when none of them have been at home.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">No. We should play him over 25 minutes a game and look to trade Rashard Lewis or Ray Allen. Nick Collison is not going to command a max out deal when he is up for free agency and obviously Rashard Lewis is going to be looking for a contract close to that range. What is the point of keeping a player of his value on a team that obviously has more needs than his primary strength--outside shooting.</div> That's all well and good and I agree, but last time I checked Nick Collison doesn't play small forward or shooting guard. We all agree he's our best post player, smartest defender and probably the most rounded guy on the roster, yet Bob Hill is talking about starting Swift over him. It's all well and good having two young seven footers on the roster, but starting them both in the same frontcourt? We won't win another first quarter all season if that happens.
