<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No matter what, we're likely to see at least one more trade before the 3 p.m. deadline. The Sonics and Nuggets have reached agreement in principle to send Watson to Seattle in exchange for Vitaly Potapenko and either Flip Murray or Reggie Evans, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The deal is being held up only in the event either team gets a better offer before this afternoon. </div> Seems like Watson is coming back...if it goes through, I think it would be nice. Link http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Avfm...cnnsi&type=lgns
Well apparently it has gone through...waiting for the league to approve it. Here's more details...... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Seattle SuperSonics, desperate for a defensive-minded point guard as an alternative to Luke Ridnour, will receive Watson, swingman Bryon Russell and a future second-round pick from Denver in a three-team deal. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that the trade has been forwarded to the league office for approval before Thursday's 3 p.m. trading deadline. The Nuggets, after unsuccessful bids to make a splashier move for Ron Artest and then Steve Francis, will instead import Sonics rebounding specialist Reggie Evans, Portland swingman Ruben Patterson and the Blazers' Charles Smith as a salary-cap throw in. The Blazers joined in on the Seattle-Denver talks in its ongoing quest for salary-cap relief and receive Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard and Sonics center Vitaly Potapenko. Lenard carries an expiring contract ($3.5 million this season) and Potapenko has only one season left on his deal at $3.7 million in 2006-07. With Patterson due next $7 million next season, Portland saves just over $3 million in salary. </div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2341845
Bryon Russell too? Sweet. I always liked Watson and he is exactly what we need right now. Maybe this will prompt our owners to actually keep some of our late picks now.
Now more than anything, I want to see this team reach .500. Do you guys think we can? We made some good moves in my opinion...lets see if they pay off on the court. I was kind of surprised that we didn't trade Flip either. Maybe we do need him to back up Ray... Luke/Earl/Brunson Ray/Flip Lew/D-Wilk/Russel Nick/Wilcox/Fortson (remember him?) Swifty/Johan/Moore
Rick Sund works his magic again. We were able to get substantial compensation for two players that were in their qualifying offer season and would be unrestricted free agents who had the right to veto any trade offer that they didn't want to approve. That is unheard of in this league. Not only do we get a very promising prospect in Chris Wilcox but we also get the defensive minded steady point guard that we've been targeting all year, Earl Watson, for dead weight in Reggie Evans and Potapenko. Not to mention that we get a draft pick in the process we definitely come out the winners in this three way deal. Now we did have to take back some money to make this deal happen, but a team that is looking to win has to make some sacrifices--and I'm glad that Howard is willing to spend to improve the team. I had an uneasy feeling this morning b/c I didn't want Flip's tenure with the Sonics to end the way that it has. I don't expect him to get a ton of minutes with Earl now manning the back up point guard exclusively, but maybe he'll be able to find some comfort in the fact that he will be around for the duration of the season and he will play to earn his next contract in the limited minutes that he gets. I wouldn't be surprised if Flip actually vetoed the trade in order to retain his Bird rights to remain in Seattle or be involved in a sign and trade. Overall Sonics fans have to be happy with this trade. We are more balanced now than we have been all season. The only guys that will get shunned out of the rotation now are Flip, Brunson, and Fortson. All of the other guys will get the opportunity to grow as a unit while we try to salvage the season. Rick Sund is the best in the business. Too bad the rest of the organization doesn't have the same dedication, foresight, and competence.
And we just traded Flip. So I think Earl Watson will get time at the 1 and 2. While Wilkins get his time at the 2 and 3..Should be good for us, hopefully this can make us much better. I might have to start watching the games now lol.
Good news is we got rid of a disgruntled forward who's barely played the past few weeks and a center that we all pretty much don't care for, in exchange for a decent-to-good guard who can come in and start for Ridnour (if anything happens to him, God forbid) and even back up Ray. Oh yeah, a forward to come in and help us conjure some veteran leadership and a draft pick. What can I say? I'm very happy with this.
Although I'm still a little skeptical about the size and legnth of Watson's deal, I'm happy to have the Pearl back in SEA. If he was 3 inches taller, there wouldn't be a better fit in the league for what we need. His defensive prowess makes me not even worry about size much - he can play alongside Rid for spot minutes if need be. Great job by Sund - exchanging excess pieces for ones of value at a posistion of need isn't easy, throw Reggie's veto power into the mix as well as the 2nd rounder and I'm very impressed. Good luck Reggie - I have no doubt someone will sign him to a long term deal at a respectable amount. On the right team, he'll provide incredible value IMO - it just wasn't here.
