Dear Sam, I Have A Few Things To Say To You

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You should come here with the belief that basketball in Seattle ain't dead yet.

So let's make a to-do list.

1. Draft Kevin Durant.

You might think this idea goes without saying, but in this town the past few years, the Sonics have acted like hoop explorers, the Vasco de Gamas of their game, always trying to discover the next great big man.

So don't out-think yourself. We believe that, given time, Durant can do for basketball here what the 1995 Mariners did for baseball and the deep pockets of Paul Allen did for football. Maybe he can be so good and his future can be so rich he can save the sport.

2. Re-sign Rashard Lewis.

Orlando and Charlotte will pursue Lewis like greyhounds chasing a mechanical rabbit, but Lewis likes it in Seattle. In a perfect world, he wants to stay. His game grew up here.

He became an All-Star here. And with the right coach (Dwane Casey), he can be an All-Star again.

One thing, Sam, please don't buy into the notion that Durant and Lewis are the same player. Think of them more as interchangeable parts. A good coach (Dwane Casey) would move Chris Wilcox into the post and make Lewis and Durant work.

Lewis, like the Sonics, belongs in Seattle.

Imagine the difficulties the troika of Lewis, Durant and two-guard gun Ray Allen would present to defenses. The Sonics would be one of the most skilled offensive teams in the league.

Improving the defense would be the biggest challenge for the new coach (Dwane Casey). He would have to invent quick double-teams that could mask his team's defensive flaws. He would have to install half-court traps. He would have to spend most of every practice coaching defense. The offense is good enough to take care of itself.

That brings us to our next point.

3. Fix the point-guard problem.

The position hasn't been the same since Antonio Daniels left two seasons ago. Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson got along like Tony Soprano and Phil Leotardo. And Allen needs protection on defense, the way Daniels protected him in the 2004-05 season.

Package one of the point guards and one of your swollen stable of big men for a swing guard who can defend Kobe Bryant and LeBron James late in games, in a way Allen can't and Daniels could.

4. Lastly, bring back Dwane Casey.

Just because you're coming from San Antonio, don't feel the need to hire Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo to replace coach Bob Hill. Hire a coach who knows this team, knows this city. No coach is better prepared for a game than Casey. No coach works harder.

He will make the team accountable on defense. He will nudge and nurture Durant. He will get the most out of Lewis and Allen on both ends of the floor.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were a .500 team when Casey was fired this season. They collapsed when he left.

He is well-liked in Seattle and he can sell the game here, which as we said earlier, Sam, is part of your responsibility to your new town.

Now, go ahead, be a gambler and buy a home here.

Good luck.</div>

Source: Seattle Times