It is my opinion that this offseason has taken some productive steps. Whether or not we like them pertaining to keeping the team in Seattle or not, the reality is they are moves that have allowed this team to rebuild and allocate capspace to the very near future. I think we as Sonics fans just need to let go of the fear that this team could leave and have faith. It(the fear) is keeping us from seeing what truly is going on right now. We are seeing a re-tooling phase of team building that we should have witnessed 5+ years ago. Sam Presti is a calculated, hard working basketball mind that is playing a text book gameplan to titel town. Whether or not that is hear, Oklahoma City, or Las Vegas is yet to be seen.The most productive route for Sonics fans at this point should be to identify and outline the 1. The needs of the team 2. Lose ends that need to be tied and 3. A prioritized process to rectifying a solution. Where are our holes? What players need to go? What players are we realistically capable of moving? Are there any players available on the open market that are worth spending cap space on this offseason rather that waiting till next year's glimmering FA Class? Folks, these are the questions we should be asking and most definitely answering in the most thoughtful manner we are capable of. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this. So let's get this thread rolling. I think we can be focused on far more pertinent issues then that of Kevin Durant's Summer League statistics. Anyway, the ball is in your court guys.....let's see what you're made of. Post away.
I think personally that moving isn't a bad thing and that the future of the team is very bright. I am wondering what Presti Intends on doing with the trade exemption $$ we got in the Rashard sign and trade. I think If he can swing it to wait until next off season that signing a big name might be a possibility. After a year with Green, Durant , Swift, Wilcox we should be able to see where the future is for us. What I am wondering is will a promising core of young players and Cash be enough to lure a big star to the team? Truth be told NO its unlikely., unless...... the team is headed for Las Vegas or another place not so much out of the way. Players don't want to go to seattle- cold wet -small market- basically basketball wilderness. Lets Hope a move comes for the betterment of the team and with a warm climate and a large market, luring F.A will be a an easier thing to do.I think of Seattle keep Ridnour they are stupid- He needs to go! Wally and his sh*t contract need to go too. Delonte West is a promising talent and if he can be more of a point than a 2 gaurd then moving Ridnour will be fine. problem is what value does LR actually have I would think that its LOW! Maybe atlanta who have been interested in him in the past can be woo-ed but thats unlikely! I really cant think of a way anyone would take him off our hands the same goes for Wally for that matter.Our Needs - Better Point - not sure where they can go here- Im hoping for DWest to fill this.-We need one of our Centres to step up and take the Starting Role and provide SOMETHING there.- with Swift coming back bulkier he might be the man to do that- regardless the logjam we have can only make the players competing work a little Harder.-We Need to move - IMO there is more money , more support , more chance of attracting FA elsewhere- plus the arena lease sux ass.Presti has done an awesome job so far - in as much as he has taken a few risks made some big changes, I think that he'll use the money wisely and it wont be long before we're contending again.Sad to see Ray gone- I never thought much of Rashard (for 6-10 he's a shithouse rebounder)So Sa La Vie and Viva Las Vegas!
Seattle...small market? As opposed to what, OKC? Seattle is not really that small of a market. That is an East Coast media drubbing that everyone is starting to accept just because they have heard it enough. I believe the last time that I heard we were numero 11. Market is a load of crap guys....seriously...market doesn't change who wins and loses. Talk to me about LA(and that includes the Clippers) and New York.....haven't heard about a title from there in some years. LA took 3 straight true, but it took them some years to get there. And I will tell you right now it had nothing to do with market it. It had everything to do with a basketball GM who knew how to find talent with a middle-of-the-pack pick...then came the capstone/centerpiece superstar that got them over the top.From what I have seen and heard from Presti, and with the moves he has made thus far, it feels like there is still a pretty reasonable chance that Luke will end up staying. Not because Sam can't make the moves, but because no one wants a 6 million dollar ball boy who doesn't know how to mix the Powerade. I have a feeling that right now Sam is just trying to squeeze as much blood out of the turnup as he can.....eventually he will get a deal done. It is not in his nature to let the roster play out like this for opening day. With our first game of the season against Portland, and of course Durant vs. Oden, we are likely to get some good exposure and people will be watching this game. It will be a chance to make a statement early on. Sam knows that is part of the equation and he won't leave unnecessary loose ends.Right now I think our most moveable pieces are actually Chris Wilcox and Luke Ridnour. More so Chris, his contract is pretty reasonable for a guy that can put up 15 and 8 a night. In the end we might have to see him go with someone in a deal. At this point I am not opposed to it. I want to see Sam make this team into a culture. One that has players like Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. As far as Wally goes, it depends on who you are getting....Minnesota Wally or Boston Wally. The Celtic organization is a basketball blackhole, so I am willing to see what post-injury, post-abyss Szcerbs can do. If he plays like he did in Minnesota and can be as versatile....he fits the makeup of this team and will be at least worth having until his value is high enough to move the contract. My only concern right now in all honesty is Robert Swift. He didn't impress me before his injury, and I have a feeling he is going to do what every other center outside of Sam Perkins has doen....dissappoint Seattle tremendously. I would also like to see them get rid of both Earl and Luke....I think Mike Wilkes needs a fair shot and he is exactly what Sam Presti and P.J. are putting on the team right now.In the end our most tradeable pieces are Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson, and Luke Ridnour. I think we can all agree on that. Now the question is who is out there for trade possibilities. I don't think that Sam and P.J. are going to do much as far as Free Agency goes, at least for this year. I heard Elton Brand in another message board...but not enoug to get him. At this point I am thinking that Sam is going to pull a rabbit out of his hat.I live in Provo right now. So I might go watch some Summer League action Friday at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Really want to see the Green/Durant show live before the season opener.
Seattle...small market? As opposed to what, OKC? Seattle is not really that small of a market. That is an East Coast media drubbing that everyone is starting to accept just because they have heard it enough. I believe the last time that I heard we were numero 11. Market is a load of crap guys....seriously...market doesn't change who wins and loses. Talk to me about LA(and that includes the Clippers) and New York.....haven't heard about a title from there in some years. LA took 3 straight true, but it took them some years to get there. And I will tell you right now it had nothing to do with market it. It had everything to do with a basketball GM who knew how to find talent with a middle-of-the-pack pick...then came the capstone/centerpiece superstar that got them over the top.From what I have seen and heard from Presti, and with the moves he has made thus far, it feels like there is still a pretty reasonable chance that Luke will end up staying. Not because Sam can't make the moves, but because no one wants a 6 million dollar ball boy who doesn't know how to mix the Powerade. I have a feeling that right now Sam is just trying to squeeze as much blood out of the turnup as he can.....eventually he will get a deal done. It is not in his nature to let the roster play out like this for opening day. With our first game of the season against Portland, and of course Durant vs. Oden, we are likely to get some good exposure and people will be watching this game. It will be a chance to make a statement early on. Sam knows that is part of the equation and he won't leave unnecessary loose ends.Right now I think our most moveable pieces are actually Chris Wilcox and Luke Ridnour. More so Chris, his contract is pretty reasonable for a guy that can put up 15 and 8 a night. In the end we might have to see him go with someone in a deal. At this point I am not opposed to it. I want to see Sam make this team into a culture. One that has players like Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. As far as Wally goes, it depends on who you are getting....Minnesota Wally or Boston Wally. The Celtic organization is a basketball blackhole, so I am willing to see what post-injury, post-abyss Szcerbs can do. If he plays like he did in Minnesota and can be as versatile....he fits the makeup of this team and will be at least worth having until his value is high enough to move the contract. My only concern right now in all honesty is Robert Swift. He didn't impress me before his injury, and I have a feeling he is going to do what every other center outside of Sam Perkins has doen....dissappoint Seattle tremendously. I would also like to see them get rid of both Earl and Luke....I think Mike Wilkes needs a fair shot and he is exactly what Sam Presti and P.J. are putting on the team right now.In the end our most tradeable pieces are Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson, and Luke Ridnour. I think we can all agree on that. Now the question is who is out there for trade possibilities. I don't think that Sam and P.J. are going to do much as far as Free Agency goes, at least for this year. I heard Elton Brand in another message board...but not enoug to get him. At this point I am thinking that Sam is going to pull a rabbit out of his hat.I live in Provo right now. So I might go watch some Summer League action Friday at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Really want to see the Green/Durant show live before the season opener.Seattle...small market? As opposed to what, OKC? Seattle is not really that small of a market. That is an East Coast media drubbing that everyone is starting to accept just because they have heard it enough. I believe the last time that I heard we were numero 11. Market is a load of crap guys....seriously...market doesn't change who wins and loses. Talk to me about LA(and that includes the Clippers) and New York.....haven't heard about a title from there in some years. LA took 3 straight true, but it took them some years to get there. And I will tell you right now it had nothing to do with market it. It had everything to do with a basketball GM who knew how to find talent with a middle-of-the-pack pick...then came the capstone/centerpiece superstar that got them over the top.From what I have seen and heard from Presti, and with the moves he has made thus far, it feels like there is still a pretty reasonable chance that Luke will end up staying. Not because Sam can't make the moves, but because no one wants a 6 million dollar ball boy who doesn't know how to mix the Powerade. I have a feeling that right now Sam is just trying to squeeze as much blood out of the turnup as he can.....eventually he will get a deal done. It is not in his nature to let the roster play out like this for opening day. With our first game of the season against Portland, and of course Durant vs. Oden, we are likely to get some good exposure and people will be watching this game. It will be a chance to make a statement early on. Sam knows that is part of the equation and he won't leave unnecessary loose ends.Right now I think our most moveable pieces are actually Chris Wilcox and Luke Ridnour. More so Chris, his contract is pretty reasonable for a guy that can put up 15 and 8 a night. In the end we might have to see him go with someone in a deal. At this point I am not opposed to it. I want to see Sam make this team into a culture. One that has players like Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. As far as Wally goes, it depends on who you are getting....Minnesota Wally or Boston Wally. The Celtic organization is a basketball blackhole, so I am willing to see what post-injury, post-abyss Szcerbs can do. If he plays like he did in Minnesota and can be as versatile....he fits the makeup of this team and will be at least worth having until his value is high enough to move the contract. My only concern right now in all honesty is Robert Swift. He didn't impress me before his injury, and I have a feeling he is going to do what every other center outside of Sam Perkins has doen....dissappoint Seattle tremendously. I would also like to see them get rid of both Earl and Luke....I think Mike Wilkes needs a fair shot and he is exactly what Sam Presti and P.J. are putting on the team right now.In the end our most tradeable pieces are Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson, and Luke Ridnour. I think we can all agree on that. Now the question is who is out there for trade possibilities. I don't think that Sam and P.J. are going to do much as far as Free Agency goes, at least for this year. I heard Elton Brand in another message board...but not enoug to get him. At this point I am thinking that Sam is going to pull a rabbit out of his hat.I live in Provo right now. So I might go watch some Summer League action Friday at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Really want to see the Green/Durant show live before the season opener.
As far as moving the the team to OKC..it's gonna cost 35 million at least to move the team. Not to mention the fact that Clay bought a team that is already losing money, which money wise is in the 11th largest market...and move it to one in the 200+'s? Now as far as winning goes, that move wouldn't be a problem.....but as far as paying the bills goes...it will be a problem. Not to mention you are compounding that with the fact that you are neighboring Texas that has 3 teams and would be hard to compete against. I think we Seattle fans are losing our composure over very little. It's not going to be as easy to move the Sonics as people think. When the Hawks were going to move...it was to LA, when the Mariners were moving it was to Orlando. Moving the Sonics to OKC would actually be a fiscally irresponsible move, and believe it or not, it would be more difficult for David Stern to market a dynasty as the face of the NBA in OKC than it would in Seattle. Especially considering the fact that Greg Oden is about 2 hours south down the I-5 corridor. In the end I think that it will be a combination of the NBA, local business, and fans that keep this team here....as well as of KD and JG of course.
