I have been over Seattle's roster many times today, and watching the Nets pulverise the Knicks has made me realise one thing: perhaps it's time management listened to Nate. The reason? Running and gunning teams look great and put up big numbers, but they do not win when it counts. We all know by now that messrs. Sund and Walker want to build a team in the mould of Dallas, whereas Nate wants a hard gritty team based on defense and playing in a half court offense. A team built around Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen does not do this. Step one: Ronald Murray must be protected from the expansion draft, and kept. Unless he can be packagaed to land a marquee inside player, Flip needs to stick around. He is the only man on our roster that has both toughness and NBA skill. If it means trading Ray Allen then so be it, but Flip has heart, something we lack. Step two: Rashard Lewis must be traded. Maybe I am being hasty, but I don't see enough in Rashard to warrant him being worth what he is paid, and to see him blossom into anything other than an inconsistent perimeter scorer. I love the kid's game as much as anyone when he's on, but at times I really have to question his heart and aggression. Vlad has this. What steps do people want to see this team take to transform from a run and gun offensive team to a gritty defensive team that can perform in the playoffs?
1. First and foremost, like you said, the Sonics must trade one of their small forwards in order to receive a big man. There are no if ands or buts about this. If the sonics are to be successful they need an exceptional post player. Period 2. Wally Walker needs to go away... he has accomplished virtually nothing in his tenure with the Sonics and his fantastic 5 year plans are turning into "we'll win sometime or another" plans. We need a dynamic personality in the front office that knows what it takes to build a winner and will aggressively pursue glaring team needs. 3. The Sonics must have a core of dedicated veterans. By this I mostly mean Brent Barry and Ray Allen. This is an extremely talented and grounded backcourt that would lead the team. Like my first point, adding a post player to compliment and work side by side with the excellent backcourt should make the Sonics an instant winner. We're talking an excellent ballhandler and decision maker in Barry, Ray Allen at the 2 guard shooting the lights out, making big plays, and leading the team in scoring and fan appeal, and a dominant post presence to control the paint. Those are the makings of a good team.
1. Trade Ray Allen and the rights to Paccelis Morlende for KMart (S&T) 2. Trade Rashard Lewis to Cleveland for 2004 1st rounder and Tony Battie 3. Take Josh Childress with our draft pick 4. Take Andre Iguoudala with Cleveland's draft pick 5. Bones walks 6. It is entirely likely that we can sign Dampier, M. Blount or equivalent due to letting Brent go Sonics 04/05 Ridnour/AD Flip/Iguodala Radman/Childress/Sesay Martin/Collison Dampier/Battie Gents, that is a quality outfit there with heart and a ton of upside. Remember, a lesser outfit saw us a one of the higher situated Western outfits earlier in the season. You also may say that Radmanovich and Ridnour may present a bit of defensive deficiency, but we clearly have stoppers right behind them if necessary.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cigawutwut:</div><div class="quote_post">Riverspoon Jones that is a stupid idea.</div> Why do you think that? Personally I think the guy makes a lot of sense - some of the moves are high risk high reward I agree, but this team needs big changes. Whether they are drastic is yet to be seen, but it's good to get some ideas out there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Riverspoon Jones that is a stupid idea.</div> I'm sorry, but IMO, that's not even close to a post worthy of being left on the boards. If you disagree, then say why. Put something into your post other than just putting someone down. Riverspoon at least had the courage/conviction to post an idea he/she had. Without providing any substance to your post, Your post ends up actually being the only stupid idea presented thus far. <font color="DarkRed"><font size="1">(My apologies to the admins if this response is inappropriate and I should have just reported the post. However, I'm hoping that the poster in question might see the reasoning behind my comments and find a more productive methos of responding.)</font></font>
^ Thanks hagrid, not out of line at all. I talk to Riverspoon quite a lot off the boards, in fact he is from the same town as me in Adelaide, Australia, and he is a one who likes to think outside the square a bit, suggest 'out there' ideas. I want an environment in this forum where people can say what's on their mind freely. You can disagree, but don't be rude about it and back up your points with reasons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> he is a one who likes to think outside the square a bit, suggest 'out there' ideas.</div> Thats actually a good thing, because not only does it go outside the standard regurgitation, but he backed it with reasoning. Out of the box with no reasoning often gets annoyed reactions because it's nearly impossible to figure out what was in the posters mind when they posted the idea. When you can back it with reasoning, then it just means you're able to explore beyond the bounds of popular convention and personally, I like that. More often than not, it sparks good conversation and ends up being the thing that prompts other posters into spinning their own ideas from the idea.
OK OK OK! sorry, I've been busy lately and should have waited till I had time to say anything worth posting. Notice I'm writing at 2:10 in the morning and I have school tommorow. You're right, guys shouldn't write the thesis and not back it up. it annoys me also, so my bad. anyways... 1. This is a great idea if it works, and it all should be stopped right here. So you don't have faith in Collison?-me either. 2. By doing this you are accomplishing nothing, and downgrading from Lewis/Radman to Radman/Childress. I also think Childress is overated but that's another story. 3. Childress's game has never impressed me more than his hair. why not a center? 4. Drafting a sg. We're going circles now or what? 5. Did you see our record with Bones? Rid is great but not ready yet. Sign Bones 2 more years. 6. Dampier is not the answer. He played hard because it was a contract year and he is getting old. Hopefully the management learns from it's past mistakes of paying to0 much for underachieving centers. There is some upside here though: You put into consideration our lack of perimeter defense. This is pretty rare. Most of these posters will come with lineups containing absolutely no defense, so props for that. This lineup just doesn't look like it will win many games to me, so no I wouldn't do it. I didn't mean no disrespect, I was just in a bad mood. IMO anybody who writes on these board this late in the offseason (especially this late at night) is a true Sonic fan. If you wanna know my plan, I started a thread called Master Plan for Sonics, so please criticize that if you guys don't agree. I love debate. Better start my essay now. (damn!) ___________________________________ I'm laughin'-cuz every time I hear you rappin' I think that I'm on Punk'd, but where the f#@! is Ashton? -Hot Karl
^ Much better mate, a well reasoned post. I actually prefer the combination of Radmanovic and Childress to Lewis and Radmanovic, for two reasons. Firstly, it is a messy situation - both believe they should be playing starting minutes, and both are small forwards. I rate Vlad higher and think he will be the better player, and having a rookie and Ansu to back him up I believe would be a good situation, as playing time would not be nearly as controversial an issue. If Childress develops quickly, you have valuable trade bait in either he or Vlad. However, it is a risk trading Lewis for Battie and Cleveland's first rounder, as we still don't know who'll be available at that pick, and won't k now with any assurance until draft day, considering how weak the draft could be after the first 3 or 4 picks. I would probably give up Ray for K-Mart too, but I would want a bit more from NJ (something along the lines of an Aaron Williams or a first rounder) - I don't think NJ would do this btw, but I like the way Riverspoon is thinking. Again we are assuming Iguadola is available with the first of our potential first rounders, but Ben Gordon is another option who I believe will be an excellent pro baller, and Flip is still around. However, with Flip playing any significant minutes at the 2, I believe Bones must be re-signed. Going into the season with a starting back court of Murray and Ridnour sends real shivers down my spine, and not of a good kind. I don't think brent signs for anything less than three years, though, but it's worth it in my eyes.
WOW! You're up too! I'm cool with risks, especially for a team that failed to make the playoffs.But this plan has too many risks in too little time. I like the idea of Rid and Flip starting because it gives both experience, and hey, what's the worst that can happen? We know we won't win the title! Why not develope Rid and Flip? In my "master plan", I make sure we don't trade any big names before giving Collison a chance. I like it, but it never seems to get any response. I'm thinking maybe I should just write an essay on the sonics, but my teacher would be lost. It's been cool Dez, but I gotta pound out this essay. I'll try to post here more often.
Most definetely an adequate response this time! Thank you. That was much clearer and more consise. :thumbsup:
The Sonics need more veterans. Barry isn't enough. There needs to be a group of players who can lead the younger ones through rough spots in games and seasons, and teach them how to play the game the right way. Also, the roster is made up of quiet people. Allen and Lewis, our two best players, don't seem to step up and lead the way in pressure situations. Ray doesn't seem to talk much unless a referee or microphone is in front of him, and Rashard barely talks at all. When a team's best player can't rally the troops, it can cause problems when things aren't going right. They need more players like Evans and Barry, who work hard every time they step on the court, and aren't afraid to get intense about things.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics need more veterans. Barry isn't enough. There needs to be a group of players who can lead the younger ones through rough spots in games and seasons, and teach them how to play the game the right way. Also, the roster is made up of quiet people. Allen and Lewis, our two best players, don't seem to step up and lead the way in pressure situations. Ray doesn't seem to talk much unless a referee or microphone is in front of him, and Rashard barely talks at all. When a team's best player can't rally the troops, it can cause problems when things aren't going right. They need more players like Evans and Barry, who work hard every time they step on the court, and aren't afraid to get intense about things.</div> Definitely. At times the Sonics were unbearable to watch last year because they showed no heart or will to win. Play was sloppy and careless and it seemed like none of the players even cared. The Sonics have to trade for a veteran postman this offseason to bring not only physical toughness but mental toughness.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics need more veterans. Barry isn't enough. There needs to be a group of players who can lead the younger ones through rough spots in games and seasons, and teach them how to play the game the right way. Also, the roster is made up of quiet people. Allen and Lewis, our two best players, don't seem to step up and lead the way in pressure situations. Ray doesn't seem to talk much unless a referee or microphone is in front of him, and Rashard barely talks at all. When a team's best player can't rally the troops, it can cause problems when things aren't going right. They need more players like Evans and Barry, who work hard every time they step on the court, and aren't afraid to get intense about things.</div> This is more than PRECISLEY what i was thinking...'Shard and Ray are our captians right...?...So why do they not posses a captians mentality?..They are not willing to come out and show the younger guys how its done.Or fire them up...Rather..they are content with sitting back and not saying anything..That is NOT the type of team we need..Espcially in the western conference..I mean i know we don't want t-mac type of player becuase he would just say anything.. :mrgreen: ...But we do need guys who can when times get tough...Speak out and motivate everyone..I see D-Mase doing this is milwaukee and i wonder if it was a bad idea letting him go...?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic#1:</div><div class="quote_post">I see D-Mase doing this is milwaukee and i wonder if it was a bad idea letting him go...? </div> It was worth it for Allen (assuming he gets traded and the Sonics get equal value. GP was leaving anyway, and we needed a new franchise player. If I remember correctly, the Sonics offered Radmanovic instead of Mason, but the Bucks insisted on Desmond. I'd love to have him back, but it's not happening anytime soon.
^ Exactly. I don't think there's a Sonics fan in the world who wouldn't want Dez back, he was the darling of the franchise, but unfortunately he was sacrificed for progress. People also sometimes overlook the fact that we got both Flip and Luke Ridnour, along with Ray, back in the deal. It was a good deal for Seattle, it just hurts losing a guy like DMase. Bottom line is this game is a business as much as it is a game. Look at Jerry Krause; none of the players in Chicago liked him, but he built one of the greatest franchises of all time.
