With Brent Barry deciding to spend his future endeavors with the San Antonio Spurs, the Sonics are left without a starting point guard. Seattle's options are many with a loaded backcourt and of course the free agent market. I think the Sonics should start Luke Ridnour at the point. He'll be in his second season so he has at least some experience at playing point guard in the NBA. This being a "rebuilding year" allows the Sonics to experiment with young players, so it is virtually harmless to start Luke because of the low expectations. The starting job could prove valuable to Luke as he emerges into the player that made the Sonics draft him with the 14th pick last year. What do you all think?
If the roster stays like it is, I see no harm in giving Luke the starting job on opening night. Of course that's a long way away and a lot can happen between now and then, and a lot will depend on Summer League and how he performs there. I love AD to death, but I prefer him playing a 6th man sort of role, coming off the bench and taking over the point guard spot at the end of quarters. Luke was drafted for a reason, and unless we make big changes to the roster before the start of the season, I don't think we're going to be doing a lot. There is no better way to learn than by getting minutes, and that's exactly what should happen.
Yep, start Ridnour at the point. At the very least, we have to give Ridnour/Allen/Lewis/Collison a few game, because it is obviously a very talented nucleus. Having said this... I still say we give the MLE to: SOMEONE...
Sonics seek Derek Fisher <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics' pursuit of Derek Fisher lacks the drama of Fisher's miracle last-second shot against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs. But with only two days until teams can start signing free agents, the Sonics are thought to be making a push for the Lakers' unrestricted free-agent point guard. Fisher, 6 feet 1, was scheduled to visit Seattle this weekend. It is believed that he was in town yesterday. Free agents can begin signing contracts on Wednesday. Fisher made $3 million last season, his eighth in the league. The Sonics have up to about $5 million to sign another team's free agent, and has room in the budget now that Brent Barry has agreed to sign with the Spurs on Wednesday. Fisher, who will turn 30 next month, averaged 7.1 points last season after he was displaced by Gary Payton in the Lakers' starting lineup. He averaged more than 10 points in three successive seasons, from 2000-01 to 2002-03, but last season started only three games -- his fewest starts in any season since 1996-97, his rookie year. Fisher, part of the Lakers' 2000-02 title run, made the series-changing basket in the Lakers' Game 5 victory over the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. With the Lakers down by one point and 0.4 seconds remaining, Fisher caught an in-bounds pass from Gary Payton, turned and released what turned out to be the game-winning basket. The Lakers took the series lead, three games to two, and clinched the next game by winning at home. New Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich reportedly visited Fisher last week, presumably to try and talk Fisher back to Los Angeles. Fisher would fit the Sonics' desire for a more aggressive perimeter defender. Though short, he weighs more than 200 pounds and he is one of the stoutest defensive point guards in the league.</div> <div align="center">Link</div>
Start luke, the sonics drafted Luke because of his passing abilty and great court vision. How can luke get better if they never play him. Eventurlly the sonics will start him, so why not start him next year. Plus he was doing great at the end of last season. As for Derek Fisher...he wont look good on green and white. Plus Derek Fisher is more of a defensive guard with good outside shootings. But he is not known for his passing skills. The sonics already has great 3 point shooters with Ray Allen, Rashard, Radman, Filp Murray and even Luke Ridnour. They dont need any outside shooters, but they need someone to pass to those outside shooters.
I wouldn't mind Fisher backing up Ridnour, if he'll accept it. Split their playing time 24/24 (obviously with slight in-game alterations, depending on how the game is going). It means that Flip or Ray could be on the outer, though.
I have no problems brining in DFish, as I said in an earlier thread regarding him, but if I'm the Sonics I'm not paying him more than AD was, and I'm not playing him for 30 minutes a game. Nice guy to have around, though.
Let me tell you now, Fisher will not wanna be benched. Especially behind a second year player! Thats the whole reason he is exploring free agency, to find a team where he can start. So if he goes to the Sonics hell be starting, not Ridnour.
There isn't a guard on the roster better than Flip. With Barry being out I don't know why the Sonics wouldn't give Flip an opportunity to man the point guard role. Flip actually split time at the point when he was on his scoring tear last November. I know that Luke Ridnour was the Sonics first round pick last year, but nothing that he did last year (outside of his 16 point 13 assist game against the Mavericks whe the Sonics season was over) warrants someone just giving him the job. Antonio Daniels would be a better candidate. This is why I am so surprised that we are talking about signing Derek Fisher. Doesn't Antonio Daniels represent what Derek Fisher would give us. Hard nose defensive player who shoots a high percentage and doesn't turn the ball over. People really need to pay attention to Fisher career averages across the boards. He got a lot of open looks b/c of who he played w/. He will not get those same looks in Seattle. Fisher is a good player but is he in our plans long term. Championship experience is invaluable, but the Sonics are no where near a championship contender. Flip Murray has been a point guard his entire basketball career, up until last year. I do not think that he is a pure point guard nor do I think that he looks to pass before he looks to shoot. However, last year I saw him make some incredible passes and I know that he has a true will to win. I think that at times Flip looked selfish last year b/c he was unsure how many minutes that he was going to get. As a starting point guard Flip can pick his points when he needs to score and when he needs to get his teammates involved. He is also better suited guarding point guards than he is defending bigger two guards. I don't understand why Seattle fans wouldn't jump at the prospect of giving Murray starting minutes. In November fans were saying that when Ray Allen returned that it would be Brent Barry who was better served coming off of the bench. Nate McMillian eliminated that choice early by benching Flip when he was averaging 22 points a game. Now McMillian's choice has become that much easier. Hopefully this time he makes the right one.
I know a lot of posters will think that I am crazy when I say that Flip is the best player that we have on our roster. I just wonder how well Ray Allen would have performed if he had to deal w/ the same circumstances that Flip dealt w/ last year (or his entire basketball career). Ray Allen is extremely talented and is an excellent player, but Ronald Murray is truly a winner who I believe is on the verge of greatness.
I have no problems with giving Flip starting minutes, but I want him at the two. He is a pure scorer, and I would rather see him put in a position where his job is to shoot the basketball, and look to score everytime he gets the ball. I agree he has the skills to be a point guard, but he doesn't have the mentality. He looks to shoot first, second and pass third - nothing wrong with that, but I'd rather see him at the two. Everything seems to come back to trading Ray.
