Usually after reading one of Chad's articles I feel like I have lost IQ points, but, his latest article isn't a total piece of reckless crap. After starting off with some lame attempts at humor, he busts put with, "While no one is claiming that the Sonics have the inside track to win it all, most of the early-season haters have no choice but to shut up." which is blunt and well put. Thank you chad for not insulting us with rediculous trades and a full series of rumors that you started. other highlights of the article; "The success of the team has put the front office in Seattle in a bit of pickle. Does management spend a fortune to keep this team together, or does it stick with the original plan, trade off the team's assets now that their value has never been higher and rebuild in the summer?" - good question "Seattle's inability to get something figured out with Allen has put the franchise in limbo. Several GMs who have talked trade with Sund over the past few weeks told Insider that Sund has been admitting as much on the phone. The team hasn't been willing to really talk trade until it figures out what to do with Allen. Until they know whether they're going to sign him, it's tough to know which other assets you can trade." - wonder who those GMs are (or if they are made up to prove his point) "While Radmanovic's requests were laughable in the fall, lately he's been a big key to the Sonics' success. He's averaging 17.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg in his last five and shooting 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from beyond the three-point arc. He stepped into the <u>starting lineup</u> for an injured Lewis on Sunday and scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds." - He did? come on chad, journalism is struggling enough. "The Sonics hold his restricted rights, meaning they can match any offer for Radmanovic next summer, but they might not be able to afford to ? especially if they sign Allen to a big deal." - sad but true "Starting power forward Reggie Evans also will test the free-agent waters this summer. Evans ranks second in the league in rebounds per minute with a whopping 17.4 rebounds per 48 minutes played. Right now, he splits power forward duties with Fortson and Nick Collison. He makes the league minimum right now and will be looking to cash in after turning in the best season of his career." - we gotta give evans some love. "Little-used backup Ronald Murray also will get interest. A number of teams have called the Sonics over the past few months trying to pry him away." - Allen or Murray, one has gotta go. "The Sonics also stand to lose starting center Jerome James." I know, I know, I am losing sleep over it too. "That leaves the Sonics with just one center, high school senior Robert Swift, on their roster." Now that's something to look forward to.
As Casual so accurately put it in a previous thread, Chad Ford has to make up things to justify having a job. However, he is right on a few things. I don't see how we can keep both Ray and Vlad, as someone will offer Vlad some money that is hard to match considering he's not going to be a starter here. I can see Cleveland offering him big money if they can't get Ray, Redd or Joe Johnson, likewise the Bobcats. He would be a superb third option in Cleveland, and a nice perimeter player to play with Okafor in Charlotte. Who knows, but he's a 6'11 guy with athleticism and the ability to shoot it like few players in the league, so he's an attractive option for a lot of teams. With Collison playing a more significant role next season (i would predict), Reggie is probably the guy who we could afford to lose the most, as it will be tough to run the three man rotation at PF we are currently, it will be hard for Collison to start getting 20-25 minutes, or even more. That will be interesting, as I doubt anyone in the Sonics organisation will want to lose Reggie. If Ray goes we have to keep Flip, that's a no brainer, but will he stay?
Taking an early look at teams with cap space this summer, the Sonics might have a chance to keep Allen and Radman. They could take a page out of Jerry West's strategy like he did with Stromile Swift, and tell teams the Sonics plan on matching any offer for Radman. The teams with the most cap space in the summer will be... Bobcats $30M Hawks $25M Blazers $22M Sonics $19M Cavs $18M Warriors $14M Clippers $14M Bulls $12M I doubt the Bobcats or Hawks can lure Radman away from the Sonics. The Bobcats will be tight with their money, and the Hawks already have Al Harrington at the PF spot. Also the Bobcats will have to dish out some $ to Gerald Wallace and Primo Brezec. The Blazers will have to spend most of their cap space on Zach Randolph and possibly Theo Ratliff or Damon Stoudemire. If the Sonics continue to win they have a better chance keeping this team intact and bringing back both players. The Cavs will spend their cap on bringing back Ilgauskas and Jeff McInnis. The Warriors tied up their money extending JRich and Murphy. The Clippers have Elton Brand, CMaggs, and Simmons at the forward spot, so I don't see Radman or the Clippers as a match. And the only other team with cap space, the Bulls, will be spending it on Curry & Chandler.
I'm getting more and more convinced that the Sonics are going to stand pat and let the chips fall. We would be foolish not to use at least one of our assets to secure some type of talent who won't be eligible for free agency in July. Considering, however, how methodical our upper management has been, I have a feeling that we will be signing a bunch of affordable free agents to make up for the loss of almost half of our roster next season.
Vlad is having another big game at the moment, 6th man of the year is looking very attractive right about now.
