<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CHICAGO ? The evaluation process, which began three weeks ago and will conclude seconds before Seattle selects in the June 24 NBA draft, has yet to unearth a player the Sonics feel comfortable selecting at No. 12 overall. In part, that is why they have flown the coaching staff and various front-office and scouting personnel to Chicago, where they will sit in the stands at Moody Bible Institute and take notes on the 60 prospects. It's an exhaustive search that begins with drills in the morning and several games in the afternoon and early evening. But because most of the best players participate in only physical testing and interviews while skipping scrimmages, the Sonics are unlikely to find their guy this week and are more apt to discover players they might choose with their two second-round picks. There is, however, another incentive to being at the camp, general manager Rick Sund noted days before leaving for Chicago. "With everybody being there, all of the league's GMs and coaches, there's going to be some talk about all sorts of possibilities," he said. "A lot of talk started after the draft lottery two weeks ago, and it's only going to pick up." Seattle, which has sought a prominent power forward the past two years, figures to be among the teams seeking to make a deal that involves either its draft picks, players or both. With last year's top pick, Nick Collison, returning ? he missed the past season because of two shoulder surgeries ? the Sonics have committed to a young power forward. "We're not married to our pick," Sund said. "With Nick coming back, we have the flexibility to move our pick. We've added so much youth to our team that you have to look at how viable would it be to add another young player. "We've got a lot of options. We can trade the pick. Move the pick, whether that means going back or trying to move up higher. Draft for a specific area where we need help. Take the best player. Or take a big (player). A lot of that depends on the expansion draft." </div> <font size="1">Full Story of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times.</font> Nothing really new here, just basic draft chit chat and the likes, I think we're all expecting Seattle to be actively involved in discussions, even if they are only preliminary. Interestingly enough, Andre Iguodala, a player we are reportedly interested in, has been wowing scouts in work-outs and many expect him to go at least in the top ten, likely quite high. Also, if you read down that article, it says many expect us to go with a SF as Sesay may not be re-upped, and either one or both of our small forward might be traded. Luke Jackson, anyone? His stock is going up rapidly.
I say trade... It's a weak draft (a crapshoot really), and we can nab a solid (if not better) veteran by adding the pick to a package featuring Radmanovich/Lewis. I would also hope we are exploring the possibility of sending a package, similar to one I've already mentioned, to Charlotte in order to free up some cap space. If we can off Booth, at the expense of a number #12 draft pick... it'd be worth it.
