<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Rather than make a big splash, the Sonics are shaking off several injuries as they slowly wade into the free-agency waters for the second consecutive year. Point guard Earl Watson suffered the latest injury, a fractured thumb announced by the team Tuesday. The 29-year-old Watson will undergo surgery Thursday in Los Angeles. The seven-year pro, who took over the starting role from Luke Ridnour last season, is expected to miss three to four months but could return by the end of training camp. The Sonics also quietly severed ties with Mickael Gelabale, which went virtually unnoticed while A-list free agents Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas and Elton Brand dominate NBA headlines. Gelabale, a second-year swingman, was not given a qualifying offer, which makes him an unrestricted free agent and may end his brief NBA career. He tore his right anterior-cruciate ligament on March 18, and was expected to miss most of next season if he returned. Watson joins centers Muhammad Sene and Robert Swift, who are recovering from injuries suffered last season. The Sonics extended Swift a qualifying offer, which may be the extent of their free-agency deals. Seattle didn't sign a free agent last summer, and it is not one of the league's big shoppers this year, though the team should be about $5 million under the projected $58 million salary cap. The Sonics will commit about $53 million to payroll once it signs first-round draft picks Russell Westbrook, D.J. White and second-rounder DeVon Hardin. Sam Presti remains committed to the plan he devised last year when he was hired as the Sonics general manager. He has used the draft and a series of trades to restock the roster with young defensive-minded players. Presti also pruned the long-term contracts with an eye on spending in 2009, when the team will have roughly $20 million to $23 million in cap space. Ridnour, a fifth-year point guard who has two years remaining on his contract and will make $13 million, is expected to draw interest from teams. The Sonics acquired Westbrook with the No. 4 pick in last week's draft. The 6-foot-2 Ridnour suffered his worst season since his rookie year, averaging 6.4 points and 4.0 assists. A quadriceps injury forced him to miss 15 games, and he lost his starting job to Watson. But with Watson recovering from the broken thumb, Ridnour seems less likely to be traded. New York, Miami, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers are shopping for point guards. A league source said Tuesday the Knicks are a likely team for Ridnour because he can run coach Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced offense. The most eligible free-agent point guards include Jason Williams and Carlos Arroyo, but Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley and Charlotte's Raymond Felton could be available in a trade. The Sonics are expected to have 15 players under contract because rookie center Serge Ibaka will remain in Europe next season. Free agency began Tuesday. Players can orally commit to deals, but aren't allowed to sign contracts until July 9. Notes • Second-year forward Jeff Green and rookie guard Westbrook highlight the Sonics' summer-league roster, which begins the Orlando Pro Summer League on Monday. Other rookies include: White, Hardin, G Ronald Dupree, F Ndudi Ebi, G Aaron Bruce, F Mykal Riley, G Ronnell Taylor, F/C Justin Williams, F Brian Randle and F/C Nick Lewis. • The Sonics' Kevin Durant and Green are expected to play on a team that will scrimmage the U.S. Olympic team July 21-24 in Las Vegas.</div> Link Westbrook may be forced into minutes that he hasn't earned yet, Gelabale brief NBA career probably ended with his ACL tear, and our summer league roster stinks. Not exactly encouraging news. Amazing for a team that puts so much emphasis on defense is very willing to cut one of the team's better perimeter defenders. Moreso than anything I think that Presti is determined to rid himself of any Sonics that were here before he arrived -- with the exception of Nick Collison. He extended Robert Swift in hopes of him increasing his trade value -- not because he has a long term future with the team. Hate to have to keep Ridnour just because of health issues. Heard in an interview from Rick Sund that Clay Bennett was to have no contact with the team up until the point where the sale of the team to PBC was finalized. I think that Rick, knowing that he was going to be out of a job, extended offers to Ridnour and Collison to give them long term financial security -- knowing that Clay probably wouldn't have signed off on their extensions after he was named the owner. Obviously I wish that Sund hadn't extended Ridnour but if he knew that the Sonics would lose him in the open market for nothing if he wasn't signed, I can see why he would want to keep his own gus under contract to spite Clay.
How many more years are Watson and Ridnour under contract? About Swift, Ainge might want him in the future. lol
This team is so depressing. It'll be nice to see Westbrook get some good minutes, though. I wanna see what he can do with this team. I'm looking at Hardin or White to make a big impact on the team as well, with the lack of good scoring bigs on the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jul 2 2008, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How many more years are Watson and Ridnour under contract? About Swift, Ainge might want him in the future. lol</div> Two years left for both Watson and Ridnour. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see Boston make a run at Swifty if he can come close to the level that he played at the end of the 05-06 season. The player on our team who we are willing to deal with the most trade value is Chris Wilcox. Considering that he is in the last deal of a contract (in which you know he won't resign) and that he had a concealed weapon's charge this offseason I would be surprise to see him finish the season with the Sonics. I'd imagine that the Warriors, Nets, Bulls, and Grizzlies would be willing to talk about adding Chris. Being that he will be an unrestricted free agent I don't imagine them offering enough to be able to significantly help the Sonics though.
Thanks for the info Sheik. Sucks that Watson will be out for a couple of months. I've always loved watching him play.
Ndubi Ebi. Now there is a last from the past. There was a great SLAM article on him a few years ago too.
