2007 NBA Seattle Supersonics
Washington State's Pro Basketball Team Needs Bold Moves for Future
Feb 9, 2007
Every year in the NBA, at least one team becomes a popular pick as “up-and-coming”, which in English still translates as "they won’t make the playoffs this year". The future, that most nebulous and ultimately unsatisfying of all human rationalizations, is where all of that team's fan base is supposed to project their hopes while enjoying their small steps of improvement. I find these labels to be excuses for not making the bold moves necessary to get a team into the tournament that can make an exciting run, upsetting a #1 or #2 along the way. Doesn’t happen often, one might counter, and yes the odds are stacked. But why play this game if you aren’t playing for now, especially when your team can be better immediately if you are willing to make that risky move.
Foe the Seattle Supersonics, that move is to get value for Rashard Lewis before he opts out of his contract this summer and you have nothing to show for him. Likely direction to look toward for help in this: the New York Knicks, who could get to at least the conference finals this year (you’ll have to hear me out when I address the needs of NYK) with the punch of Lewis. What would they give up? Does it really matter at this point? The Sonics need bodies to put on the court that can score and defend, which Mr. Lewis has never been fond of, and there are a few on the Knicks that Isaiah would cut loose in a heartbeat to get Rashard on the MSG court, plus throw in picks and cash. Channing Frye and Steve Francis are likely suspects, and the Sonics should insist on adding Johan Pietro to the deal for Jerome James to complete the five-player deal.
This is enough to make any Starbucksian reflux their latte, so let me explain, starting from last to first. Bringing the junk yard dog James back to where he was a backup for several years and giving him 18-20 minutes minimum per game will I predict make the interior of the Sonics “D” much less porous. Francis, the cancer? How turned on would he be to have a chance to redeem his rep, since it won’t happen in NYC? He replaces most of the scoring lost with Lewis. I know the contract is insane, but there were many who considered him worthy of being maxxed out years ago. Guards can change the character of games more than the steady effect of forwards, so this is my rationale for this reach. Frye will develop into a fine tandem complement to Collison, and will fill in the rebounding side of the equation with James. Pietro’s exit clears room for the rookie Sene to get on the floor, and there is your shot-blocking stopper. Sometimes, it takes patience to digest the details.
All of this is pie-in-the-sky without GM Rick Sund willing to pull the trigger, so don’t asphyxiate holding that breath. If the status quo is maintained, there are still some pieces that will work going forward. Luke Ridnour is the Steve Nash of 2010, a passer first and great shooter when left open. Robert Swift’s full recovery from knee injury gives them another agile big that likes to run. Of course, there’s the steady hand of Ray Allen, whose leadership (future NBA head coach written all over him) is indispensable even if his shooting were to decline, and his numbers of 26/4/4 this year with Lewis down for over two months gives no hint of that. Gelabale is another of those athletic young Frenchmen who are the rage of the league lately for good reason. Chris Wilcox is giving them 13/8 this year, and he’s going to get better.
It’s hard to find significant negatives with this NBA team except for that they don’t score enough or defend well enough. Earl Watson was a *yawn* pickup, though he was need to take minutes off of Ridnour. He’s not the answer. Neither is Danny Fortson, unless the question is “which Sonic is most likely to be suspended?”. They need more bench scoring, and should pursue Dahntay Jones, a tweener likely to be moved in the Grizzlies fire sale, or load up through the draft. Coach Bob Hill seems well-liked by his players; whether he is the long-term fit remains to be seen. I would bring in fresh blood if they don't make the post-season this year.
The ball is in Rick Sund's court, for if a move isn’t completed in the next few weeks, there’s not enough caffeine in the Pacific Northwest to keep this year from turning into a true snoozer.
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