and how would another lottery pick hurt them? maybe they should have kept ray and rashard and stayed at the edge of mediocrity for a few more years

Ray (aka Jesus Shuttlesworth) Allen will now be playing on Boston with his doppleganger, Allen Ray… …and no, Jesus does not play D… Prettiest jumper in the game, though.

Yes it hurts to lose Rashard since he has improved every year and will continue to do so, but he didn’t fit in the picture once Durant was selected. Also he has shown a lack of confidence in himself in subtle ways… For instance in his first comments to the Orlando media he said he “hopes” they can win a championship in Orlando “someday”.

Durant’s going to change the game… …in time… Depending on the opponent, Durant will play positions 2 through 4.

Green is a solid man and player who is more mature than a typical NBA draftee and will contribute at the 4 and 3 immediately.

Luke Ridnour should blossom this year running a much faster-paced offense. He will split time with Earl Watson primarily with Delonte west will also get some time at 1, but Delonte will get most of his time at 2.

Everyone seems to totally miss the point on Michael Gelebale… They gave him big minutes at the end of the season after Ray got ankle surgery, and he shined. He can be a defenseive stopper, but moreso he is super quick and smooth and depsite his high-flying abilities, plays the game from a very fundementally sound persepective. Ask Tony Parker about his countryman. Gellyballs is a future star and will be the starting 2.

Swift and Durant have something in common. MVP of the McDonald’s High-School All-Star game. Swift’s ACL injury was a clean “pop” injury due to a quick self-inflicted hyper-extension with no surrounding tissue damage. His recovery is ahead of schedule. Most athletes with this type of clean ACL injury suffered at a young age return to 100%. Reports indicate that Swift has gained in excess of 25 pounds of muscle. Look for a very potent defense stopper who can score in a variety of moves around the basket as well as effectively pop out to 15 feet for a pretty jumper. Petro will be back to his role of excellent, defensive-minded center off the bench for energy and attitude. He was thrust in to a starting role last year when Swift was hurt and he struggled but aquitted himself well. His 15-18 foot jumper is very nice Sene is not a bust, but will be primarily a back-up shot-blocking, rebounding center similar to Mutumbo.

THE SONICS HAVE THREE TALENTED 7 FOOTERS WHO ARE 21 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER!!!!

Collison is a guy who provides blance and stability on offense or defense at the 4 or at the 5 against smaller teams. He started to find his stride last year. He is fundementally sound in virtually every area. He is slightly athletically challenged but makes up for it by being in the right place and making the right play. Wilcox is althletically gifted but lacks low post moves. He has started to develop a better hook going either way.

Wally will get some time at shooting guard, but his defensive liabilities will limit this. The Sonics may be better off getting a pure shooter (like Riddick in a trade-back from Orlando) and trading Wally to a team who will need his cap relief after next year. Wilkins has abilities, but he doesn’t seem to have what the Sonics need. He will see lengthy bench time and may be packaged in a trade.

The Sonics have the best young nucleus in the league and a savvy move or three from Presti will take them to a championship level within three years.

Also, the Muckelshoot indians have announced they are studying the prospect of building a state-of-the-art arena - the Sonics will remain in this area….

Sikma!!

Luke may get traded… who knows. Watson has already proved that he doesn’t mind coming off the bench which makes him a strong back up if they choose to start Delonte and the 1. Jeff Green will probably be a 6th man coming off the bench this year. There has even been talk of Durant playing at SG a little to create some mis-matches. McGrady is 6′8 and plays SG for Houston so it wouldn’t be a total surprise. The big question is whether Swift is going to be a solid contributer this year. That may determine who gets time at center. I also heard that Swift has bulked up even more coming in around 260!

2)Sonics should have drafted Yi instead of Jeff Green. High Risk, High Reward, greater overall potential.

3)Sonics should have chose Paul Silas or Dwyane Casey to keep pride and tradition within the Sonics organization. PJ Carlisamo Does not diserve a second chance. He called Latrell Sprewell a Ni**er and got choked out. He does not work well in developing young players.

4)In my opinion sonics are gearing towards moving somewhere else and have no desire to meet sonic fans feelings and desires.

as for green, he will get sub’d in to get experience as Carlesimo makes in game changes with a small lineup. maybe he’ll be the 6th man.

I think the best move in the draft would have been getting Yi. It would have given the sonics some much needed size, and scoring power, with his ability to shoot, Yi could be instant offense, and take some pressure off Durant.

1.) for those of you who say durant will play 2 or 4…
A.) his natural position is 3
B.) he’s not a good enough ball handler
C.) He’s not NEARLY big enough nor does he have enough post moves to play 4 in the league ( the ONLY place where benchin 185 matters)
D.) 3 is where he can dominate and learn and grow, its his NATURAL position… so how the hell would a coach let a new young star player play a position hes not accustomed to, when hes never played in the NBA?

so therefore he’s a lock @ 3.

as far as any other possibilities @ 1,2,or 3: #1, Delonte West is the closest to a shooting guard we have, even though hes a combo, and ridnour is easily the best pure point on the team. Sczerbiack is a horrible ball handler so scratch him @ two, bc thats just the same as playing a 3 forward set, plus hes a defensive liability @ 2; he has no lateral quickness… and can’t guard most 2’s on the perimeter…. And we ALL know Carlesimo’s a defensive guy.

Forget the lineups… what the hell kinda offense is Carlesimo gonna run? A princeton type offense may be feasible, but u NEED to be able to play pick and roll, I mean even the wiz kids in DC play pick n roll SOMETIMES. But pick n roll with durant? I just don’t see durant as a pick n roll kinda guy, do you? ( note the sarcasm) The sonics sucked last year bc we had no big man. No real pick and roll threat. And if u wanna say wilcox… u need to start watching sonic games, bc he got all his points on cuts, putbacks, looseballs, etc. NOT on post ups, pick and rolls, or give n gos. As we all know the NBA is 70% pick and roll. w/o the ability to play pick n roll especially in the West, u lose a LOT of ur games. Expect the sonics to be in the lottery again. And this time expect them to find a BETTER shooting guard than brewer.

I’m not so concerned about his failure to bench 185 lbs, except to say that it eliminates any possibility of him playing the 4 in the western conference. But his over all body simply isn’t “NBA ready” and its going to take a toll on him. Durant doesn’t compare to LeBron in stature or body type. Give him a few years and he will be great. But right now, the Sonics have put him a position where he is going to get he brunt of the other teams defense and I don’t think he is physically mature enough to handle it.

As far as the Brewer topic goes…I see why they picked Green. Brewer can’t handle the ball that great. Not sure if you’ve noticed that . And with Luke and Earl manning the point guard position well…they need someone who can handle the ball a little better.