NBA: Sonics and other

Ian, tell me your thoughts on the Seattle Supersonics and Supersonic-related developments. They grab two blue chippers in the draft (Kevin Durant and Jeff Green) while getting rid of their two best players from the 2006-2007 team (Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis), dramatically altering their roster. Meanwhile Allen is sent to Boston and Lewis signs a max contract (!) with the Magic.

Also, Greg Oden's blog: is he too nice? I mean, this guy seems awesome. Like I'd want to hang out with him and play video games. Maybe I'll move to Portland and ask him if he has any need for someone with my specific skill set in his entourage. And by skill set I mean my sick AND1 basketball moves and bikini inspecting ability. What say you?

P.S. Just for fun, Baron Davis emasculating Andrei Kirilenko.


Seattle did it the right way. I think Seattle did what countless franchises in sports should do but, due to incompetence or lack of opportunity, don't: Blow up the team and go with a youth movement. How often do we hear that a team and/or its fanbase is sick of being an also-ran, but each year they think they can make the playoffs so they don't do anything drastic to make a long-term solution. They don't want to kill three season to be a contender in the fourth. Then the long term arrives and they're still mired in mediocrity, wishing they did it the right way five years ago. The kicker is that they readily repeat those same mistakes again.

Well, Seattle was given an opportunity with the second pick in the draft. They blew up their team. They used the second pick to get an offensive dynamo. They traded their best player to get the fifth pick and a legitimate second banana for the dynamo. They let their second best player go (Max contract? Good riddance!) to keep cap space to do any necessary signings when the complimentary pieces are necessary. It's a great job by the Sonic front office.

Now this is Kevin Durant's team from day one. Make no mistake about it. And Jeff Green? He's their #2 from day one. There will be no Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis demanding shots and money and stunting the growth of the future of the franchise.

So how will Seattle do in 2007-2008? Probably not make the playoffs. Then they add another lottery pick. And the following season? A first-round exit at best. But in five years? You're looking perennial contenders.

Seattle did it the right way.


With Greg Oden, we have a gregarious big man cut from the mold of David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal. He's very likeable, and I full expect him to be the second face of the league, after LeBron James. It's guys like Greg Oden that make me think the NBA is going to be all right. Think about it. Five years from now, we could very well see Oden, Durant, James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade consistently get beyond the second round of the playoffs. They'll become household names like Magic, Larry, and MJ. Getting the casual fan excited about a league? That's the ticket to success.

I'll save the Celtics for tomorrow. It deserves its own thread.