In today’s Seattle Times it was reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves will sign Damien Wilkins a 5 year $15 million offer sheet.
I just spoke with Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey and he said that is not accurate. “There is sincere interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves but there is no formal offer sheet extended to Damien Wilkins.” Minnesota doesn’t want to have its money tied up the seven day period of restricted free agency.
In addition, the report in the Times said that the Sonics are unlikely to match. The word around the NBA is very different. The Sonics have told Wilkins agent Mark Bartelstein that they will match offers for Wilkins.
An issue that has not be discussed is that Wilkins may not want to return to Seattle. Bartelstein has told the Sonics that his client would like to go some place where he can start. With the Sonics Wilkins chances are minimal for significant playing time with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis ahead of him on the depth chart. Whereas in the other cities that are suiting Wilkins he would have a chance to start.
Minnesota is very interested in Wilkins, Flip Murray and Reggie Evans. At the current time Minnesota can’t afford to have their money tied up in an offer sheet. However, it is fair to anticipate that at some point Minnesota will extend an offer sheet to either Wilkins or Murray. Minnesota will try to make the Sonics decided.
Other teams interested are Atlanta and Denver.
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A couple of thoughts. First...I'm not sure I want guys who are more concerned with their minutes than with what they do when they are on the court. Wilkins, if he is in the four guard rotation, would probably get significant minutes because he can shift to the 3 for certain match-ups. That would mean Murray would probably go to Minnesota. However, Flip has done very little "politicking" for playing time in the press, and didn't complain last year after the team started having success. If he could be more succesful in Weiss' system and approximate (to some extent) his `03-04 #'s, I'd probably rather see him in Seattle than Wilkins, especially if Damien was so emotionally tied to Nate. Also, what type of return could we expect in a sign & trade with the `Wolves for Wilkins, or for Murray? Is Vladdy truly going to be happy in Seattle playing the 4? What does anyone (Locke included) think about a sign and trade with Charlotte for Jamal Magloire?
If the Hornets were interested in Radmanovic, why would they be stockpiling swingmen? (Nachbar, Snyder, Rasual Butler, Macijauskas.)
The Hornets are so uninterested even Chad Ford hasn't bothered with this rumor.
Also, what would it take to get PJ Brown?
Fortson and a #1?
PJ and the Hornets #1 for Vlade?
Locke,
Why can't the Sonics use the new "Amnesty" rule to get rid of Fortson's contract the same way the Knicks did with A.Houston or the Blazers with D. Anderson ? He's the only bad contract still left on the Sonics & it would clear up some cap room to go after a more quality big man than Potapenko or D.Davis.
The whole purpose of the amnesty rule is to rid a team of a contract of someone who is either making an insane amount of money or a guy who isn't playing in proportion to what his contract dictates he should. James would have been a great example of that, but I can't really think of a guy on the roster that we're overpaying. Fortson isn't making a lot and I think he has and will continue to be worth what he's paid.
Besides....the Sonics are under the cap and wouldn't be able to use the amnesty rule to begin with. It's just a tool to avoid the luxury tax, which does not apply to Seattle.
The only way Fortson gets waived is if Seattle goes nuts and overpays a couple of guys and gets themselves over the cap. I didn't realize he is getting around $6.5M this year. That's not good, but I don't see him getting waived.
Fortson is the third highest paid player on the team right now at $6.2 million so he's definately overpaid. But if we can't use the "amnesty" rule then it's a mute point anyway. I do think his inside toughness & relentless rebounding was one of the biggest keys to us getting off to a great start last year, but his performance on & off the court gradually deterioated as the season went on. Hopefully coach Weiss can get Danny back to playing the way he was the 1st half of last year, it would be huge for our team.
Someone in another post brought up the idea of a Fortson for Lorenzen Wright trade. They have fairly similar contracts & apparently Memphis is trying to move him. Don't know how realistic it is, but I think it's a great idea.
At the start of the off-season I really wanted Wilkins back, but I never thought he would be commanding this kind of interest on the market. He might become a nice player but I don't understand how a team can justify giving him a 5 year contract. I mean he had a good run for about 1/3rd of one season. And now his agent says that he wants to start. Please...
Look, if the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for both Damien Wilkins and Ronald Murray, then good. Sign 'em both and trade 'em away for Michael Olowokandi. Okay, sure, the "Kandi Man" might not be the greatest center in the league, but he's a servicable stop-gap in the post for one season.
The luxury tax doesn't take effect until a team's payroll is at $61.7 million; the Sonics aren't even close to that amount.
If the Sonics are looking to get rid of Danny Fortson, then sending him and a couple of the foreign guys the Sonics have (i.e., Peter Fehse, Paccelis Morlende, & Mickael Gelabale) -- if not all three of 'em -- to Memphis for Lorenzen Wright doesn't seem like too bad of an idea.
Olowokandi & Wright could each play 24 minutes a night, and do a decent job for the 2005-2006 season at the center position.
Look, I think that no matter what the possibilities of obtaining a big guy are -- from Tyson Chandler to Michael Olowokandi -- it is noted that the Sonics are short two legitimate centers.
As it is, Robert Swift and Johan Petro need to go to the NBDL, and both of their play during the Rocky Mt. Review verifed that; neither of 'em would do a damn bit of good on the Sonics active roster.
The only justifiable reason for bringing back Vladimir Radmanovic is if he's stupid 'nough to play for just $3,166,155 for one season -- (God, doesn't he realize that a torn ACL or somethin' would kill him financially?) -- then so be it. However, that'll mean he needs to do a solid job at the 4 -- which is doubtful -- and Nick Collison will be regulated to playing 16 minutes at the end of thefirst/third quarter & the beginning of second/fourth quarter, and that's not where he belongs. The Sonics would be best off by keeping Danny Fortson (& trading for Jamaal Magloire) or re-signing Reggie Evans (& trading for Lorenzen Wright), and starting him for the first six minutes of every quarter, while Nick Collison plays the last six minutes of every quarter; they'd make a solid tandem at the 4.
By the way, no matter what, the Sonics still need a reserve small forward and shooting guard, with guys like either Walter McCarty or Rodney White at the three, and either Maurice Evans, Jon Barry or Richie Frahm being decent options at the two.
We don't need a center. There aren't any good ones out there. don't just make a trade for anybody unless that player is a legit player. Kandiman and Magloire are marginal or below average players.
I am not that familiar with Wilkens but I think he is at the stage where he should look at what role he would play in each scenario. That way he can increase his value and we can see what he is all about.
Yeah, uh, Michael Olowokandi only has one year left on his deal worth $5,949,570; conversely, Jerome James just signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the New York Knicks.
As it is, if the Sonics could sign-&-trade Damien Wilkins and Ronald Murray -- give 'em both 5-year, $15 million contracts -- and send 'em away to Minnesota for Olowokandi, then they ought to do it.
If we can't get Wilkins back then I love the thought of bringing Doug Christie in as a defensive minded backup 1,2,or 3. I'm sure he still has a couple good years left in him plus he's allready expressed interest in finishing his career in Seattle. If not, then my second option is Jon Barry. He'd bring a lot of passion to the team plus he's still one of the best 3-point shooters in the league.
Do any of you remember what happened back when the Sonics drafted Doug Christie in the 1992 NBA Draft?
As it was, Christie held out -- because he vocally stated that he didn't want to play in Seattle -- until the Sonics traded him and Benoit Benjamin to the Los Angeles Lakers, on the day of the trading deadline (2/23/93), which was one of the best trades in Sonics history.
Yes I remember, they were never able to agree to a fair contract & when the negotiations hit a stalemate the Sonics were forced to trade him. But that was 12 years ago & I'm sure both sides have moved on. He recently stated in the newspaper that he would prefer to finish his career in either Sactown or Seattle. I think if you can get him for the right price then it's a good move.
Here, in my opinion, is what the Sonics roster should look like come next season:
C: Lorenzen Wright ($7,700,000)
[acq. from Mem. for Fortson/Fehse/Gelabale/Morlende]
PF: Vladimir Radmanovic ($3,166,155)
SF: Rashard Lewis ($8,571,429)
SG: Ray Allen ($13,200,000)
PG: Luke Ridnour ($1,638,000)
C: Michael Olowokandi ($5,949,570)
[acq. from Min. for Wilkins/Murray]
PF: Nick Collison ($1,815,000)
SF: Walter McCarty ($1,035,000)
SG: Jon Barry ($1,138,500)
PG: Rick Brunson ($1,029,873)
C: Robert Swift ($1,764,480)*
C: Johan Petro ($936,600)*
SF: Ndudi Ebi ($803,600)
[acq. from Min. for Wilkins/Murray]
SG: Richie Frahm ($719,373)
PG: Mateen Cleaves ($835,810)^
SG: Ibrahim Kutluay ($1,760,000)~
*NBDL
^Inactive/NBA Player Rep.
~Released
Total Salary: $52,063,390
To save Locke time the amnesty rule doesn't apply to the Sonics and Fortson because its strictly for luxury tax purposes. IT has nothing to do with cap space.
ON the Hornets and Magloire, simple the Hornets don't have any interest in Radmanovich and if they did they would not give up Magloire for him.
Kandi's horrible, no one should want him.
Wilkins for Hoiberg and Ebi would work for me.
AK-
I like your roster for the most part, except for McCarty & Barry. They're both too one-dimensional; specializing in 3-point shooting. We allready have plenty of that on the roster so I'd rather go for more athletic,defensive minded players like D.Christie & M. Evans instead.
Scott, shooting guard Fred Hoiberg had open-heart surgery earlier this off-season in attempt to repair an enlarged aortic root, and is thereby out for the season. However, if the Sonics tried to obtain shooting guard Trenton Hassell (who is a good on-the-ball defender) and small forward Ndudi Ebi from Minnesota for shooting guard Ronald Murray and small forward Damien Wilkins -- which would allow Kevin McHale/Jim Stack/Dwane Casey to offer Reggie Evans the full mid-level exception -- then the Timberwolves would probably be interested in that deal.
In that case, rather than signing a backup shooting guard -- as Hassell could fill that role -- the Sonics would be in need of a reserve center. Thus, the Sonics could pass on shooting guard Jon Barry, and instead offer center Dale Davis a one-year contract worth $1,138,500.
Also, regarding the amnesty clause: the luxury tax hits at $61.7 million, which is when the amnesty clause would kick in; the Sonics are nowhere near that amount, nor will they ever be.
We've all thrown out great ideas for sign & trades as well as free agents the Sonics should get but lets be honest; Sonics management is not creative enough to make most of these things happen. So here's how the roster WILL look next year:
C: Potapenko($2.5 m.)
PF:Radmanovic($7.5 m.)
SF:Lewis($10.7 m.)
SG:Allen($15 m.)
PG:Ridnour($1.6 m.)
C: Swift($1.8 m.)
PF:Collison($1.8 m.)
PF:Fortson($6.2 m.)
SF:Wilkins($3 m.)
PG:Brunson($1 m.)
C: Petro($0.9 m.)
PG:Cleaves($0.5 m.)
SG:Kutluay($0.7 m.)
Total Salary: aprox.$53 million
Nice roster. Will get us another 50 win season & a second round playoff exit but that's about it.
Magloire maybe, but Olowakandi has Benoit Benajmin written all over him. And we all know what a great center he was don't we?
On that same thought, I think that we should resign Vitaly P. because he is steady, willing to put his body (take a charge and bang), and rebound. If Vlady had some of that, then I wouldn't hesitate to sign him for what he is asking. Vitaly might not have the Magloire number, but if he played decent minutes he could put up some similar numbers. Again he does the little things that don't show up in the stats (and he doesn't commit Jerome-type fouls.
If we don't sign Wilkins then bringing in doug Christie would make sense. I think that he had issues with people no longer on the Sonics.
AK,
Hoiberg could never play again and it would have little effect on whether I'm willing to make the deal. Hassell has 5 years left at over 23 million dollars, while Hoiberg only has one more year on his contract at 1.4. I believe if you give Ebi the minutes you gave Wilkins last year that he could give you close to the same production as Wilkins did.
Dead right on the amnesty cause, which is why releasing Fortson makes zero sense.
Personally I think the Sonics are going to start Swift at C and he'll be perfectly fine there. He's long, he's put on some size and all they really need him to do is set picks and be an inside presence for 15 minutes a night. What he did in summer league is meaningless because Jack was not trying to get him offensive touches and the refs don't let bigs play physically down there at all. I was pretty happy with what I saw out of him on the games that were on NBA:TV.
Whatever happened to the rumor that Wilkins was going to Portland for big bucks? It's time to admit that was total BS.
Alright, Scott, if the Sonics were to get really creative, they could sign-&-trade away Damien Wilkins (5 years, $15 million, with a starting salary of $2.5 million) to the T-wolves for shooting guard Fred Hoiberg ($1,760,000) and small forward Ndudi Ebi ($803,600), along with $1.76 in cash considerations to cover Hoiberg's salary once he's released.
Next, in the same deal, the Sonics could sign-&-trade both power forward Reggie Evans (5 years, $15 million, with a starting salary of $2.5 million) and shooting guard Ronald Murray (5 years, $15 million, with a starting salary of $2.5 million) to the T-wolves for center Michael Olowokandi ($5,949,570) and, so as to cover for just a little more than half of Olowokandi's salary, $3 million in cash considerations.
Okay, sure, Olowokandi isn't that great, but for around 16 minutes a night off of the bench at a cost of $3 million, he isn't that bad of an option. As it is, center Lorenzen Wright ($7,700,000) -- who, perhaps, could be had for power forward Danny Fortson ($6,415,584), the draft rights of power forward Peter Fehse, the draft rights of point guard Paccelis Morlende, the draft rights of small forward Mickael Gelabale, and any number of the Sonics four second-round picks in the next two drafts -- would be a solid possibility for the Sonics as a starter who could play approximately 32 minutes a night in the post.
My preference is to bring Wilkins back, but only at the right price. If his demands for $$$ and PT are too high then let him go. The back up plan should be to sign a veteran like Christie to fill that spot for 1 or 2 years until Mickael Gelabale is ready to come over from Europe. He's a very athletic 2/3 who was considered by many experts to be one of the biggest steals in the draft.
The Nuggets have expressed a lot of interest in Flip Murray this off-season so what about the possibility of a sign & trade for Nene. He's due to make about $3,000,000 this year which is about the same money Flip would command. We'd probably have to throw in a draft pick but there's been talk that they'd like to move him since they will not be able to keep him anyway when his contract runs out next year because they have so much money tied up in Camby & Martin.
I think the sonics are playing it smart this off season by not looking to hard for a deal. They need another player to push them over the top but that player is not available by any indications I see. Tyson chandler is the one guy I would really like to see in green and gold, but I don't think he is worth the type of deal that would make the bulls give him up. I think the sonics should resign wilkins and potapenko let flip go or sign and trade him, and try and pick up jon barry or maurice evans. That won't make us champion contender, but better then overreaching and commiting to players who are going to bomb out on us as we have so often before. Devolop the talent you have and wait for better market. I don't think cleveland or Miami really helped themselves as much as people seem to think the have.
There is a lot of great comments here ... mainly concerning Damien. kuruptboi has many good thoughts but I think y'all are missing what I think is an important part of bball and although you call it hustle - I call it passion.
And Damien, Reggie and Fortson all express that on the floor and that is great for both the team and us viewers. Yes there is passion throughout the league - Iverson, Genobli, Patterson and many others.
Sure Paul, Rashard, Nick and Luke will show some "passion" but they are skilled and "cool". Nothing wrong with skilled coolness but what's important is what I call passion.
(Hey remember Shawn? That was passion too.)
As far as Damien getting a 5 year contract at $3mill a year - that's a Bargain ... I do believe in his capability and think that he will be worth much more in a few years and $3mill will be too little.
Neither Derek Anderson or Van Exel are coming to Seattle. Both are going to command more than the Sonics are willing to give, and trust me, that's a good thing for Sonic fans. DA, especially, is horrible. Van Exel is bound and determined to play somewhere in or very close to Texas.
Damien Wilkins:
Pros:
-Can hit the open three
-Is a good defensive player
-Is athletic enough to attack the basket
-Isn't affected by big game situations
-Perfect 6th man
Cons:
-Small sample size (anyone remember Austin Croshere playing lights out in the playoffs)
-Seems like he wants out
-Not a great ball handler
-Not a true shooting guard or small forward
Derek Anderson was going through some tough times in his personal life and had to have counseling for some psychological problems. I think a change of scenery and positive vibes with Ray and Co. could just be what he needs. Bring him in for a look/see.
Derek Anderson was going through some tough times in his personal life and had to have counseling for some psychological problems. I think a change of scenery and positive vibes with Ray and Co. could just be what he needs. Bring him in for a look/see.
Derek Anderson was going through some tough times in his personal life and had to have counseling for some psychological problems. I think a change of scenery and positive vibes with Ray and Co. could just be what he needs. Bring him in for a look/see.
D Wilks is a good player but he only played limited minutes. the only place I see as a fit is where his uncle played for and that's the horrible Atlanta Hawks.
D Wilks is a good player but he only played limited minutes. the only place I see as a fit is where his uncle played for and that's the horrible Atlanta Hawks.
Sorry about the reapeats, computer is hitting a snag
I think Doug Christie would be good because he has property here and he wants to play here and show it off for the home fans. Remember that when you sign him, you basically sign the whole family though.
Also he played for the Lakers and that would bring some positives to the team.
Cons:
-Small sample size (anyone remember Austin Croshere playing lights out in the playoffs)
-Seems like he wants out
-Not a great ball handler
-Not a true shooting guard or small forward
"I don't agree w/ your cons, but you're right on with the pros. That alone shows you he should be retained."
Con #1 is a fact.
Con #2 seems like a fact, he's been flirting with Portland and the T'Wolves and wants to start.
Con#3 You think he's a "great" ball handler? He's not as bad as Vladimir but he's not Ridnour either.
Con#4 is a fact. There is a reason why he wasn't drafted. He's one of those guys alot like Trenton Hassell who don't have a true position.
He doesn't do anything outstanding, but he doesn't do anything "great" either.
That last comment was supposed to read.
He doesn't do anything outstanding, but he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses.
If you're thinking about signing DA, make sure his physical includes a dental exam. He missed a lot of games last season with tooth problems.
I think the Sonics are talking to Doug Christie's people.
I agree, Groz & Gas are borring as hell ! They waste a lot of time talking about stuff we don't really care about. Their limited knowledge about the local teams is pretty sad. Softy & Locke are the only KJR hosts that are both passionate & knowledgeable about the local sports scene. I'd also love to see John Clayton get a regular weekday show.
Look, Dave Grosby and Mike Gastineau appeal to the average, ill-informed Seattle sports fan. Their niche, sadly, is to appease the doltish masses.
Of course, in general, Seattle is littered with vapidity; the city is inhabited by naive idiots who know nothing about everything.
As it is, though, Steve Sandmeyer, Dave Mahler, Dick Fain, David Locke, and John Clayton come across as the truly knowledgable sports commentators.
Personally, when it comes to afternoon radio, I'd rather listen to someone who's entertaining like B.J. Shea; however, Shea is, without a shadow of a doubt, arrogantly ignorant regarding many political, sports, and gender issues.
Actually, the only reason I listen to The B.J. Shea Show is because R.R. is amusin' as all hell and "Top Shelf" does well in the sidekick role; the best shows, in all reality, are the ones in which Shea is on vacation.
I think that Gas is one the KJR's best voices. Mitch is the best interviewer. David Locke is the best journalist.
2 LIVE STEWS on 790 THE ZONE in atlanta are by far the best sports talk radio hosts in the country. "If ya don't know now ya know, n****."
black,
I heard sir Mix a lot on the show and not only does he have good knowledge of sports, he even had some funny stories to tell like the time he and his buddies who got cut from Roosevelt beat up Hugh Millen!!!LOL
You sure are one ignorant person.
It's so sad and funny at the same time.
You should start a blog of your own and comment on it.
About 4 posts in you'd accuse yourself of being racist...until you realized you were of course...calling yourself racist.
Please, man. Do it.
I'm sick of having to wade through the crappy posts.
Wow, and your dumb as well.
Ignorant and dumb, nice combination.
Translation = Stop posting.
Steven Hunter is a Stiffly Stifferson.
I eat pieces of shit for breakfast!!
GAS IS A FAT PIECE OF SHIT!!!
LOCKE -
What is the latest on the Sonics ? I haven't heard anything in about a week. Can you give us the latest on:
1. The Radmanovic negotiations
2. The rest of our restricted FA
3. The center situation
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