George O'Brien
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Last season the Seattle Sonics won 37 games. Since then they lost Brent Barry and Richie Frahn. They drafted a HS center named Swift who is not expected to produce much this year. About the only major plus the Sonics have is that Nick Collison is expected back after losing last season to injury.
Considering how much stronger some of the other teams in the West are after off season pickups, it is hard to envision this team making the playoffs. It seems likely the Sonics will attempt to move some of their players in trades, although it is unclear how much they will be able to get in return.
Ray Allen - $14.6 million (one year left) - Ray is one of the top shooters in the NBA. He was injured early in the season but came back to average 23 ppg on 44% shooting. He is a four time all star and is only 29. However, the Sonics are certain he will be leaving next season. I would expect him to go for an expiring contract and some young prospects as they would start Murray instead.
Vladimir Radmanovic - $2.3 million - will be an RFA next season. Radmanovic is 6'10" 234, but is not really well suited to playing inside. He shot 37.5% for three and his rookie season shot 42% for three. However, since Lewis is their SF Radmanovic was pushed inside anyway. He averaged over 30 minutes a game last season, but is likely to lose out to Collison if he is heathy.
Vitaly Potapenko - $6.2 million (final year on contract). None of the Sonics centers played well. Vitaly averaged only 4.4 rpg in 21.8 minutes but did score 7.1 ppg on 48.9% shooting. At 6'10" 285, he is big enough but not tough enough to be a player. Right now his expiring contract may be more valuable than his performance on the court.
Jerome James - $4.5 million (final year on contract). At 7'1" 272, James looks like a center and in brief spurts plays like a good one. However, he is incredibly inconsistent and ended up averaging only 15.2 minutes a game. After four years in the league, it is hard to imagine that he will somehow become a quality player, but there are teams that would take him if he was cheap enough. However, right now his expiring contract is more valuable than his on court performance.
Calvin Booth - $5.9 million (three more years). Booth is one of the most overpaid players in the NBA. He averaged only 17 minutes a game and grabbed only 3.4 rpg. At 6'11" 235 he is mostly a shot blocker (he had three seasons when he averaged over 2 a game in under 20 minutes), but not much else. It is hard to see him getting moved except for someone with an even worse contract.
This looks like a long, dismal season for the Sonics.
Considering how much stronger some of the other teams in the West are after off season pickups, it is hard to envision this team making the playoffs. It seems likely the Sonics will attempt to move some of their players in trades, although it is unclear how much they will be able to get in return.
Ray Allen - $14.6 million (one year left) - Ray is one of the top shooters in the NBA. He was injured early in the season but came back to average 23 ppg on 44% shooting. He is a four time all star and is only 29. However, the Sonics are certain he will be leaving next season. I would expect him to go for an expiring contract and some young prospects as they would start Murray instead.
Vladimir Radmanovic - $2.3 million - will be an RFA next season. Radmanovic is 6'10" 234, but is not really well suited to playing inside. He shot 37.5% for three and his rookie season shot 42% for three. However, since Lewis is their SF Radmanovic was pushed inside anyway. He averaged over 30 minutes a game last season, but is likely to lose out to Collison if he is heathy.
Vitaly Potapenko - $6.2 million (final year on contract). None of the Sonics centers played well. Vitaly averaged only 4.4 rpg in 21.8 minutes but did score 7.1 ppg on 48.9% shooting. At 6'10" 285, he is big enough but not tough enough to be a player. Right now his expiring contract may be more valuable than his performance on the court.
Jerome James - $4.5 million (final year on contract). At 7'1" 272, James looks like a center and in brief spurts plays like a good one. However, he is incredibly inconsistent and ended up averaging only 15.2 minutes a game. After four years in the league, it is hard to imagine that he will somehow become a quality player, but there are teams that would take him if he was cheap enough. However, right now his expiring contract is more valuable than his on court performance.
Calvin Booth - $5.9 million (three more years). Booth is one of the most overpaid players in the NBA. He averaged only 17 minutes a game and grabbed only 3.4 rpg. At 6'11" 235 he is mostly a shot blocker (he had three seasons when he averaged over 2 a game in under 20 minutes), but not much else. It is hard to see him getting moved except for someone with an even worse contract.
This looks like a long, dismal season for the Sonics.
