NBA TV Preview

The Seattle SuperSonics are to big men what the Detroit Lions are to wide receivers. Every year they draft one, hoping eventually they will be rewarded with a keeper.

This year, Saer Sene, a 20-year-old from Senegal, is Seattle's hope in the eternal quest for an interior presence. Last year, it was Johan Petro. Before that, Robert Swift. Veteran fallback option Mikki Moore was traded to New Jersey, so figure on seeing a lot more learning on the job in Seattle, where the Sonics had the NBA's worst scoring defense (105.6) a year ago.

Beyond the selection of Sene, it was a quiet summer for Seattle brass who had acquired exactly zero veterans via trade or free agency as October neared. Seattle's best off-season moves actually took place during last season when, just before the trade deadline, the Sonics acquired forward Chris Wilcox and guard Earl Watson in separate deals. With Watson and Wilcox assuming starring roles, the new-look Supes charged to a 14-11 finish after their disappointing 21-36 start.

Watson gives the Sonics a stellar three-guard rotation. Playing behind starters Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen, the former Denver Nugget delivered more than adequate playmaking (5.4 assists) and three-point shooting (.420) while averaging 11.5 points a game in his 25-game stint in Seattle.

After thriving in Seattle last season, Wilcox was signed to a three-year extension. Acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Vladimir Radmanovic, Wilcox delivered 14.1 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds in 29 games. At 6-10, 235, he gives the Sonics some interior muscle.

Wilcox (.592 with Seattle) and reserve Nick Collison (.525) give the Sonics some high-percentage options down low on those rare occasions when they're not jacking threes, not that shooting the trey is a bad idea when you have Ray Allen.

The heir apparent to Reggie Miller as the game's all-time best three-point shooter. Allen set an NBA record with 269 treys last season, 70 more than runner up Gilbert Arenas. Watson and Rashard Lewis (.384 last season) are also lethal from downtown.

Allen (25.1 ppg) and Lewis (20.1 ppg), among the NBA's most lethal 1-2 punches, are only a year removed from leading Seattle to a division title. That team, though, had experience in the middle. This one doesn't. That difference, and a fan base that might be indifferent to a team with one foot potentially out the door, probably amounts to more than the Sonics can overcome over 82 games.
-- Bill Evans

2006-07 Sonics Mini-Packs

Will he, or won't he? That's the question on the mind of Sonics fans wondering if new principal owner Clay Bennett will move the franchise from its home of 40 years.

Bennett is the chairman of a group of investors from Oklahoma City, a market salivating for a franchise to call its own after their first taste of NBA basketball in 2005-06.

Bennett and his group should officially take ownership at the end of October, after which he says more specifics will be revealed about future plans for the Sonics, who were put up for sale when the previous ownership group couldn't secure a new arena. Bennett has said Seattle's civic leaders will be given a 12-month window to procure an arena agreement. Until then, no promises.

"It's a big year and there's a lot that's happening on and off the court," Bennet told the Seattle Times in September. "I understand the skepticisms in Seattle and all I ask is that people, the fans in particular, to be patient with us. Before the end of the year, we'll release in phases what our specific plans are."

If this story doesn't have a happy ending for fans in Seattle, the team will face an even bigger uphill battle as a lame duck.
-- Bill Evans

X&O STRENGTH

Hill

The Sonics are a very talented team…A running team that spreads the floor very well and is not afraid to take the 3-pointer…Ray Allen one of the top shooters in the game anchors the offense, also Rashard Lewis is very good from the perimeter and they have a very good point guard that can draw and dish in Luke Ridnour.

X&O WEAKNESS
They’re still looking for some backcourt depth and they’re very young upfront...They have about 21 feet worth of center but they’re very young in Robert Swift, Johan Petro and the rookie Sene.

HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
Was at a disadvantage last year because he didn’t have training camp with his team because he didn’t take over until the middle of the season...This is his first fair test to coach these guys and put in everything that he wants to put in from day one...He did a good job taking over last year.
-- Dave Fredman (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)

They'll be a team, again, that it seems like they've always been: They'll shoot a lot of threes and if they make them you'll be in trouble.
They will score with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and I think Luke Ridnour does a good job at the point.
Chris Wilcox will help them a little bit. He's a big athletic guy, but he isn't a guy you can throw it to down there on the block and let him go to work.
I don't know if they'll stop anybody.
They don't rebound the basketball and I don't think they'll guard. So, they'll beat some people they're not supposed to beat because they're making threes. But then they'll lose a lot of games where people will say, "Well, how'd they do that?"
-- Eastern Conference Scout

Chris Wilcox: Seventeen and eight should be easily attainable for Wilcox, but where he really makes his money is in field goal percentage.

Nick Collison: Due to the arrival of Chris Wilcox, Collison will have a difficult time getting enough court time to hold any fantasy value.

More fantasy news

Their overall record will be better than last year, and the young talent will improve. Fantasy owners will pray that either Swift or Petro emerges as the clear favorite, because if one does he will have fantasy value at the shallowest of positions. Overall, all five of the Sonics' starters should pan out to be fantasy-worthy, so keep an eye on how they perform in training camp since their names will be spotted all over your draft list.
-- Josh Whitling
SuperSonics Fantasy Preview

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