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"It's pretty hard for rookies to come in and play anyway, and it's doubly hard coming in to a team that won 52 games," said General Manager Rick Sund.

So instead, the Sonics went young and international - French, specifically, drafting 19-year-old 7-footer Johan Petro with the 25th pick and 22-year-old swingman Mickael Gelabale with the 48th pick. The Sonics drafted Mississippi State forward Lawrence Roberts with their other second-round pick, but immediately traded his rights to Memphis in exchange for second-round picks in 2006 and 2007 and other considerations.

"I mentioned in the room that we are looking your four, five positions with Nick, Robert and Johan as being pretty well set for the next 8-10 years." Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE/Getty

A year after drafting 7-foot teenager Robert Swift, the Sonics added another player who fits that description in Petro. But he and Swift have different games. Petro is currently 260 pounds, with the potential for adding more weight in the future. He is also more of a pure post center than Swift, who has the ability to step out and play the high post.

"The fact that he is more of a low-post anchor than Robert it will allow at times for he and Robert to play together," said Sonics Director of Player Personnel Dave Pendergraft. "He does guard the goal, he does have low-post moves. He likes going into the low post. I wouldn’t call him an overly aggressive player. He does carry 265 pounds very well and he has the frame to play at 280 or 285. I think that will come rather quickly."

Between Petro, Swift and forward Nick Collison, the Sonics believe they have their front line covered for many years to come.

"I mentioned in the room that we are looking your four, five positions with Nick, Robert and Johan as being pretty well set for the next 8-10 years if they all continue to improve at the level you saw from Nick and Robert," said Sonics assistant coach Jack Sikma, who is responsible for the development of the Sonics post players.

Rated as one of the top centers available, Petro was projected to be a mid-first-round pick by most sources. At 19, Petro already has two years of Euroleague experience for his Pau Orthez club, averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds during 2004-05 Euroleague competition. He remains somewhat raw, though he might be able to play some next season.

"It’s a case where body-wise he’ll be able to play some next year if he decides to stay here," said Sund. "I think it’s more refining, but for an NBA body, he’s got a good start."

After the NBA and its Players Association agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement last week, the Sonics will have the option to send Petro down to the NBDL to develop. It's also possible he could remain overseas, though he's ready to come over.

"He wants to play for the Sonics this year," an interpreter translated for Petro. "Personally, he doesn’t want to play another year in Europe."

Gelabale will likely spend another year playing for his Spanish club Real Madrid because his contract does not include an NBA buyout clause until after next season.

"Contractually, Mickael will probably have to stay with Real for one more year, and then we expect him to join us after the 2005-06 season," explained Pendergraft.

"This is where San Antonio's done such a good job over the years," said Sund. "They'll pick some of these second-round picks, late-first-round picks and keep them over in Europe and then they come. (Luis) Scola's coming in, (Manu) Ginobili came in. Sacramento did it with (Peja) Stojakovic. When you're picking late in the first round, you look at that more than you maybe did when you were picking in the lottery."

Projected as a possible first-round pick, Gelabale is a more experienced player but still has upside potential. Over the weekend, he helped Real Madrid to the Spanish ACB League Championship before attending the Draft in New York, as did Petro. (Both players emerged from the crowd to be introduced at the podium.) Gelabale averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in his first season of Euroleague action, shooting an impressive 60.7% from the field.

Pendergraft, who directs the Sonics scouting for the draft, was effusive about Gelabale, comparing him to former Sonics swingman Desmond Mason.

"Mickael Gelabale is perhaps the best athlete in Europe," Pendergraft said. "He is a high-energy player. You remember Desmond Mason and how he played really high above the rim; well, Mickael's the same. He can really, really leap. Excellent, excellent defender. Probably the best backcourt rebounder in Europe. He can really shoot the ball. He's Desmond-like, but he's a lot thinner, probably 6-7 and 175, 180 pounds. Very athletic, very good shooter. Probably, at 22 years of age, one of the best young prospects in Europe."

"He's another athletic guy who fits into what we're trying to do," added Sonics Coach Nate McMillan.

Like Petro, Gelabale was excited about the possibility of joining the Sonics. According to Pendergraft, he had planned to work out in Seattle - his only NBA workout - before the Spanish League finals went longer than expected.