As the second-year Seattle coach works to trim his roster to the required 15 or fewer players, he commented this week on how things are progressing for the 2001-02 season.

McMillan is in his second year as Sonics head coach. (Jeff Reinking/NBAE Photos)

SuperSonics.com: What is the overall health of the team through the third week of training camp?

Nate McMillan: We haven't had any real major injuries. We've had sprained ankles and some tendinitis. Predrag Drobnjak's sprained ankle is the most severe injury we've had so far. It should take him a week or more to be back to full speed. Otherwise, we've had the normal injuries that most teams would have in training camp.

SS: How would you characterize Predrag's development prior to his injury?

NM: He understands the game very well. He was performing well as a rookie coming into the league. He has adjusted to the game and is able to get his shots off while making the right reads. We had him penciled into our rotation in the frontcourt because he possesses a good understanding of the game and has a nice shooting touch.

SS: How much has Earl Watson's progress been slowed by his recent injury?

NM: He hasn't had a real opportunity to showcase his talents. We're just hoping he can get healthy, so we can give him a chance out on the floor. In the time that he's played, he has shown that he's a scrapper and can make things happen and change the tempo on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, he is very capable of running all of our sets. He has shown us some good things as he has gotten healthier recently. He is one of our draft picks, so we are going to give him a good, hard look. We understand that he has some injuries, so we basically have to wait on him to get healthy. We will give him every opportunity.

SS: Describe how the starting five have blended together in the preseason.

NM: The starters have been playing well and executing smoothly, especially in that first quarter against Sacramento (Oct. 18 at KeyArena). It's because those guys are familiar with each other and comfortable with each other's tendencies, and that was the biggest key to getting our offense off to quick start. The second unit has some new, young faces and they don't know each other. That's why they've struggled a little bit. I want to give the starters more minutes and allow them to play a full game as we draw closer to the start of the regular season.

SS: What kind of leadership does Brent Barry bring to the team?

NM: As a staff, we recognize his abilities as a leader. We have encouraged him to speak out and step up. He understands what is needed on the floor, on the bench and in the locker room. So, he can help in a lot of ways, which is what I have asked him to do. He recognizes when a guy needs a pat on the back or a stroke of confidence. He pays attention to things like that when a player is down about the way he has played the past week. He knows how to approach and talk to the guys. Brent understands how to play the game and knows all of the intricacies of the game. He brings a lot to our team. Sometimes, he wants to do something that is spectacular. When he keeps the game simple, as opposed to trying to create something that is very difficult to finish, he is very effective. I have told him to keep the game simple and to be aggressive on the offensive end. He is an excellent free-throw shooter, so we need him to go to the basket more rather than him always relying on his perimeter shooting.

SS: What are the benefits of having such a diverse backcourt with Gary Payton and Brent Barry?

NM: They are playing very well together. I think their style of play is good for each other. Brent is such a great long-distance threat and Gary likes to play with his back to the basket. Brent is capable of moving over and handling the ball, while Gary can slide over and play the two-spot (shooting guard). They both run the fast break very well. Since Gary is more of a post player, Brent gives him room in the post because defenders have to respect his three-point shooting ability. So, their unique talents complement each other quite nicely.

SS: How is Rashard Lewis looking now that he's being relied upon to provide more than just his consistent outside shooting?

NM: I like that he is starting to get a little more aggressive and I want to see him learn how to create more with the basketball. Since he has been here, he hasn't had to handle the ball much. I like that he is being more assertive when he has the ball and that he is being aggressive on the boards. He has added a little more movement to his game as opposed to standing out on the perimeter waiting for his three-point shots.