Before Thursday's practice, the Sonics waived center Leon Smith, one of five players invited by the team to training camp. Smith previously played one game for the Sonics last season while on a 10-day contract, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds in four minutes of action. He also played for the Sonics entry in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league According to Sonics Coach Nate McMillan, the move came at Smith's behest.

Smith's chances of making the Sonics were hurt by the team's depth up front. Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty

"He came in and told us that he didn't feel he had an opportunity to make the club," McMillan said.

"We liked him. He's got a big body, he's young, (provides) energy, but he looked at the numbers and felt like he didn't have a good chance."

The Sonics have seven big men with guaranteed contracts, counting forward Vladimir Radmanovic amongst that group. As a result, the Sonics entered training camp thinking that if they kept a 14th player on the roster, it would likely be a perimeter player. With Smith out of the picture, barring another move, that will definitely be the case. There are four swingmen - second-round pick David Young and invitees Carl English, Damien Wilkins and Galen Young - and point guard Mateen Cleaves fighting for a roster spot.

Galen Young had a tough day, committing three turnovers and having to run "the green" - the painted area that surrounds the practice courts at The Furtado Center - all three times.

McMillan said he might make more cuts Sunday or Monday, before the Sonics leave for their preseason opener against the L.A. Lakers in Anaheim.

Sonics (Controlled) Scrimmage

The Sonics split into three squads of five players for a controlled scrimmage during the portion of practice open to the media. The scrimmage focused on half-court offense and defense, with two teams playing on one end of the court and the third resting at the other end.

McMillan's green squad was a potential starting lineup, featuring Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis on the perimeter and Danny Fortson and Jerome James up front. McMillan said not to read anything into the lineup.

"I'm looking at combinations when I do that," McMillan said. "I'm looking at certain groups together."

The lineup seemed to work well together, winning the scrimmage with seven baskets. One impressive play saw Fortson, working in the high post, deliver a crisp pass to a cutting Allen for a layup. McMillan pointed out that transition defense, which did not come into play, was a concern with Fortson and James playing together.

Rookie center Robert Swift sat out of the scrimmage after being hit in the nose and experiencing dizziness.

McMillan closed the practice with players taking turns shooting free throws, running a variety of sprints for misses, until they hit 50 as a team. The team finished 51-for-66 from the line (77.3%). That was despite three surprising misses in six attempts from Allen, who has shot better than 90% from the free-throw line the last two years.

Ibo Expected

Guard Ibrahim Kutluay, whose arrival for the start of training camp was delayed as he waited in Turkey to receive his visa, will arrive Thursday night and is expected to practice for the first time Friday.