Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | October 3, 2005
Hairy Start to Training Camp
During his four-plus seasons in Seattle, SuperSonics forward 
Vladimir Radmanovic has sported a number of different hairstyles, from shaggy to shaved, last year's playoff braids to bald. He added another one to the list when he reported to training camp with a brand new mullet.
In that sense, Radmanovic is following in the footsteps of another versatile foreign Sonics forward, All-Star Detlef Schrempf. But while the mullet's motto is unofficially "business in the front, party in the back," Radmanovic insists his cut is, "Business all the way."
Of slightly more importance was Radmanovic's attitude after signing a one-year tender offer instead of a long-term deal to stay in Seattle as a restricted free agent this summer. As he did last season, Radmanovic is going to put contract issues out of his mind during the season.
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"Next year is the year I'm going to think about a contract. Now, I'm concentrating only on the season."
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty
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"Really, I don't think about it anymore," said Radmanovic. "I signed a one-year deal, and next year is the year I'm going to think about a contract. Now, I'm concentrating only on the season.
"Honestly, I'm not thinking about money. Money's going to come if I play well."
Radmanovic shot down the notion that he has already decided to leave the Sonics next summer, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.
"I've been here in Seattle four years, and it's been a great time for me," he said. "I got used to the city, my teammates, everybody. Basically, it's my new hometown."
Tre Gets His Shot
The most popular of the six players invited to training camp by the Sonics on Media Day was, by far, former University of Washington swingman 
Tre Simmons. Undrafted in June, Simmons played for the Atlanta Hawks in the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League before accepting the Sonics invitation to camp.
"Atlanta wanted me to come back, but I'd rather stay in my own hometown than go to Atlanta," said Simmons, the first Seattle native to attend camp with the Sonics in recent memory.
"It's been a lot of work," Simmons added. "Even though I'm coming in with slacks and a t-shirt, I'm still going to work. It takes a lot of dedication for me."
Known primarily for his perimeter marksmanship, Simmons is looking to prove to the Sonics that he's more than just a shooter by impressing at the defensive end of the court and with his ballhandling ability.
Lewis Ready to Go
Although the left toe he sprained against the Spurs last spring, ending his series, has yet to return to 100%, Sonics forward 
Rashard Lewis is ready for camp. He's wearing an orthotic that helps relieve any pain he would otherwise feel.
Lewis is still haunted by the memory of being unable to play in the last three games of the series with San Antonio.
"It still sticks with me to this day," he said. "I think the only way I can get over that is by getting back to the second round and proving that I can play in the playoffs but the injuries slowed me down toward the end of last year. I don't think a lot of people realize how much my toe was hurting."
After making the All-Star team for the first time last season, Lewis' next step forward will be more challenging.
His goal is, "Not just be an All-Star, but be one of the best players in the league."
Radmanovic played in Eurobasket against Sonics second-round pick Michael Gelabale, who started for the French squad that eliminated Radmanovic's Serbia & Montenegro team from the tournament.
"He played really well," commented Radmanovic. "I never had the chance to see him before that. He's a solid shooter, really athletic guy who played good for the France team."
Sonics GM Rick Sund had no update on the status of negotiations with restricted free agent forward 
Reggie Evans, who remains unsigned. Sund wanted to make clear that Evans is not holding out of camp.
"He's a free agent, just like anybody else," said Sund. "You've got a whole lot of people who can talk to him; we're one of them. Thus far, we've made a proposal; it hasn't been to their liking. It's a situation where he can sign with anybody at this point."
With a new long-term contract signed this summer, Sonics guard 
Ray Allen joked about the pressure the media put on him last season, when he was in the last year of his deal. Specifically, Allen recalled the questions posed to him at the trade deadline, when there was some thought he could be dealt.
"I didn't worry about it, but you guys came to me asking questions, and I was like, 'Wow, maybe I should have been worried about that. They must have been worried about this all day,'" Allen said. "I honestly didn't worry about it. You guys put more pressure on me than everything. It is an honest feeling to have, especially when people are asking you all the time. You just legitimately care about where you're going to be playing at, especially if it's somewhere you like."
