Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | October 4, 2005
A surprise from the first day of Seattle SuperSonics practice for the 2005-06 season was the presence on the sidelines of former Sonics player Detlef Schrempf. Schrempf, a two-time All-Star during six years in Seattle during the 1990s who still makes his home in the Seattle area, has helped out the Sonics off and on the last few seasons. This year's involvement, however, could be more lasting.
"He's been working with a lot of kids and teaching basketball," said Sonics Coach 
Bob Weiss. "He's really enjoying it. He's been away from the NBA long enough, he thinks, and he'd like to get his feet wet. He's going to be messing around with us in camp and helping and learning a lot of the drills and then maybe when we have an injured player or something and we leave, he knows the drills, he knows the players, he knows what we're trying to accomplish. He'll be able to work guys out when we leave."
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"He's been away from the NBA long enough, he thinks, and he'd like to get his feet wet."
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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How frequently will Schrempf be in camp?
"That's up to Detlef," said Weiss. "He's invited for as much as he wants to get his feet wet - see what he likes, what he doesn't like doing. That's up to him."
Felix, Scales Impress
The clock is already ticking for the six players invited by the Sonics to training camp, who are looking to show the team enough to make the final roster at the end of this month. On the first day of camp, guard 
Alex Scales and forward 
Noel Felix stood out.
"Alex Scales and Felix did a real good job today," said 
Rashard Lewis. "Those two guys are really trying to make the team, and I think they have a good chance. Those guys have been working hard."
Weiss was impressed with the overall level of the players invited to camp.
"A lot of hustle, some talent with those guys," he said. "Scales hit some game-winners again, like he has been in the scrimmages. 
Roger Powell showed hustle. Felix was pretty solid. A lot of the new guys played well."
The Sonics will have one less invitee in camp after forward Omar Thomas was waived to make room for newly-re-signed 
Reggie Evans.
Bumps and Bruises
Getting back into the flow of things, the Sonics experienced several very minor injuries. 
Danny Fortson was bothered by turf toe, 
Vladimir Radmanovic had a right thumb sprain and 
Mikki Moore experienced swelling in his left knee. All were expected to be able to participate in the Sonics evening practice.
That allowed Coach Weiss to have some fun with Fortson having "turf" toe.
"We've got one little piece of turf over there in the corner," he joked. "We just don't call it "wood toe." It's the same thing, but we don't call it wood toe."
During drills, invitee 
Tre Simmons was lumped with the guards. Weiss does not expect to use him at small forward, where he started for the University of Washington last season.
"I don't think he's quite ready for that," Weiss said. "I don't see him as physical enough at that position."
Simmons' coach at Washington, Lorenzo Romar, watched practice from the balcony overlooking the court with the Sonics front office. Later in the day, Romar received a commitment from Seattle Prep center Spencer Hawes, the nephew of former Sonics (and UW) center Steve Hawes.
The play of the day during the brief scrimmage session open to the media was delivered by newcomer 
Rick Brunson and second-year center 
Robert Swift. During a scramble for a loose ball on the baseline, Brunson was able to secure the ball and flip it to Swift under the basket, who finished the play with a powerful dunk.
The line of the day was delivered by new assistant coach Bob Hill, encouraging some trash-talking in practice.
"Rashard, talk about it," he urged the Sonics All-Star after Lewis scored in a drill on 
Damien Wilkins. "Tell him how easy that is."
