RELATED CONTENT

Their Time is Now Sonics Waive Felix and Scales Sonics News Archive

(7:00 p.m., FSN, )

The event, co-sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, featured Voice of the Sonics Kevin Calabro as MC. Chamber President and CEO Steve Leahy, Fox Sports Net COO Randy Freer and Sonics and Storm President and CEO Wally Walker also spoke before the program concluded with a panel Q&A with Walker, Sonics Coach Bob Weiss and players Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.

The entire Sonics roster was in attendance and, adhering to the NBA's dress code, formally attired. Guard Luke Ridnour was still the subject of some teasing when Walker revealed that Ridnour had finally purchased his first suit last night after getting married in a rented tuxedo.

"It's a big game, the start of the season. Tomorrow, I'll try to do my best and see what happens." Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty

Earlier, Weiss had joked with reporters after practice that Ridnour was the only potential dress code issue for the Sonics.

"Unless I put Luke on the inactive list, we don't have a problem," said Weiss.

"I think he got married in sneakers."

Other highlights included rookie center Johan Petro addressing the crowd in French at the behest of Sonics color commentator Craig Ehlo, the unveiling of FSN's new Sonics ads and a silent auction and raffle to benefit the Sonics & Storm T.E.A.M. Foundation.

Petro to Start

The 19-year-old Petro, the Sonics first-round pick, will start for the Sonics at center tomorrow night against the Clippers. When he does so, Petro will become the youngest Opening Night starter in Sonics history and the third rookie to start on Opening Night in the last six years (Desmond Mason in 2000 and Reggie Evans in 2002 being the others).

Is Petro excited?

"For sure," he said after Tuesday's practice. "It's a big game, the start of the season. Tomorrow, I'll try to do my best and see what happens."

According to Petro, Weiss has yet to officially tell him that he is the starting center. But the rookie worked with the first team again in practice today, and Weiss has told reporters that Petro will start.

"I would imagine right now it's going to be Petro," Weiss said on Monday. "But we have one more practice to look at it. I think, at least to begin, we'll bring Vitaly (Potapenko) off the bench."

While Petro said he never could have imagined when he was selected by the Sonics in June that he would be starting to begin November, he doesn't feel any nervousness about the assignment.

"I'm okay," he said. "For me, it is the same thing in the preseason as the regular season. I'm not nervous. I have my job to do, and I'll try to do it."

That's in keeping with Petro's reputation as an inexperienced player who is succeeding in part because he doesn't realize he isn't supposed to be doing what he has done during training camp and the preseason - namely holding his own with NBA veterans.

"He just acts like he belongs out there," said Weiss. "No one's given him anything whatsoever."

Though Potapenko has participated in practice the last three days, his status for the opener is still somewhat uncertain less than 36 hours before the game.

"He's rusty," Weiss said. "He just missed a lot of time, so we've still got to discuss who we're going to put on the active and inactive roster. Right now, I don't know. Mikki Moore knows this team very well, so it's a good team for him to play against. If we meet and determine that Vitaly is still a little rusty, we might put him on the inactive list for this game."

Officially, both Moore and Potapenko are on the inactive list submitted by the Sonics to the NBA by yesterday's 6:00 p.m. Eastern deadline to set final rosters, but those moves are on paper only. The Sonics have to submit their inactive list an hour before the game, and Weiss indicated those decisions will probably be made this evening.

"Those meant nothing," said Weiss of the official list, which also included Mateen Cleaves. "They just needed three names. We could have given them Luke, Ray and Rashard. I have no idea why they wanted to do that."

Looking long-term, Weiss hedged when asked whether Potapenko would reclaim the starting center spot when he has returned to full health.

"We'll just have to see what unfolds," Weiss said. "If we get off to a great start and he's (Johan) doing well, we could stay with it."

Weiss' rotation for the start of the season will depend on Potapenko's health, but he's recently shed some light on his plans. His first substitution will probably be Nick Collison, either for Petro or starting power forward Evans. Vladimir Radmanovic is likely next off the bench for Lewis, with Danny Fortson in for the other post player and Ronald "Flip" Murray for Ridnour at some point before the end of the first or third quarter.

Later, Radmanovic will slide down to power forward - Weiss indicated today he will probably play more power forward than small forward - and Ridnour will return to the game in place of Allen, the three-guard rotation the Sonics used to so much success last season. Rick Brunson could step in at point guard if the Sonics want a more stable presence at the point off the bench, while Damien Wilkins' role remains murky.

Down the stretch, Weiss said "It depends how everybody is going during the game. You know that Nick is usually out there at that time; he's a very good defense. If you need defense, it's probably going to be Petro, or if you need offense, it's probably going to be Vlade at the four with him."

Weiss on Clippers center Chris Kaman:

"He's done a nice job, despite the fact that he walks most of the time on his moves."