When reporters want a little more information from a source, they go off the record. When you want a little more information about the Sonics from SUPERSONICS.COM, check out the "Off the Record" blog, which features interesting tidbits and odds and ends that don't lend themselves to a full article. We'll also answer some fan questions from time to time, so send yours to sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com.

Sonics Sign Moore
Posted on August 31

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Moore

As you've undoubtedly already read on the homepage, the Sonics signed free-agent center Mikki Moore today. While that offers the key facts and figures, Off the Record is where you go for the rest of the story ... for example, did you know that Moore is an obsessive reptile collector? Miki Turner from ESPN's Page 3 visited Moore's home in L.A. and wrote about it. Please note that SUPERSONICS.COM will not be getting anywhere near Moore's snakes to tell the story.

For a good take on Moore's on-court work with the Clippers, check out Clippers.com's season review, which notes Moore "quickly became a fan favorite at STAPLES Center." He has another fan in ESPN Insider John Hollinger, who wrote in last year's Pro Basketball Forecast, "One hopes his performance [in 2003-04 for the Utah Jazz] will allow him to stay in the pros on a permanent basis ... there are certainly far worse players who are already under contract for this season."

Morning Update
Posted on August 24

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With Vitaly Potapenko officially coming to terms on a new deal with the Sonics yesterday, the local beat writers were back in action, with dispatches from Percy Allen of the Seattle Times and Frank Hughes of The News Tribune. Both suggest that a decision on Damien Wilkins' offer sheet, courtesy the Minnesota Timberwolves, could be near.

"I'm not juggling quite as many balls now as I was when this whole thing [free agency] started," Sund told the Times. "Something will happen with Damien within the next day or so and we've got some other decisions that we need to make, but as it's winding down, things are falling in place a little bit."

When news does break, SUPERSONICS.COM will have it first, so keep checking back for the latest.

One quick note from the weekend: New Sonics guard Rick Brunson played for the Baker League All-Stars in a scrimmage Saturday against a group of young Philadelphia 76ers gathered for a mini-camp and handed out 14 assists.

Offer Sheet for Wilkins
Posted on August 19

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Wilkins

Weeks of speculation have come to this: Sonics restricted free agent Damien Wilkins has signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Under the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the time the Sonics have to match the offer has been reduced from 15 days to seven. That hasn't stopped restricted free agency from being slow this year. As far as I can tell, there have been just two other offer sheets signed by RFAs: Chicago matched Chris Duhon's offer from Toronto, while Atlanta was able to snag Zaza Pachulia away from the center-rich Milwaukee Bucks.

Which category will Wilkins go in? We'll know in a week.

Yesterday's Seattle Times offered an excellent commentary from former mayors Norm Rice, Charles Royer, Paul Schell and Wes Uhlman discussing the future of KeyArena and Seattle Center.

"Seattle Center is a great place, one of the best public gathering spots in the country," they write. "Let's make keeping it a great place a priority."

With ticket packages going on sale this week, the Sonics continue to be a hot ticket. This week, the Inside Sales department set a new weekly record - by Wednesday. The best seats are going fast, so don't hesitate if you want to see the biggest games at KeyArena this season.

Ray Allen, NFL Legend
Posted on August 16

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Allen

Yesterday's Rumble at the Ridge golf tournament was billed as a showcase of former NFL legends. It delivered former Seahawks Jacob Green, Dave Krieg, Steve Largent and Curt Warner as well as Steelers legend Lynn Swann ... and Ray Allen?

"I did play football as a kid," Allen told the Seattle Times' John Boyle. "Then I got to high school and the guys were too big."

"I didn't know he was playing," Largent said. "It was really neat to meet him."

Allen is a well-known avid golfer who has recorded a handful of hole-in-ones since joining the Sonics. Baseball is a different story, but Allen also recently took some batting practice with the Mariners, hitting a home run on his final swing.

"It only took him 100-something swings," joked Mariners reliever Jeff Nelson, Allen's host and neighbor. "But the last one looked good. He got it out."

Pot Returning?
Posted on August 15

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Potapenko

Frank Hughes returns from some summer time off with a pair of Sonics-related offerings to spice up your Monday. In The News Tribune, Hughes reports that the Sonics are close to re-signing center Vitaly Potapenko, an unrestricted free agent. Potapenko started 39 games for the Sonics two seasons ago and was in line to be the starter last year before breaking a bone in his hand in the team's final preseason game.

Hughes also has a column on ESPN.com which takes a broader overview of the team's summer strategy.

Today is the deadline for teams to release players and take advantage of the one-time only "amnesty" provision of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Sonics don't have any bad contracts, so the clause does them no good in that regard, but the addition of several new players on to the market should make free agency more interesting for teams like the Sonics who haven't completed their summer shopping as of yet.

Brunson Happy to Join Sonics
Posted on August 14

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Brunson

The newest member of the Sonics is point guard Rick Brunson, signed as a free agent on August 5. Brunson spoke about joining the team for the first time to the Boston Globe (Brunson played his high-school basketball at Salem High in Massachusetts). Brunson said the Sonics made him feel wanted as a free agent in a way no other team has.

''We're all human beings and we all got feelings," said Brunson. ''I just felt good about Seattle. They brought me and my wife out there and took us to dinner. No one had ever done that for me before."

Collison A Top Defender
Posted on August 5

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Collison

Dan Rosenbaum, a noted NBA salary cap expert as well as a leader in basketball statistical analysis, uses his advanced player rating system to rate players defensively based on how their team performed with them on the floor at 82games.com. Including a projection for next season's development, Sonics forward Nick Collison rates as the third-best defender amongst power forwards, trailing only All-Defense First Teamers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.

"Remember rookies like Nick Collison … are more prone to extremes given the scarcity of data on them," Rosenbaum cautions before adding, "Collison subjectively seems like a very good defender to me, so this is not a big surprise."

Once referees began giving Collison respect during the second half of the season, his intelligent position defense allowed him to play evenly with many of the NBA's top post scorers. Expect even bigger things from Collison defensively in the future.

Sonics Connections on USA Qualifying Team
Posted on August 4

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Scales

A pair of members of the Sonics Summer League squad are amongst the 16 players vying for spots on the USA Men's World Championship Qualifying Team. Guard Alex Scales, the Sonics leading summer scorer, and forward Noel Felix will try to help the USA qualify for next summer's World Championships.

Brown Rumor False
Posted on August 3

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RealGM.com has reported that the Sonics are one of three teams bidding to sign European star Marcus Brown, late of CSKA Moscow, a report that was cited in this morning's Seattle Times. The Sonics have made no contact with Brown.