McMillan

We understand that this year, it's a lot of unknown involved with our club: Who will step into that second option or that third option? And which of those young guys will develop into that role? We are looking forward to experimenting with both Mason and Lewis playing a lot more with the ball. Radmanovic, who is a second-year player, is playing at the power forward spot. Basically we're becoming somewhat of a run-and-gun type of team this season.

Q: What was the intention of bringing Kenny Anderson to Seattle?

McMillan: The way the league is set up right now and the salaries and the contracts, the way trades are made now are different than trades I would say five, 10 years ago. Back in the '90s you could trade a power forward for a power forward, a position for a position. Now it's difficult to do that because of the salary cap and the money has to be the same. In a sense, the trade for Kenny Anderson really doesn't make a lot of sense with Gary Payton being here on our club. But we felt we had to make a move with Vin Baker.

That situation wasn't good for either side, so we made a trade and we didn't get back basically the position that we needed help in, which is the power forward spot. We basically got a veteran point guard who will have to play behind a great point guard. Kenny Anderson is a veteran point guard, and he does bring something to our club. I'm basically giving him opportunities in the preseason to show me where he can be effective and where I can use him. It's an experiment.

Q: Are you still looking for some solutions to center and power forward?

McMillan: We felt comfortable with our guards last season. We lost Earl Watson, but Gary Payton, Brent Barry and Desmond Mason did a very good job for us. Where we are having problems right now is at the four and five spots. We don't have that traditional back-to-the-basket power forward or center and it's forcing us to play a different style of basketball, which we've had a lot of success with players who could play in the post because we are a very good shooting team. If we had a player that could play the post and force a double-team, then that has helped us in the past.

Q: How much of a buffer do feel you may have to be for Gary Payton with his contact situation?

McMillan: What I've tried to do is -- I understand that Gary and I have a different relationship than other players and coaches. The fact that he and I played together. We use to hang out together. Now, I have to understand and look at what management is trying to do. I'm basically a buffer between the two. Not only am I speaking on behalf of the organization to Gary, but also speaking to the organization on behalf of Gary -- how he feels and what he expects.

I'm trying to make sure that we both understand what we are trying to do in this: Gary as a player his importance to the club and to the community; but also he has to understand the importance of what the organization is trying to do under new ownership. They have to make the decision on which direction they want to go. Gary has come into camp, and his attitude has been great, as if nothing has happened. We haven't even discussed the holdout for the day or two that he was out. He's come in with a positive attitude. He's worked hard and he's smiling. Based on what he told me, he's going to play out his year and make a decision next season. As of now, he's doing that.

Q: Can this team be successful if Gary is unhappy?

McMillan: It would be difficult. I think it would be very hard to have success with Gary not playing up to his capability. This is a different role for Gary this season. It's different for all of our players. Gary, throughout his career, has always had an All-Star alongside him, whether it's X-Man (Xavier McDaniel) or Dale Ellis or Shawn Kemp and Vin Baker was the last. Now, he doesn't have that. He is the soul, the only All-Star on this team with a lot of youth. The way people defend him, the way teams plan to prepare for him will change. So, yes, we do need Gary Payton in order to have a chance to win.

Q: Is there a concern about starting the season without a legitimate low-post threat?

McMillan: I think what we have to understand is that this organization had a gameplan a couple of years ago, which was to develop our young guys. The plan was to do that with Vin Baker being here. And Calvin Booth was basically brought here to play alongside Vin Baker. He was a center that could play the high post and play off the board, did not need the ball to be effective and Vin Baker could play his power forward position. But because of the situation with Vin needing to be moved, he just could not get it done here and both sides feeling that they had to separate from each other, we had to make a trade for Vin. By doing so, we traded our low-post play.

That was a key to our success last year. The fact that we could shoot the ball, we had more than one option in the low post, that was Gary and Vin. And if teams double-teamed us we made them pay with the perimeter shot. We no longer have that. We have Gary Payton who is our only legitimate low-post player. But in saying all of that, it will allow our young guys to develop and grow. Our plan was to be in the next year or two, a team that will develop our young guys, allow them to grow. And what we have to do is see how Radmanovic may play at the four some this season. How will Mason play with the ball? And then make a decision in the next year or so, where we go from there. Trading Vin is not a short-term fix. It will take some time. Eventually, we will have to find a low-post player. We still need that.