The Sonics acquired veteran center Vitaly Potapenko in July 2002 as one of three players they got from the Boston Celtics in the deal that sent Vin Baker eastward. A 1996 first-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Potapenko's best season was 1998-99, split between Cleveland and Boston, when he averaged 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. After sitting out his first two months in Seattle rehabilitating a torn ACL, Potapenko struggled to find a role. Midway through the 2003-04 season, however, he became the starter in the middle and started 39 of the Sonics last 41 games, averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds as a starter. Potapenko was headed for an Opening Night start in 2004 before breaking a bone in his right hand. When he returned, the Sonics were 17-3 and Coach Nate McMillan did not want to disrupt momentum by re-inserting Potapenko into the starting five.
