
The Sonics have many problems; firstly they are 19-29, one game ahead of Portland. What great players does Portland have?
Secondly, I’ve always thought that building a team around a shooter is a terrible idea, especially a shooter than plays matador defense, and doesn’t get to the hole or free throw line.
Third, the Sonics offer a large contract to Rashard Lewis, who is a 6’10” version of Allen, this team isn’t going anywhere.
Lastly, the owners have wanted to drop players costs for a few years now, because the team has a lack of revenue coming in (because they don’t have a winning team).
Therefore the need for a rebuild is evident. The only players I see as worth building around are: Ridnour, Swift and Petro. Everyone else is expendable.
Dallas trade:
Keith Van Horn (expirer)
Marquis Daniels (potential)
DeSagana Diop (potential)
1st Round Draft Pick 2007
1st Round Draft Pick 2009
Seattle trade:
Ray Allen
Vitaly Potapenko
Vladimir Radmanovic
Nick Collison
The Mavericks would love to add a shooter like Ray Allen, at the expense of only losing Q-Daniels. Van Horn is a large expirer, and the Sonics will have a heap of cash off the books coming into next season, whether they use it or not is up to them. Potapenko is unhappy here, as is Radmanovic, so they are moved as well. Dallas gets a HUGE talent upgrade, and pays for it in draft picks.
Chicago trade:
Tim Thomas (expirer)
Luol Deng (potential)
Jannero Pargo
1st Round Draft Pick 2006 (Chicago)
Seattle trade:
Rashard Lewis
Danny Fortson
The Bulls are a team that is floundering. They need a real go to guy that can give them a solid 20 ppg. Ben Gordon is a great scorer but he scores in bunches, and is not that reliable, the Bulls live and die by Gordon really. Thomas is an expirer, they have been looking at moving him anyway (with no takers), so swapping him with Deng and Chicago’s first rounder (late lottery) for Rashard Lewis is a great deal for the Bulls. The other option here for the Sonics is to look at trading Lewis to his hometown Rockets for David Wesley, Luther Head and the Rockets 1st Rounder.
Denver trade:
Earl Watson
Second Round Draft Pick 2006 (Denver)
Seattle trade:
Damien Wilkins
Rick Brunson
Johan Petro
This trade moves some players that are clogging up the rotation, while adding some frontcourt depth to injury-prone Denver. Petro is a player that The Nuggets liked, and now they get him as well as a good shooting guard.
The Sonics would boast a line-up of:
CT: Diop/Swift/Moore
PF: Van Horn/Evans
SF: Deng/Thomas
SG: Daniels/Murray
PG: Ridnour/Watson
As well as these added draft picks:
1st Round Draft Pick 2006 (Chicago)
2nd Round Draft Pick 2006 (Denver)
1st Round Draft Pick 2007 (Dallas)
1st Round Draft Pick 2009 (Dallas)