RealGM

Eric Gordon.. Michael Beasley.. obviously at the rate they are currently going the Sonics are going to mercilessly suck the second half of the year are you scared of a Durant/Green/<Insert Uber 08 Prospect> in the future assuming they do indeed stay to our North and in our division?

It will make for a fun rivalry, but they still need bigs. I think it will be easier for the Blazers to find a SF or PG than it will be for them to find a C or PF.

The Sonics need one guy in this draft and it's Rose. Gordon would be OK for them as well I guess, Jordan too if they're willing to take another project at center, but Mayo or Beasly? no need for another scorer.

Beasley wouldn't be a good pick for them with Durant and Green there.

They should definitely target either a PG or a C. Rose or Hibbert would be the best fits for them imo.

Getting ahead of ourselves aren't we?, Durant really shouldn't be even leading the rookie of the year race (Horford has had a better season) and Green hasn't shown anything yet.

Now this could be a good nucleus, but frankly they are a long way away and certainly need more than just another top "prospect"

If I were a Sonics fan I'd certainly be rooting for DeAndre Jordan and Jerryd Bayless if they don't land the top pick (probably Rose). It would be so hard to predict how a team of Rooks and Sophomores would turn out, but it would be very interesting to watch a Durant/Green/Jordan/Bayless team grow up.

the OP asked if we were scared of the team to the north if they add a top player this draft.

Well, they are a pretty bad team right now, and that's with Kurt thomas getting a lot of playing time and he won't be around for many more seasons there. Seattle will add a rose/mayo/gordon next season, but Portland is considerably better right now and the blazers will add oden and fernandez while seattle adds their player.

I don't think portland will be much scared of the sonics.

We're better than the Sonics now and nothing they add is going
to equal Greg Oden for next season. Why would we be worried?

I don't think this year's crop of draftees are as strong at the top as last year's, so it's not as scar as if we had gotten a top five pick after our recent drafts. Still, they're going to be pretty good in a few years if they keep getting the high picks.

Beasley really isn't a good option for them because he plays Durants' natural position, and I really see Green moving more to SG in the future for them. Also, the Sonics have made huge mistakes on project centers over the last several years, so I don't see them going that way. Bayless or Rose would be excellent for them if they can check the egos at the door, but if they get a bit of a 'tude then they could implode like the Dallas teams with Mashburn, Jackson and Kidd.

I don't know about Green moving to SG. At 6'9, he's a bit big and could probably be exploited by smaller guards. Unfortunately for the Sonics, both true positions for Green and Durant is at SF. One of them will have to play out of position at some point. If Durant could bulk up more, I could see him becoming a Dirk-esque PF.

Regardless though, we agree that Beasley is the wrong choice for them. They don't want to pull an Atlanta and draft a ton of talented players who all play the same position. With this draft being so PG heavy, that would be Seattle's best bet. Although, if they aren't high enough for one of the better PG's, they could grab Hibbert or possibly Jordan (if he comes out).

As for the original question, which I didn't answer before... No, I'm not scared of Seattle in the slightest. They have a nice future and I'm sure Durant will turn out to be a fantastic player, but as everyone else has mentioned, the Blazers are already quite a few steps ahead of the Sonics in rebuilding.

I agree--Green isn't really a natural SG. But I do see them trying to move him that way in the future. I think Durant's advantage against SFs is greater for them than Green's disadvantage. But that's more a hunch than anything.

Don't you mean Oklahoma City w/ Derrick Rose, Mayo?

I'm personally hoping they draft Beasley, for the reasons you mention. 3 players, with one natural position, all vying for PT. That,or Mayo going there, mainly because I don't think he will be a PG, and just won't fit with Durant. Of course, these are all selfish reasons, as a Blazers fan. I think the ideal fit is Rose. So am hoping he doesn't go there.

The thing with Seattle is that I could easily see them trading out of this pick because they need so many upgrades, particularly at PG and C. I could see a trade that sends out a mediochre center to them with this year's and a future first for one of their craptacular bigs and their pick.

The scariest thing is going to be someone that can actually set the players up, so yeah Derrick Rose would be a nightmare. I would have to think with the selections of Petro, Swift and Sene that will actually try to focus and develop them. I mean they were all project centers, you cant give up on them just yet.

Rose-Durant-Green-Collison-Wilcox

Thats a nice solid starting five, though its not exactly scaring anyone yet if it would happen.

Honestly, has ANY team drafted poorer then the Sonics the last 3-4 years?

swede wrote:Honestly, has ANY team drafted poorer then the Sonics the last 3-4 years?

We shouldn't be so cocky about draft records after our pre-KP history. Besides, getting Durant and Green last year is about as good as our Aldridge-Roy coup.

mojomarc wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



We shouldn't be so cocky about draft records after our pre-KP history. Besides, getting Durant and Green last year is about as good as our Aldridge-Roy coup.

That's an interesting thought and I wonder how many on this board
would trade Roy/LA to Seattle for Durant/Green?

I would say the sonics have to go after Rose or a proven center, no more projects. I do not understand why they drafted green. He is good, but damn, you have Kevin at the SF. No need to be scared. I see the sonics taking the rout of the hawks where it will take a longer time for them to contend, where as your team got 3 studs these past 2 years with some solid young role players.

As a suns fan, I would take a Roy/LA over durrant/green anyday. You guys are going to run the Western conf soon.