GM: SabasRevenge!
e-mail:
brandon@farmportland.orgAIM: gobabykillkill
Sonics BuzzThe Sonics are pleased with their roster moving forward, having addressed issues at C and wing depth. Tops on our wish list is an elite C, followed by an elite wing.
Depth ChartPayton (36)/McMillan(20)/Eisley
Gill (24)/Day(18)/Barry
Schrempf (34)/Askew(12)
Kemp (32)/Cage(18)/Conlon
Radja (26)/Perkins(20)/Johnson
Team SummaryThe Sonics finished a hair behind the Orlando Magic for the best offense (ORTG) in the league in '95. We feel that the additions of Radja and Day will push us ahead of them. Both players will fit perfectly into the high octane, high efficiency offense that we run (3rd in pace).
Rather than starting Perkins, Johnson, and Cartwright at C, the Sonics will start Dino Radja, a terrific scorer and rebounder at C. A position of weakness is now a position of strength with Radja, Perkins, Cage, Johnson, and Conlon all contributing to C depth behind two starting quality C's. Now Kemp has a true bruising backup in Cage. Todd Day adds excellent scoring punch off the bench behind Gill and Schrempf, while Askew can now be moved into more of a defensive specialist role.
The Sonics defense was 10th in the league in 1995, but the addition of Cage should bolster our defensive front court. Perimeter defense will be elite with Payton, Gill, McMillan, Askew, and Day; both Payton and McMillan were all-defense. With Kemp and Cage, we will always have one good interior defender on the floor. Our defense should be better than at least 2/3rd of the league and opposing guards will be in for 48 minutes of hell.
Overall, the Sonics should surpass the Magic for best offense in the league while maintaining a very good defense with Payton, Kemp, McMillan, and Gill as defensive anchors.
1995 RosterStartersPG: Gary Payton - July 23, 1968
82G/36.8MPG, 20.6P/3.4R/7.1A/2.5S/0.2B, .509/.302/.716, 21.3PER
All Star, 2nd Team All-NBA, 1st Team All-Defense
Role: Payton is the heart and soul of our team, or defensive anchor, and our offensive engine. The Glove is in his prime as a top all-time PG and he's got the green light to create on offense and wreak havoc on defense.
SG/SF: Kendall Gill - May 25, 1968
73G/29.1M, 13.7P/4.0R/2.6A/1.6S/0.4B, .457/.368/.742, 15.2PER
Role: KG can score, pass, rebound, and defend, so he's our do-it all G partner for Payton. George Karl isn't around to run him out of town and we appreciate his game and the luxury he is as a 5th option on offense.
SF/PF: Detlef Schrempf - January 21, 1963
82G/35.2M, 19.2P/6.2R/3.8A/1.1S/0.4B, .523/.514/.839, 20.3PER
All Star, 3rd Team All-NBA
Role: Schrempf is our second playmaker to compliment Payton. "The European Larry Bird" was in his finest form in '95 and he will have the green light to create and keep ripping twine. His ORTG was a god-like, league leading 127 with high usage/volume, and our offense will thrive with his prolific shooting, passing, and elite BBIQ.
PF: Shawn Kemp - November 26, 1969
82G/32.7M, 18.7P/10.9R/1.8A/1.2S/1.5B, .547/.749, 21.7PER
All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA
Role: The Reign Man, likely the most awe inspiring athlete of the era, was/is in the perfect situation in Seattle. We are not asking him to be the first or even second leading scorer on this team. Kemp was/will be an incredibly productive and efficient player while playing off of Schrempf and Payton and that's exactly where he's comfortable and where we want him. He's another walking mismatch - too athletic, quick, and strong for anyone his size - and we intend to exploit that. With the addition of Radja, Kemp will be even more free to do what he does best - be the ultimate garbage man.
One note about Kemp: his usage soared after his trade to Cleveland and his efficiency plummeted. The Cavs wanted him to be "the man" and that's not a role that Kemp should or could be in. As the Sonics GM, I am committed to keeping Kemp in roles where he can thrive as a player and as a person.
C/PF: Dino Radja - April 24, 1967
66G/32.5M, 17.2P/8.7R/1.7A/0.9S/1.3B, .490/.759, 17.9PER
Role: Radja will be a perfect compliment to Kemp due to his fantastic shooting, rebounding, court vision, and post moves. A bright spot on some truly bad Celtics teams of this era, Radja and his inside/outside game will flourish on a Sonics team where his best assets will be perfect for a fast pace, team oriented attack. At this point in his career, Radja already has an Olympic gold medal and two Euroleague championships, so he will be primed for a run at the title.
ReservesG: Nate McMillan - August 3, 1964
80G/25.9M, 5.2P/3.8R/5.3A/2.1S/0.7B, .418/.342/.586, 13.1PER
2nd Team All-Defense
Role: McMillan is another coach on the floor for us. His primary role is backing up and playing with Payton. Nate knows his role and plays it to perfection. He hustles, play's excellent D, sets his teammates up, and lets his teammates do that they do best.
SG/SF: Todd Day
82G/28.7M, 16.0P/3.9R/1.6A/1.3S/0.8B, .424/.390/.754, 14.4PER
Role: Day is a tremendous three point threat and nice scorer off the bench at SG. He also had quite a defensive rep coming out of college. He enjoyed a very nice season in '95, spurring a 14 game turnaround in Milwaukee. His role will be reduced in Seattle, but we will take advantage of the same assets he brings to the floor. Todd Day is one hell of a back up wing.
SF/SG: Vincent Askew - February 28, 1966
71G/24.2M, 9.9P/2.5R/2.5A/0.7S/0.2B, .492/.330/.739, 13.6PER
Role: Askew is our versatile wing off the bench. He can guard multiple positions and had a reputation as a stopper, but he had a fairly productive offensive year as well. Askew is strictly a backup 2/3.
PF/C: Michael Cage
82G/24.9M, 5.0P/6.9R/0.7A/0.7S/0.8B, .521/.602, 13.5PER
Role: Cage provides us a bruising, tough rebounding PF to back up Kemp. He is a veteran leader who can be an enforcer, gobble up boards, play defense, and convert easy opportunities.
C/PF: Sam Perkins - June 14, 1961
82G/28.7M, 12.7P/4.9R/1.6A/0.9S/0.5B, .466/.397/.799, 16.2PER
Role: Whether he's starting or coming off the bench, we will exploit Sam's terrific shooting ability to pull the opponent's C outside, opening up floor up for Payton, Gill, Kemp, and Schrempf. With so many potent scorers/finishers on this squad, Perkins is a perfect, efficient compliment to their abilities.
BenchPF/C: Marty Conlon
82G/25.2M, 9.9P/5.2R/1.3A/0.5S/0.2B, .532/.613, 13.6PER
Role: Conlon may have had an undistinguished career, but we like him in his playing peak as a big to provide bench depth.
C: Ervin Johnson - December 21, 1967
64G/14.2M, 3.1P/4.5R/0.3A/0.3S/1.0B, .443/.630, 9.6PER
Role: Johnson is strictly our backup C. He won't be asked to do much more than take up space in the middle, rebound, and play some D.
SG: Jon Barry - July 25, 1969
52G/11.6M, 3.7P/0.9R/1.6A/0.6S/0.1B, .425/.333/.763, 12.6PER
Role: Jon Barry is a specialist shooter off the bench for us this year. He won't see many minutes, but he will contribute to our nice depth at G.
PG: Howard Eisley
49G/11.3M, 2.4P/1.9A/1.0R/0.4S/0.1B, .328/.243/.775, 6.1PER
Role: Eisley is our third string PG. He won't see many minutes, but we like this rookie as a possible future backup for Payton.
C: Bill Cartwright - July 30, 1957
Role: Even though he'll retire at the end of this season, Cartwright's a tough veteran leader who has been through battles and won championships.
SalariesPlayer------94/95--------95/96--------96/97--------97/98--------98/99--------99/00
Kemp------$11,000,000--$11,000,000--$11,000,000--$11,000,000--$11,000,000--$11,000,000
Schrempf---$10,000,000--$10,000,000---$6,666,000---$6,666,666---$6,666,000
Perkins------$8,253,200---$7,934,000
Gill---------$5,200,000---$6,400,000---$7,600,000---$8,800,000---$10,000,000---$11,200,000
Payton------$5,166,600---$5,566,000
Radja-------$4,290,000---$5,280,000---$10,626,000*
Day--------$4,240,000---$5,036,000---$5,830,000
Cage-------$3,270,000---$4,252,000
Cartwright--$3,004,000*
Askew------$2,920,000---$3,620,000---$4,000,000
McMillan----$2,120,000---$2,530,000---$2,710,000
Barry------$1,600,000
Johnson----$1,433,200---$1,534,000
Conlon------$365,000
Eisley-------$300,000
Total------$63,162,000
*retiring
