2008/09 Roster

[djthesonicsfan]

As suggested by JayMoney, here's a thread to discuss who should be part of the Sonics core going forward, who should be traded, etc.

I'd like to start this one off by declaring the first guy the Sonics have to get rid of is Clay Bennett. What an ass.

I also think PJ's got to go.

Keepers include K Durant, J Green & N Collison.

Thoughts?

[wiff]

I'd add Petro to the keepers. He is still so young, way to young to trade at this point.

He just needs to marinate in the league for another year or two and I'll think he will be substantially better. In fact I'd take him over Wilcox. By the time Wilcox is looking for a new deal I think Petro will be more consistent.

I like how he started to incorporate a little running right handed hook. Obviously the guy is pretty reliable from the top of the key.

I'd like to see him hit the weights a bit more too. But I want him back next year.

If he can just do a "Rashard Lewis" and every season get a little bit better by adding a new wrinkle to his game he should eventually fill out into a solid center.

Guys I want back

Durant
Green
Petro
Collison

Watson would be nice to have back if we don't draft a PG.

Guys I can take 'em or leave 'em
Pretty much the rest of the team.

I don't really think at this point anyone has "worn" out their welcome(ala Fortson) but I do think Luke could use a change of scenery. Not so much for the Sonics sake but mostly for his own sake.

I don't think Swift, Gelabale, or Sene will be dawning the green and gold next season due to their injuries.

I look at Damien Wilkins and think it would be nice to see him opt out but then I look at Marquis Daniels contract and think wow same kind of numbers lets hang on to Wikins because even with his crappy numbers he is still on the cheap. But I wouldn't shed a tear to see him go.

Honestly I think Clay is doing a great job at destroying the player fan connection with this team.

I have damn near no connection to any of the players he brought through Presti during the season.

Elson, Marshall, Newbell, Griffen, I think Elson is decent but none of these guys are worth a damn and obviously there is very little emotional connection to them.

So yeah...... those are my thoughts.

[Dick Tate]

Business as usual?
Whatever. Have at it.

[D5150]

for once dick, you and i are in total agreement.

[djthesonicsfan]

Business as usual? Whatever. Have at it.

I'm refusing to surrender. Today's lost battle was predictable. This war is not over.

1. No doubt the specific use trial will be won by Seattle requiring the Seattle Supersonics will keep playing in KeyArena for the next two years.

2. A consequence of this trial will be the public exposure of private financial data the NBA would seriously prefer be kept private. David Stern & the other owners will want this matter resolved before that financial data becomes public.

3. This horrible drama, pirating a proud Sonics team with an honorable heritage out of Seattle, continuing for two years will become a horrible PR nightmare for David Stern. He is extremely motivated to make sure that does not happen.

4. There's lots of home town money available to throw at this problem in search of a solution that keeps the team in Seattle. City & state government officials, while late arriving, are finally here to help.

5. United States senators have become involved. It will interesting to see what pressure they will bring to bear on this situation.

6. The lawsuit brought about by Howard Shultz claims Bennett committed fraud. Based on what has been made available so far many journalists & NBA fans have already convicted Bennett of this fraud in the public arena. I believe a Seattle jury will also convict Bennett of fraud per the terms of the purchase & sale agreement. The requested remedy keeps the team in Seattle.

7. The guys in Seattle's corner (eg Slade et al) are experienced with a track record of success.

8. Playing in Seattle for two years would cost Bennett a fortune. Couple that with the risk of losing the case Shultz has brought against him, Bennett is motivated to resolve this situation. He wants an NBA franchise in OKC. Soon. From where I'm sitting I don't see why that has to be the Sonics. Why not an expansion team? Why not another team?



This is far from over. I choose to continue to be a fan of the Seattle Sonics. Just like I have always been since before I can remember.

[JayMoney20]

Business as usual?
Whatever. Have at it.

Todays news is really no news at all. We've all known from the beginning that the Board of Governors would most likely approve relocation for the franchise. Granted, it's deflating to read/hear that our team has been given the leagues approval to move, but we've known this day was coming since the relocation application was filed back in October. I'm not quite ready to give up on keeping this team, with these players, and the players that will be brought in this offseason. I believe I'd be doing exactly what Stern, Bennett, and the rest of that crew want for us Seattle fans to do, and have wanted us to do for the past 2 years-- and that's give up on the team. It would make things so much easier on them, so I'd rather not do that. I'm not naive to the situation, but until this team is gone, and is clearly gone, I'm still going to look at it as though it will be here.

[D5150]

i get it dj, i really do. i even appreciate it. just not on friday you know? even if we knew it was coming and even though it's not over yet, april 18th 2008 was a dark, dark day for sonics fans and the nba.

[djthesonicsfan]

i get it dj, i really do. i even appreciate it. just not on friday you know? even if we knew it was coming and even though it's not over yet, april 18th 2008 was a dark, dark day for sonics fans and the nba.

Ya. I understand. No problems.

[Dick Tate]

i get it dj, i really do. i even appreciate it. just not on friday you know? even if we knew it was coming and even though it's not over yet, april 18th 2008 was a dark, dark day for sonics fans and the nba.

That was my point too. You have the next six months to talk about the goddamn roster if you want to. A day to decompress would've been nice.

[djthesonicsfan]

I'd add Petro to the keepers. He is still so young, way to young to trade at this point.

I agree with you on that.

I don't really think at this point anyone has "worn" out their welcome (ala Fortson) but I do think Luke could use a change of scenery. Not so much for the Sonics sake but mostly for his own sake.

+1. Same old story here. And I count myself as one of L Ridnour's supporters. The offense is better when he's in the game. The problem is he can't guard anyone.

Watson would be nice to have back if we don't draft a PG.

Ya, he'd be the backup PG to have if we get M Beasley. I'm conviced there will be problems if we draft either D Rose or J Bayless. I'm not sure about the OJ Mayo scenario. Probably depends on which position OJ Mayo plays.

I don't think Swift, Gelabale, or Sene will be dawning the green and gold next season due to their injuries.

This is the point I would most like to know more about. While I totally agree with you on M Gelabale (gone for good) & M Sene (out for the next season but back in 2009/10), I'm not so sure about R Swift. Does anyone know his recovery status? Is it possible he fully recovers?

I look at Damien Wilkins and think it would be nice to see him opt out but then I look at Marquis Daniels contract and think wow same kind of numbers lets hang on to Wikins because even with his crappy numbers he is still on the cheap. But I wouldn't shed a tear to see him go.

Pretty much what I think as well. But I also think CJ Miles could be had for about the same contract & he would probably be an upgrade over D Wilkins. Maybe even develop into the starting SG if/when K Durant slides over to SF. I've the same thoughts about Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Brandon Rush.

Elson, Marshall, Newbell, Griffin, I think Elson is decent but none of these guys are worth a damn and obviously there is very little emotional connection to them.

Worthless.

[djthesonicsfan]

That was my point too. You have the next six months to talk about the goddamn roster if you want to. A day to decompress would've been nice.

We're all stressed & upset. Personally I'm dealing with it by not giving in at all. I'd never intentionally try to make the situation worse for you, Dick. But apparently I have. Please accept my apology.

[wiff]

-= original quote snipped =-


That was my point too. You have the next six months to talk about the goddamn roster if you want to. A day to decompress would've been nice.

Well it is a Sonics forum.

Sure there was news of the bog and even though there are plenty of reasons the owners should have voted no it wasn't a shock they voted yes.

How many pissed off posts can you write in a day?

I thought it was nice to talk about something other than the Vote, Bennett and Stern.

No offense Dick because you know you are one of my faves but you don't have to turn on the computer either.

[Dick Tate]

It's cool guys, it was my fault for opening the thread in the first place. We can all deal with this in our own way. Carry on.

[wiff]

Hey man I'm pissed too. It has been wearing and stressful. I have seriously been acting out scenarios in my head about what I would do if I ever saw Stern at a restaurant or getting into a cab. Same goes for Bennett.

I have been thinking to myself I have no prior convictions, I have nothing worse than a speeding ticket on my record what

[djthesonicsfan]

So back to the roster...

Several of us are of the opinion that PJ is not the right coach going forward. And Presti's recent comments indicate he may be at least considering that matter as well...

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/so ... 38503.html

I'd like to toss a name out there for potential replacement. Tom Thibodeau. He's been around a while. He knows defense. Below is a bio.

http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/coach ... odeau.html

What do you think?

[wiff]

This shouldn't even be up for discussion. There is only one guy that should be considered for coaching the Sonics. We all know who it is........



And it the guy with the mask on...........



He has "CHAMPIONSHIP" experience as a player and a coach..........



Losing isn't an option.

[HeavyP]

Do you mean this cyborg:





I actually still own this cartridge, it's absolutely ridiculous!

[wiff]

That is hilarious, I wonder how much he got paid to endorse that?

[HeavyP]

He had 5* in everything, in the 6 stats that were available. Once you had 5 Bills on your team it was very hard to win. (Off to download the game on his emulator)

[djthesonicsfan]

So I'm starting the Tom Thibodeau for coach campaign. Just read an article in Hoopsworld. Here's what they had to say...

"Thibodeau, widely considered one of the top assistants in the NBA, has received some of the credit for the Celtics historical turnaround this season. He will likely land a head-coaching gig at some point in the near future. He is a defensive-minded coached and learned at Van Gundy's right hand in New York."

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8356

And, in an unabashed effort to add more fuel to this hypothetical fire, the Boston Globe has recently reported the following...

If the opportunity arises, Celtics coach Doc Rivers likely would make it possible for two of his assistants to interview for head coaching jobs during the playoffs. Rivers said yesterday that NBA teams have inquired about his associate head coach, Tom Thibodeau, and assistant coach Armond Hill for head coaching openings. Rivers wouldn't reveal the teams, but the New York, Milwaukee, and Chicago jobs are open, and other openings could be on the horizon.

"Obviously, if they really want them they'll wait," Rivers said. "It just depends on the situation. The only thing I won't allow is someone to be named as a head coach until we're done. [Interviews] would depend on the situation, like if we had a five-day break in between [playoff series]. The thing I don't want to do is hurt their chances, which has happened when teams don't wait. To me, if they don't want to wait, they really didn't want you anyways."

Thibodeau is a first-year assistant with Boston and has 18 years of NBA experience. The former Salem State star has built a reputation as one of the league's finest defensive coaches and has received a lot of credit for his part in the Celtics having the NBA's top regular-season defense. The New Britain, Conn., native has helped coached 15 NBA teams that have been in the top 10 in defense.

When asked about Thibodeau's strengths, Rivers said, "His defensive knowledge and his passion. The one thing I love about Tibs is he's as passionate about the game as anybody I've been around. He loves it. He breathes it.

"At times he overworks. But as an assistant, that's what he has to do and he understands that role. If he was a head [coach], he would still work that hard. But he would need someone else to take care of some of that burden."