 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Shane Suzuki Ebbtide Reporter Well, it looks as if the Sonics have made it two in a row. No, not wins, but trades. The last trade the Sonics were in was last off-season, when they managed to trade the most overpaid, lazy, underachieving player in the league, Vin Baker, for All-Star Kenny Anderson and role player Joseph Forte. Advantage Seattle. This year, facing the fact that Gary Payton was going to leave after this season no matter what (even if Payton stayed, his contract would eliminate all opportunities to get younger and better talent) and that the team was eight games below .500, the Sonics made a deal that secured the rights to Ray Allen. Allen is a multiple all-star who has been selected to play for the Olympics. He is considered one of the best shooters in the league, and Detroit coach Rick Carlyle said, "He's the most underrated defensive player in the league. We hated playing against him." Advantage Seattle. All that, not to mention Kevin Ollie, a serviceable point guard who was leading the league in the assist/turnover ratio. While not the future starting guard, Ollie is more then capable of playing 12 to 15 minutes a game and keeping the team under control. Plus, if the Sonics don't make the playoffs, that they could end up with two top-12 picks in the 2003 college draft. Of course, it's not all peaches and cream here, the Sonics did lose one of the best players in the history of the NBA, and the best player in Seattle sports history. They also had to include Desmond Mason, who has been showing flashes of becoming a very, very good player in the league. Mason, whose athletic abilities are almost unparalleled, is also a huge contributor to the community with both his time and money. So, a quick recap. The Sonics had to trade a player who was going to leave anyway and another very good player. However, they gained an all-star, a quality role player and a possibility of two lottery picks in the upcoming draft. Advantage Seattle. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™ |