The on court future of the Sonics

I would like to go on record that I think Rick Sund is doing a great job with the Sonics' personnel. The Sonics are doing things the right way with young players on the relatively cheap.

The current NBA cap is at 49.5 million. The Sonics are on the books this year for 50.75 million. They're not actually over the cap though due to Bird rights and a host of other rules that I don't exactly understand. (I need to read John Hollinger's Pro Basketball Prospectus.) Their current payroll ranks them 25th out of 30 teams in the league.

Here's a current salary breakdown of the Supersonics:
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/seattle.htm

Blah blah blah salary. How about the players? It doesn't matter what they cost if they're no good. Here's what I see the Supes rotation being next year (starter/backup):

PG Ridnour/Watson
SG Allen/
SF Lewis/Wilkins
PF Wilcox/Collison
C Swift/Petro

I don't think Steve Nash is that far off in terms of a goal for production from Luke Ridnour. Both players are suspect defensively, but both are uncanny when it comes to scoring at assists. Compare these numbers from Nash's third season to Rid's current third year:
Nash 7.9 PPG 5.5 APG 37 3P%
Ridnour 11.8 PPG 6.9 APG 26 3P%

The only glaring problem there is Ridnour's three point percentage. I can't for the life of me figure out why this guy can't shoot anymore. He was positively lethal in college. I've been watching Rid shoot for years, and I have to believe that this is an anomaly. It's definitely in his head too. I remember at the game last night he passed up a wide open baseline three by stepping in and taking the 20 foot two. You can't shoot scared. Earl Watson is signed for too much money right now, but his deal isn't as bad as people think. I think Earl is more than capable of playing the 04-05 Antonio Daniels role on this team for the next few years. He's a steady hand and a better defender than Luke. Against teams like Phoenix the Supes can now go with Watson and Ridnour in the backcourt, Ray at the 3, Rashard at the 4, and Collison/Wilcox at the 5. Versatility is invaluable.

Ray Allen is underrespected right now. There are less than ten players in the league who can dominate a playoff series like he did against the Kings last year. We have one of them. He singlehandedly kept us involved with the Spurs too. Surprise at the end of the post for Ray's backup.

Rashard is an amazing scorer. He is an impossible matchup for most teams. Down the stretch last night the crunch time o flowed not through Ray, but Rashard. Dump it to Rashard iso in the post. Rinse, repeat. Can't be stopped. Wilkins has turned out to be a great find. He's willing to do what the coach tells him to which is a quality shared by a lot of these Sonics. Catching on as an effort guy he has now tallied a healthy handful of twenty point performances. Who'd a thunk? You also have to love that reasonable deal that keeps him with us through 2010.

The power forward position is still shaking out obviously with the addition of Chris Wilcox. I was very intrigued by his performance last night. He showed some nifty one hand post moves and he's lightning quick off of the floor. In one sequence Wilcox had a missed 6 footer and he followed his own shot in traffic for a tasty jam. It's nice to have a PF who actually likes to play in the post. What a change of pace. He runs the floor very well too. Nick Collison is a vital piece of the Sonics with his winning experience and effort. His mid to long range jumper has developed nicely also. Gone are the days of Art Long and Ansu Sesay. Thank god.

Which brings us to the center position aka the ultimate x factor. The bad is that these guys are unproven. The good is that we have no idea where their ceiling is. Raise your hand if you knew Bob Swift was going to develop into a nightly legit double double threat. You sir are a liar. His maturation this year has to be a scary thought for the rest of the league. Bob will swat your shit and then run the floor and dunk on your dome piece. Then he will go into the stands and finger your mom and wife. He's bad. Petro is a great athlete no doubt about that, and I can't wait to see what he's capable of spelling Swifty.

Now about that backup SG. Oh, I don't know...how about Brandon Fucking Roy? Sure to be available when the Sonics pick in the lottery, Brandon will be a better defender in the league than Ray Allen. His ability to lock down opposition point guards will be as valuable to the Supes as it is to the Dawgs. His unselfish offensive game will be immediately productive and not disruptive to team chemistry because he doesn't force shots. Also, the city loves him.

PG Ridnour/Watson
SG Allen/Roy
SF Lewis/Wilkins
PF Wilcox/Collison
C Swift/Petro

The Sonics have options on all of these players through 2008 except for Chris Wilcox. Wilcox along with Petro happens to be the least essential piece at this juncture by the way. If you put these players in the oven for the next season and a half, the Sonics could have a tasty cake. This is how you rebuild, folks. Hats off to Rick Sund.