(Sportsbooks) - Seattle will have a new look in 2007-08. The SuperSonics, have hired a new coach, traded their two best players and started to rebuild through the draft.
On draft night, the SuperSonics grabbed multi-talented Kevin Durant of Texas with the second overall pick, and dealt seven-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen, who averaged a team-best 26.4 points in 55 games last season, to the Boston Celtics for guard Delonte West, forwards Wally Szczerbiak and Georgetown's Jeff Green, who was chosen with the No. 5 overall pick. Boston also received Seattle's second-round pick, LSU forward Glen Davis, while the SuperSonics will receive a future second-round pick.
Durant was the most talented offensive player in the draft, while Green is also expected to make an immediate impact. In one night, Seattle changed the face of its franchise and started the rebuilding process.
July 5th was another big day for Seattle, as it hired P.J. Carlesimo to be its new head coach. Carlesimo had spent the previous five seasons as an assistant under Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. After 19 seasons as a head coach on the collegiate level, Carlesimo, who replaces Bob Hill on the Seattle bench, made the jump to the NBA when he was named the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in the summer of 1994. Carlesimo guided the Trail Blazers to the playoffs for three straight seasons before he was hired by Golden State. He was fired as Warriors head coach in late December 1999.
The SuperSonics traded forward Rashard Lewis to the Orlando Magic in a sign- and-trade deal on July 11th. They received a future conditional second-round draft pick for Lewis, who averaged a career-high 22.4 points per game during the 2006-07 campaign.
Seattle also added veteran big man Kurt Thomas to its roster. The SuperSonics dealt a a future second-round pick to Phoenix for Thomas and two future first- round draft picks. The 35-year-old Thomas spent the last two seasons in with the Suns and averaged 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest in 120 regular season games during his tenure with the club.
Last season, the SuperSonics finished a disappointing 31-51 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Forwards Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox and point guard Luke Ridnour had solid campaigns. Collison led the club in rebounding (8.1 rpg), while Wilcox averaged 13.5 points and 7.7 boards and Ridnour collected 11.0 points and 5.2 assists. Earl Watson led the team in assists (5.7 apg).
BACKCOURT
The 6-9 Durant looks like he is going to start out his career playing shooting guard. He is very dangerous on the offensive end of the court, as he can drain threes, is tough to guard off the dribble and knows how to create his own shot. Using Durant at guard will definitely cause match-up problems for Seattle's opponents.
Ridnor, Watson and West will battle for minutes at the point. Having three lead guards who deserve to play will cause problems as long as the situation exists. Expect one of them to be traded sometime during the season. Ridnour was the subject of trade rumors during the offseason and could receive big minutes early to showcase his skills for a possible deal.
Carlesimo will also use Damien Wilkins at shooting guard. The 6-6 Wilkins, who will also log minutes at small forward, is athletic and gives the SuperSonics another shooting guard with good size.
FRONTCOURT
There is depth up front for Seattle, but the question is if there is quality. Collison, Thomas and Wilcox are bangers who will do the dirty work in the low post. All three are solid players, but none of them are offensive threats that can push a team over the hump. On most teams, they would all be role players.
Wilkins played in all 82 regular-season games last season, and averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in over 24 minutes per game. The 27-year- old Wilkins will get a chance to earn more time as well as a starting spot at small forward.
Green, Mickael Gelabale, Szczerbiak, Robert Swift, who missed all of the 2006-07 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Johan Petro and Mouhamed Sene give Carlesimo a lot of players to rotate. The rookie Green can play both forward spots and will get his chance to show off his skills, while Swift and Petro will do their work in the middle. Szczerbiak, who is a proven scorer with a big contract, could be moved before the trade deadline.
Gelabale and Sene will have to earn their minutes by showing the coaches they are hard workers who deserves playing time.
OUTLOOK
Seattle will miss the playoffs for a third straight year. However, this franchise is headed in the right direction with its roster. The SuperSonics are starting to rebuild, and doing it with rookies Durant and Green is a good way to get the process moving.
Durant and Green are the building blocks. The SuperSonics could be very active by the trade deadline, as it will be surprising if Seattle is in the thick of the playoff race. Ridnour and Szczerbiak will hear their names in rumors throughout the season. Expect 28-32 wins, but there is still a lot to look forward to from this squad in the years to come.
