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robyg1974 · 08-01-2002, 01:50 PM

I mean, WHAT? Why would the Sonics trade the best point guard in the league, and a guy who might not even need to be maxed out next summer (since he'll be 35, which will scare teams away from offering him a max deal), and their best player over the past, what, 13, 14, 15 years? Is Gary Payton the best player in Sonics history? If not, well, who is?

Has anybody in here read any rumors about who is being offered to Seattle for Payton? Please do not tell me that the Bulls are offering that crap-o-la Fizer/Crawford/E-Robinson package for Payton, I don't want to hear it!

What have you fellers--all three of you--heard?

colossus735 · 08-03-2002, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robyg1974
I mean, WHAT? Why would the Sonics trade the best point guard in the league, and a guy who might not even need to be maxed out next summer (since he'll be 35, which will scare teams away from offering him a max deal), and their best player over the past, what, 13, 14, 15 years? Is Gary Payton the best player in Sonics history? If not, well, who is?

What have you fellers--all three of you--heard?

Its all about the Benjamins, baby! It would be ideal for Payton to stay w/ the Sonics and even retire as a Sonic. The truth of it is that Payton is 35 and the Sonics are not close to challenging for a title. The Sonics have a mess on their hands and need to deside what do to with this lineup. The Sonics dont want to lose Payton, but they also dont want to dump a bunch of money on him as well. So, they want to get something for him and not let him walk away when he becomes a free agent. Its the same senerio around the league. Nobody wants to lose a player that they've invested time and money into, then just let him walk away and let some other team benefit from it. Thus, the Sonics want to get as much as they can for Payton. This is the era of the sign-and-trade and multiple team deals. Payton may just be packing his bags very soon.

rainman · 08-03-2002, 05:51 PM

the sonics situation is impossible to read and i think within the ranks they dont know what the other is doing.payton had a very good year but he is 34 so although he could be effective for 4 or 5 more years you could make the argument that by the time they are ready to compete for a title he would be over the hill.he would like a long term deal and they want to wait till afer next year to see where they are at.who knows?what i think some of these gm's like to do is get into this rebuilding mode.this gets them off the hook to produce a winner and buys them several years to do it.problem is they have this huge need at pf and unless they want to send gary to portland for a dale davis or a rasheed wallace i dont know where else he would fit,maybe the knicks for kurt thomas.in most scenarios they dont get equal value back.how about he goes to golden state for jamison and either welsch or dunleavy?

robyg1974 · 08-04-2002, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rainman
the sonics situation is impossible to read and i think within the ranks they dont know what the other is doing.payton had a very good year but he is 34 so although he could be effective for 4 or 5 more years you could make the argument that by the time they are ready to compete for a title he would be over the hill.he would like a long term deal and they want to wait till afer next year to see where they are at.who knows?what i think some of these gm's like to do is get into this rebuilding mode.this gets them off the hook to produce a winner and buys them several years to do it.problem is they have this huge need at pf and unless they want to send gary to portland for a dale davis or a rasheed wallace i dont know where else he would fit,maybe the knicks for kurt thomas.in most scenarios they dont get equal value back.how about he goes to golden state for jamison and either welsch or dunleavy?

JESUS, dude, you think the Sonics are going to trade The Great Gary Payton for KURT THOMAS or ANTAWN JAMISON? I happen to be a big Rasheed Wallace fan, but I doubt Portland would do that deal.

Anyway, people make too much about the whole "championship" thing. The GM's primary goal for ANY team in professional sports is to put a team on the floor that is going to sell tickets. Gary Payton will continue to be a good enough player for the next 4-5 years, and so he will continue to be a top draw. You don't trade Gary Payton for Kurt Thomas for ANY reason--that trade doesn't make you a better basketball team, it certainly doesn't sell more tickets (although I suppose it would save money).

BOTTOM LINE: I don't think Payton will be getting max offers next summer from other teams because of his age. Which means the Sonics will be able to give him an offer slightly below the max. And Gary Payton IS a max player, and will CONTINUE to be a max player for the next 3-4 years (BELIEVE IT, the dude is an incredible physical specimen, some guys can just play forever and ever)--so of COURSE the team should re-sign him! PLUS, they're going to be able to lock up Rashard Lewis this summer (sooner or later) to a nice deal, something less than the max that he thinks he's entitled to.

So many teams in the NBA are burdened by longterm max contracts--not the Sonics! This team is in much better shape than most people realize--this team is a SHOO-IN for the playoffs next year and, assuming Payton is re-signed to an extension, the next year and the next year!

I WOULD like to see the team go out and get somebody else who can score inside. Donyell Marshall would be a GREAT FIT for this team! And he's ANOTHER guy who can be had for not very much money (the midcap exception). This is what the Sonics would be looking at for the next couple of seasons:

PG Gary Payton
SG Brent Barry
SF Rashard Lewis
PF Donyell Marshall
C Jerome James

Key backups: Desmond Mason, Vladimir Radmanovic, Calvin Booth

That team has a pretty good shot at being a lot better than people think over the next couple of years--#5 in the West isn't out of the question!

rainman · 08-04-2002, 04:08 PM

like i said they wouldnt get equal value,i dont think payton will be traded,i was proposing a scenario in which a deal might work.as a matter of fact his agent has backed off his statement that gary may want to be moved.one more thing you have mentioned several times that they could have donyell marshall for a song,maybe but i dont want him,he didnt do anything in golden state and he wouldnt do anything here.vladimir radmonovic is a better player even now than lewis and marshall.

robyg1974 · 08-04-2002, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rainman
like i said they wouldnt get equal value,i dont think payton will be traded,i was proposing a scenario in which a deal might work.as a matter of fact his agent has backed off his statement that gary may want to be moved.one more thing you have mentioned several times that they could have donyell marshall for a song,maybe but i dont want him,he didnt do anything in golden state and he wouldnt do anything here.vladimir radmonovic is a better player even now than lewis and marshall.

Vladimir Radmanovic is better NOW than Rashard Lewis? Come ON, dude! Don't kill yr credibility like that!

Donyell Marshall is a late bloomer, he didn't really pan out in Golden State (who does?), but he really blossomed in Utah's up-tempo offense. Trading Vinny Baker can ONLY be viewed as a GODO THING, but we STILL need another forward. Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic can't play the whole game!

rainman · 08-05-2002, 04:21 PM

my creidbilty was trashed years ago so i'm not worrying about that,dude.radmonovic does things that lewis will never do,like put the ball on the floor and pass it as well.its all about potential.maybe your right as of this moment he isnt as good but that gap will soon close and go the other way rather shortly.check with all the general managers around the league and ask them who they would take.it would be unanimous.

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