ducks
10-16-2005, 05:02 PM
Sonics: Sonics notebook: Do Sonics keep Rick Brunson?
Sonics: Sonics notebook: Do Sonics keep Rick Brunson?
The Seattle Times
October 16, 2005
Quietly within the walls of the Sonics training facility and headquarters, executives and coaching staff are asking themselves if they can afford to throw away $1 million.
Newly signed Rick Brunson represents that $1 million. The nine-year veteran, who played with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, was signed to a one-year deal with the idea that he'd provide limited relief to Luke Ridnour at point guard.
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After nearly two weeks of training camp and two preseason games, free-agent guards Alex Scales and Mateen Cleaves have outplayed Brunson, and free-agent forward Noel Felix has shown flashes of brilliance.
Forward Roger Powell, the other free agent in camp, has yet to make much of an impact and appears to have fallen to the back of the pack.
Coach Bob Weiss said it's too early to think about roster cuts and insisted that his decision to play Scales and not Brunson in Friday's 114-113 defeat to Phoenix doesn't mean he's making any definitive statements about the backup point-guard job.
But after most morning workouts, Weiss singled out Scales for his explosive ability to score inside and outside. Even Ray Allen noted that the free-agent guard was making a memorable impact.
"He has an NBA game," Allen said. "He deserves to be at this level. You see him out there, and he looks like he belongs."
Brunson was considered a lock to make the roster when the exhibition season began because the cash-strapped Sonics, who rank among the bottom third in the league in payroll at $46 million, were unlikely to eat such a large contract.
However, the cases for Scales, Felix and Cleaves are strengthening, while Brunson's testimony is weakening.
Initially, he'd been a vocal and steady performer in the early days of training camp, but in Wednesday's exhibition opener at Portland, he accounted for two turnovers and one assist in nine minutes.
Meanwhile, Scales impressed the coaching staff and earned an invitation to training camp this summer when he led the Sonics at the Rocky Mountain Revue with a 12.6 scoring average.
Against Portland, the 2000 Oregon graduate who spent the past two years in training camps with Houston and New Jersey, finished with 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. He managed seven points and three rebounds against Phoenix.
"It's good to see Alex get his chance because he's been close a few times, but has never quite made it," said Ridnour, who arrived at Oregon the year after Scales left. "Alex is a good player, and people here are starting to see what he can do."
The same might be said for Felix, who finished with four points and three rebounds in both exhibitions. Seemingly, the Sonics don't have room for Felix because they've got six forwards on the roster with guaranteed contracts.
But he could figure into their long-term plans assuming they lose either Vladimir Radmanovic or Reggie Evans, or both, to free agency next summer.
At 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds, Felix is a hybrid of both players. He's taller and shoots better than the 6-8 Evans, and he's a shade shorter, but a better defender, than the 6-10 Radmanovic.
Cleaves was a sparsely used reserve last season and is a favorite among players and coaches because of his calming and positive locker-room demeanor. He was believed to have been a strong candidate to win a roster spot because of his experience and a partially guaranteed contract.
However, contrary to published reports, Cleaves' deal isn't guaranteed and he must survive the final cuts like every other free agent before receiving any financial rewards.
A year ago, the coaching staff and several players lobbied management on behalf of Cleaves and Damien Wilkins. The executives were resistant, but ultimately relented. Wilkins won a spot in the rotation, while Cleaves has proven to be a serviceable guard.
Still, the noticeable difference between them is that one has a $1 million guaranteed contract and the other does not, which may ultimately prove to be the deciding factor in who stays and who goes.
Note
• The Sonics canceled yesterday's practice and will work out this morning before departing for Laredo, Texas, where they face Houston in tomorrow's exhibition.
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or [email protected]
Sonics: Sonics notebook: Do Sonics keep Rick Brunson?
The Seattle Times
October 16, 2005
Quietly within the walls of the Sonics training facility and headquarters, executives and coaching staff are asking themselves if they can afford to throw away $1 million.
Newly signed Rick Brunson represents that $1 million. The nine-year veteran, who played with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, was signed to a one-year deal with the idea that he'd provide limited relief to Luke Ridnour at point guard.
ADVERTISEMENT
After nearly two weeks of training camp and two preseason games, free-agent guards Alex Scales and Mateen Cleaves have outplayed Brunson, and free-agent forward Noel Felix has shown flashes of brilliance.
Forward Roger Powell, the other free agent in camp, has yet to make much of an impact and appears to have fallen to the back of the pack.
Coach Bob Weiss said it's too early to think about roster cuts and insisted that his decision to play Scales and not Brunson in Friday's 114-113 defeat to Phoenix doesn't mean he's making any definitive statements about the backup point-guard job.
But after most morning workouts, Weiss singled out Scales for his explosive ability to score inside and outside. Even Ray Allen noted that the free-agent guard was making a memorable impact.
"He has an NBA game," Allen said. "He deserves to be at this level. You see him out there, and he looks like he belongs."
Brunson was considered a lock to make the roster when the exhibition season began because the cash-strapped Sonics, who rank among the bottom third in the league in payroll at $46 million, were unlikely to eat such a large contract.
However, the cases for Scales, Felix and Cleaves are strengthening, while Brunson's testimony is weakening.
Initially, he'd been a vocal and steady performer in the early days of training camp, but in Wednesday's exhibition opener at Portland, he accounted for two turnovers and one assist in nine minutes.
Meanwhile, Scales impressed the coaching staff and earned an invitation to training camp this summer when he led the Sonics at the Rocky Mountain Revue with a 12.6 scoring average.
Against Portland, the 2000 Oregon graduate who spent the past two years in training camps with Houston and New Jersey, finished with 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. He managed seven points and three rebounds against Phoenix.
"It's good to see Alex get his chance because he's been close a few times, but has never quite made it," said Ridnour, who arrived at Oregon the year after Scales left. "Alex is a good player, and people here are starting to see what he can do."
The same might be said for Felix, who finished with four points and three rebounds in both exhibitions. Seemingly, the Sonics don't have room for Felix because they've got six forwards on the roster with guaranteed contracts.
But he could figure into their long-term plans assuming they lose either Vladimir Radmanovic or Reggie Evans, or both, to free agency next summer.
At 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds, Felix is a hybrid of both players. He's taller and shoots better than the 6-8 Evans, and he's a shade shorter, but a better defender, than the 6-10 Radmanovic.
Cleaves was a sparsely used reserve last season and is a favorite among players and coaches because of his calming and positive locker-room demeanor. He was believed to have been a strong candidate to win a roster spot because of his experience and a partially guaranteed contract.
However, contrary to published reports, Cleaves' deal isn't guaranteed and he must survive the final cuts like every other free agent before receiving any financial rewards.
A year ago, the coaching staff and several players lobbied management on behalf of Cleaves and Damien Wilkins. The executives were resistant, but ultimately relented. Wilkins won a spot in the rotation, while Cleaves has proven to be a serviceable guard.
Still, the noticeable difference between them is that one has a $1 million guaranteed contract and the other does not, which may ultimately prove to be the deciding factor in who stays and who goes.
Note
• The Sonics canceled yesterday's practice and will work out this morning before departing for Laredo, Texas, where they face Houston in tomorrow's exhibition.
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or [email protected]