Never Too Early to Talk About the Draft!

As the Sonics Express steamrolls to an 0-7 start (the perfect season is still within reach), it's natural to start to think about what the Sonics needs are, and where they are likely to fill those needs. While Durant is the only 'untouchable' player on the roster, I would go ahead and add Jeff Green (unlikely to be traded) Chris Wilcox (only effective low-post option, still young and has upside), and Damien Wilkins (Good 3rd-4th option) to the foundation of the team. Of those, Wilkins is the most expendable/replacable, but he's played well for over a year, and I think the Sonics would like to keep him at a reasonable price.

In addition to the core, Earl Watson, Nick Collison, and Luke Ridnour are all locked up for at least two years in the $6 million per year range. So they aren' t going anywhere.

Over the next three years, the triple-bust that was the Sonics center drafts over the last few years will come off the books, one by one. Swift is already in the last year of his rookie contract, Petro comes next, and finally Sene in 2009-2010. These three draft picks have set the Sonics back in the frontcourt indefinetly, and if it wasn't for the clever pilfering of Wilcox from the Clippers 2 years ago, the Sonics would be in even more desperate shape in the frontcourt.

So the seven players who get playing time going forward into next year will be Durant, Wilcox, Green, Wilkins, Watson and Ridnour. If we look at their 'true' NBA positions, that includes two point guards (Watson/Ridnour), two small forwards (Durant/Wilkins), and three power forwards (Wilcox/Collison/Green). Now Durant is playing shooting guard right now, Collison can play center, and Jeff Green might end up being a small forward (he doesn't really have a position right now), so these positions are in flux, but it's clear the Sonics need a back to the basket post, and someone to play guard (preferably a combo-type who could start at the point if Durant stays at shooting guard).

The Sonics will almost surely be drafting in the top 5, unless they show massive improvement between now and April. As such, I'll look at the top 10 prospects as listed by nbadraft.net, one of the best early draft projection sites on the internet. These guys do their own scouting, and make their own mock draft FAR ahead of any other source. The top 5 players RIGHT NOW according to nbadraft.net are:

1) Derrick Rose - 6'4" Point Guard - Memphis (Freshman)
2) Micheal Beasley - 6'9" Power Forward - Kansas State (Freshman)
3) DeAndre Jordan - 7'0" Center - Texas A&M (Freshman)
4) Chase Budinger - 6'7" Small Forward - Arizona (Sophomore)
5) OJ Mayo - 6'5" Shooting Guard - Southern Cal (Freshman)

I don't think the Sonics would take another wing type player in this draft meaning Budingers out. I also don't think that the Sonics will take a chance on OJ Mayo unless his talent proves too big to ignore (possible).

That leaves Rose, Beasely and Jordan as possible picks (depending on where the Sonics draft. Of the three, I think Rose fits in best with what the Sonics are trying to do, he's is a natural point guard who is hyper-athletic and can score. Beasely is an absolute beast, but I'm not sure how well he and Durant would mesh on the court. Jordan is just too raw, though he has a whole season to demonstrate what he can do.

If I had to make a wishlist right now for the Sonics, it would be

1) Rose
2) Beasley
3) Mayo ( character be damned! Though I bet Presti and Carlesimo feel otherwise)
4) Wait to see who develops at the end of the season. I'm not in love with any of these guys yet (and no, that wasn't a Kevin Love reference).

Aside from that, I'm feverishly working on my dissertation, so I better get back to it. Picks for tonight:

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Picks for tonight:

Utah (-13) over Sacramento
New Orleans (-1) over New Jersey
Cleveland (+7.5) over Denver

(1-2 yesterday, 2-5 overall)