2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Seattle SuperSonics

The National Basketball Association's Seattle franchise, the SuperSonics, is currently in the midst of a storm reminiscent of Seattle's infamous rainy climate. With head ownership being entrusted to investors from Oklahoma and the departure of one of the team's most famous players, Ray Allen, fighting against the lightning bolts of franchise relocation and a green roster in experience have long-time fans wondering what the future may be within the next two years. But there seems to be a bit of hope that may make those stormy worries turn into a large rainbow for the city of Seattle.

Kevin Durant, the 6'10" phenom from the University of Texas, is now a part of the Seattle SuperSonics' present and future. Having become the only freshman in NCAA history to win the Collegiate National Player of the Year Award, Durant has become the city's own Sandman, bringing fans dreams of victory and potential championships-dreams long since eschewed since the Sonics last chased (and lost) a NBA title in 1996 against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

With Allen and fellow second-tier league star Rashard Lewis having fled to the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic, via trade and free agency, the cast of characters on the team's roster has been tweaked a bit. In said trade with Boston, Seattle also received big body swingman Jeff Green from Georgetown in the 2007 NBA Draft, along with one-time All-Star Wally Szczerbiak to help fill the role that Allen left at an open wing position. Solidarity, though, may be the team's best bet at success in the immediate future.

With promising center Robert Swift returning from an ACL injury, Chris Wilcox in tow to man the power forward position, and either Luke Ridnour or Earl Watson readily available to lead the squad as starting point guards, the Sonics could very well do moderate damage to their fellow teams in the Western Conference as the remaining pieces in a formidable first-unit lineup.