2007 NBA Season Preview - Seattle Supersonics

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

Seattle Supersonics
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 31-51 (.378); Last in Northwest
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): n/a
Coach (Record): P.J. Carlesimo, 1^st season, 7^th overall
Key Additions: F Kevin Durant (draft; 1^st round, 2nd

overall); G/F Wally Szczerbiak (trade; Boston); G Delonte West (trade; Boston); C Kurt Thomas (trade; Phoenix); F Jeff Green (trade; Boston)
Key Losses: SG Ray Allen (trade; Boston); SF Rashard Lewis (FA: Orlando)

In the 2007 NBA Draft, Seattle was in a very enviable position. Their choice was going to be made for them by the team in front of them. Portland would take either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, and the Supersonics would come in and take the player that the Blazers did not pick. So when the Blazers took Oden number one overall, Kevin Durant and the rest of the world knew that the Sonics coveted the former University of Texas standout and Naismith Player of the Year. Of course, this team has seen a lot of other changes, too, and this might be a big transition year for them. Their top two scorers, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, are no longer with the team. That production, nearly 50 points a game, will be tough for any team to replace. It will be harder for the Sonics since they have no proven scorers on the roster.

Can Kevin Durant live up to all the hype that surrounded him coming out of college? Will the Sonics be able to find players to jump into the roles that Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis left on the team? Even if they get a number of players to get into those roles, where will the leadership on the team come from? Can injured center Robert Swift step back into the lineup and show Seattle the promise that they could see before the injury?

Projected Starting Lineup ('06-'07 Stats)
PG: Luke Ridnour (71 games, 11.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.2 apg)
SG: Wally Szczerbiak (w/Boston: 32 games, 15.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)
SF: Kevin Durant (rookie)
PF: Chris Wilcox (82 games, 13.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.0 apg)
C: Robert Swift (out for 2006-2007 season; '05-'06: 47 games, 6.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.2 apg)