The Sonics own the 11th (and last lottery pick).  The pick was obtained
from the Charlotte Hornets in the Kendall Gill trade.  Here is how it
went:
  Th Sonics received the worst pick between Charlotte (11) and the 76ers
(6).  The is because Jason Williams (the Suns 1990 first round pick) was
traded to Philly for the Sixers 1994 first round pick.  The Suns then 
traded this pick to Seattle (with Eddie Johnson) for Xavier McDaniel.
Charlotte receives the option to swap their first round pick with this
pick (along with Eddie Johnson and Dana Barros) for K. Gill.  Charlotte
then trades swapping rights (along with Dana Barros and Greg Graham)
to Philadelphia for Hersey Hawkins.  Got it?

Anyway with the 11th pick the Sonics with net GM:

     Aaron Gill

select: Wesley Person, SG, 6-6. Auburn. Draft Analysis - SEATTLE SUPERSONICS =========================================================================== TEAM NEEDS: The Sonics are the still the deepest team in the NBA so I don't think there are any glaring needs. Some weakness that could use shoring up are outside shooting and defensive post play. The answer to some of these problems may be on the team, Gill and Payton both have the potential to improve their shooting and Shrempf could be more aggressive from the outside. We have two young centers, Ervin Johnson and Rich King who could provide some defensive post play although I think Johnson is the one favored by the organization so Rich will probably not be on the club next year. When it comes to the draft I think the Sonics will look for a Small Forward or Shooting Guard who can shoot first, and a defensive stopper second. CENTER: Some would question whether we actually had someone fitting this description on the team last year. The position was split between Sam Perkins 6'-8" 255 lb. and Michael Cage 6-9 240 both undersized for the position. Sam provided a unique element to the position, outside shooting! This often helped nullify a good shootblocker by drawing them out of the paint. He actually shot 37% from the 3pt line. The problem was he didn't offer much defensive resistance to the bigger centers of the league. Even though he has some good size he doesn't really use it down low. Michael Cage was just the opposite, providing no offense but adding rebounding and some rough defense against some of the leagues best centers. The problem is at 6'9" he is just overma tched and can't sustain the effort for very long. The Wildcard in the equation is Ervin Johnson who was given a few opportunities at the beginning of the year and for the most part excelled at them. He immediately proved himself to be the best shootblo cker on the team and very capable rebounder. Overall he is very raw and doesn't yet posses good offensive moves. He has been virtually guaranteed 15 -20 min by George Karl next year, which probably means Cage won't be resigned. Rich King is available a nd at 7'2" 265 lb. he certainly fits the role, but I don't think that management likes him, as he has never really gotten a chance to prove himself in 3 years. I think he will be a decent player but it will most likely be somewhere else. POWER FORWARD: At 25 years old Shawn Kemp is still growing as a basketball player. While he has the physical ablitity, he still lacks a good low post move. This last year he has matured a lot playing defensively with more control and acquiring a decent 15' jump shot. He has shown the ability to carry a team, he led the team in scoring 18ppg., rebounding 10.8 rpg and blocks 2.7 bpg, and I see no reason why he won't be better next year. The Sonics definitely need to get the ball to this guy more as he u sually provides the best mismatch in a game. Cage, Perkins, and Shrempf all see time at this position. Steve Scheffler provides some closing moments in blow-out games. SMALL FORWARD: Detlef Shrempf can do it all, he can and does play virtually every position, he can shoot from the outside and has some good low-post moves. While he is only an average defender he is no liability. Detlef's only problem last year was that he was trying to fit in so much last year, he wasn't aggressive as he should have been offensively, he would often hesitate in taking an open shoot and pass to someone else. Hopefully with a full training camp under his belt, he can become more of a lea der and the Sonics will find more ways to get him the ball. Vincent Askew and Nate McMillan provide most of the backup work. Chris King fill's in occasionally but is pretty much bench fodder. SHOOTING GUARD: This position is filled by two many players with similar skills, Kendall Gill is the starter, he is very good defender, an excellent finisher, and a streaky shooter. Kendall seems to have all the skills, except confidence. While he is no t a whiner that has been reported by many people, he is a very emotional and sensitive person, he takes things like lack of minutes or a off-hand remark personally. He seems to never be satisfied with his performance no matter how good it is. When he wa s given the bulk of the minutes, due to injuries at the end of the season, he excelled. The staff needs to build his confidence and give him more minutes and he will provide some all-star caliber play. Ricky Pierce is the Sonics best scorer he can creat e his own offense, is almost a guarantee at the free throw line and doesn't mind taking the pressure shot. At 35 he is slowing down and he can be a defensive liability and isn't a very good from the 3pt line. He should still continue to provide his point a minute offense for 15 min. or so a game. Vincent Askew also played a lot, he improved his game tremendously over the year. He is an intimidating defender and has acquired a decent outside shoot. The problem with Vincent is that he is caught up in a numbers game, and since he is an unrestricted free-agent I don't expect to see him in the green and gold next year POINT GUARD: Gary Payton has improved every year since he has been in the league, he went from a player people thought couldn't shoot to a 16 ppg 50% shooter this year. He is the best defensive guard in the NBA right now, and has improved his passing abi lity. He was the leader of this team for better or worse last year. The slight against Gary is that he often looks for his own shoot and doesn't distribute the ball enough. Some see this as selfishness, others as leadership. I think as he continues to mature, this problem will be resolved. Look for Gary to raise his game yet another level next year as he joins the ranks of the NBA elite. Nate McMillan provides most of the reserve minutes, while Gary is often the floor leader, in the locker room Nat e is the boss. He has played for Seattle the longest, 7 years, is the best passer on the team and second only to Gary defensively, look for him to continue to provide leadership in a sixth man role. MY SELECTION: Wesley Pearson is the best shooter available in the draft, while he could use some conditioning, he has the size 6'6" 190lb to play in the NBA. He could play shooting guard or small foward in the small lineup's George like's to use. He is a one dimensional player but that one dimension, scoring, is just what the Sonics need. He would probably be part time this year, and then replace Rickey as the off the bench scorer. OTHERS CONSIDERED: I would like to see the Sonics select a Small Forward or Off Guard who can shoot. Since Lamond Murray was gone I took Wesley Pearson, but Khaild Reeves 6'1" 197 lb. from Arizona, is a good shooter and defender, is a little small but can play both guard positions. The Temple guys were considered but they are more scorers than shooters. I looked at Wright and Montross, but I don't think they are better than what we have and both are two slow for the Supes. WHO THEY'LL PROBABLY TAKE: The Sonics are a deep team because they are interested in getting good players and then putting the pieces together later. So I look for the Sonics to take the proverbial best player available with preference to Small Forward, Shooting Guard then Center. But if there is a great Point Guard or Power Forward that slides down, I wouldn't be surprised if they took them. OTHER MOVES: With Trader Bob at the helm any thing is possible. Vincent Askew, Michael Cage and Rich King will probably be gone through free agency. Although I don't think management wants to make any major changes, I wouldn't be surprised to see Perkins, salary rea sons, or Pierce , chemistry reason, involved in a trade. Another possibility is trading the pick for a veteran shooter or center. ========================================================= Draft Summary: 1. Milwaukee Bucks GM: Bobby Davis Pick: Glenn Robinson, PF, 6-8. Purdue University. 2. Dallas Mavericks GM: Theo Wendt Pick: Jason Kidd, PG, 6-4. Cal. 3. Detroit Pistons GM: Eric Iverson Pick: Grant Hill, SF, 6-8. Duke. 4. Minnesota Timberwolves GM's: Kevin Hansen Toni Morgan Pick: Donyell Marshall, SF, 6-9. Connecticut 5. Washington Bullets GM's: Jim Nagle The Crossjammer Pick: Juwan Howard, PF, 6-10. Michigan 6. Philadelphia 76ers GM's: Brent Halliburton Pick: Yinka Dare, C, 7-0. George Washington 7. Los Angeles Clippers GM: Paul Osmond Pick: Carlos Rogers, PF, 6-11. Tennessee State 8. Sacramento Kings GM's: Don Hearth Daniel W. Huang Pick: Clifford Rozier, PF, 6-9. Louisville 9. Boston Celtics GM: Ellie Cutler Pick: Lamond Murray, SF, 6-7. Cal 10. Los Angeles Lakers GM: Kosh Pick: Jalen Rose, SG, 6-8. Michigan 11. Seattle Sonics GM: Aaron Gill Pick: Wesley Person, SG, 6-6. Auburn Next up: 12. Miami Heat GM: Rob Clough


Craig Simpson - Usenet Draft Commissioner