Kevin Durant’s regular-season opening may be the most anticipated debut in Sonics history. You’ve seen the highlights, with Durant deftly pouring in fall-away jumpers and jamming down monster dunks while at the University of Texas. And then you watched him do the same thing for Seattle in the Las Vegas summer league. Now it’s time to see the Kevin Durant show at KeyArena.
Some will consider him a natural at small forward because of his ability to score both inside and outside. But I think the Sonics like the mismatches he creates for other shooting guards, and will start him out here.

Front Runners

Kevin Durant (6-9, 225, Rookie)
He hasn’t played a minute in the league yet and Durant already has raised the expectations for his first season in the NBA. Durant was invited to try out for Team USA and put on such an impressive shooting performance that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was tempted to include him on this year’s team. NBA prognosticators have him scoring between 15 to 25 points a night. His summer league numbers weren’t impressive (24 ppg, 2 rpg, 33% FG, 23% from 3-point line), but I don’t think you can glean too much from those numbers because of the lack of quality play at the point guard position and the fact that he could pretty much shoot from anywhere he wanted on every possession. Coach P.J. Carlesimo will force Durant to have better shot selection during the season, and his shooting percentage will go up.

Pros: An ample skillset: A feathery shooting touch with a shooting range that extends beyond the 3-point-arc; the quickness to take his man off the dribble; polished, low-post moves on the block; an ability to defend both inside and on the perimeter; a will to win; very coachable.

Cons: Durant’s wiry frame could benefit from a couple hours spent in the weight room. His lack of bulk will probably limit his ability to finish inside in his first year. And his shot selection can be suspect at times. But he definitely will make some spectacular plays during the season and will be a big draw at the turnstile.

In the mix

Wally Szczerbiak (6-7, 244, 9th year)
If Carlesimo chooses to play Durant at small forward, Szczerbiak seems the likely choice here. He’s probably the best shooter on the team, with a career 50 percent field goal percentage, and 40 percent from 3-point range. However, Wally has played in only 32 games in each of the last two seasons, and needed season-ending surgery on his left ankle. According to reports Szczerbiak has recovered and is ready to go this season. If healthy, Wally, who will make $12 million this upcoming season and $13 million next year, is a consistent scorer who plays hard and will help fill a leadership role for the Sonics.

Pros: Provides the Sonics with another scoring option and has value as a starter or coming off the bench. Szczerbiak adds a veteran presence on a young team.

Cons: Health is a major concern. If he can keep his legs under him Szczerbiak could be a solid contributor for Seattle.

Damien Wilkins (6-6, 225, 4th year)
He’s followed in Ray Allen’s footsteps for the last three seasons, and now we’ll see if Wilkins, who has three years left on a $15 million contract, is ready to emerge into the limelight and earn starters’ minutes. So far, the reviews have been mixed at best. Wilkins averaged 24.8 minutes a contest last season, finishing with 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.41 turnovers a game. Wilkins started 31 games, and Seattle was 10-21 in games he started.

Pros: A good athlete, and like his father Gerald and uncle Dominique, can create his own shot. He’s a good defender who will take the challenge of guarding the other team’s best scorer. Wilkins is an okay shooter from the perimeter but a bit inconsistent, although he did finish shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line last season.

Cons: Got his chance to start when Ray Allen was hurt and did not perform up to expectations. Maybe he tried to force things a bit in his zest to do well.

We’ll take a look at the small forward position on Wednesday.