Conventional wisdom says you bring your rookies along slowly. But when a team decides to trade its two best players and rebuild the team from scratch, winning may take a back seat to grooming young players for the future.

That’s why there’s a good chance Georgetown rookie Jeff Green will start at small forward this season. He may not be the most seasoned choice for the Seattle SuperSonics, but Green has the most upside amongst the options at small forward. However, he’ll have to earn the position. Along with the competition at point guard, this should be the most competitive battle at camp.

Front runners

Jeff Green (6-9, 235, rookie)
He just turned 21 in August, but Green may be the most polished rookie to enter the NBA this season. The Georgetown alum can shoot, pass, defend and is considered by John Thompson III as one of the smartest players to take the court for the Hoyas. Now he’ll have to learn how to deal with the rigors of the NBA. But with Seattle GM Sam Presti deciding to go young this year, I think that transition will be better spent in the starting lineup as the Sonics try to build some cohesiveness with their two future stars in Durant and Green.

Pros: Like Rashard Lewis, at 6-9 Green gives Seattle some size at small forward. He has a unique combination of being a big man that can bang inside, but he also moves quick enough to cover guards on the perimeter. During summer league at times he outshined Durant, and put up pretty good numbers (14.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 43% FG). If he starts I expect he’ll average between 12 and 14 points a game and about six rebounds, which would be respectable for a rookie.

Cons: He’s still young and needs to learn the NBA game. At times he could be more aggressive on the offensive end.

Mickael Gelabale (6-7, 215, 2nd year)
A gifted athlete with a big upside, Gelabale could turn some heads this season. The wiry Frenchman usually made an impact when he was on the floor, and former Sonics coach Bob Hill raved about his potential. Gelabale averaged 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 17.7 minutes a contest. He also started 14 games, and the Sonics were 5-9 in those contests.

Pros: A high-energy player who can serve as a spark plug when on the floor. Gelabale is a good defender and can guard several positions. He jumps well and has a knack for getting his hands on loose balls and rebounds. He also runs the floor well.

Cons: His shot is still a little inconsistent from the perimeter, and he seems to disappear at times when he’s on the floor. He probably needs to play another year or two before he becomes a starter.

In The Mix

Wally Szczerbiak and Damien Wilkins
I broke down both of these players in the shooting guard segment on the blog (scroll down below and take a look). If P.J. decides to play Durant at shooting guard then both of these guys should have a chance to earn the starting job at small forward. I think it ultimately depends on if P.J. wants a veteran team to begin the game, or if he wants to go with a lot of energy early and put together a veteran squad to finish games.

I’ll take a look at the power forward position on Friday.