Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo announced his starting five during his pre-game talk with the media.

They are:

PG — Luke Ridnour
SG — Kevin Durant
SF — Damien Wilkins
PF — Nick Collison
C — Robert Swift

The second five will be:
PG — Earl Watson
SG — Delonte West
SF — Jeff Green
PF — Chris Wilcox
C — Johan Petro

Wally Szczerbiak (left knee swelling), Kurt Thomas (left thigh contusion) and Mickael Gelabale (left hamstring strain) sat out to rest minor injuries.

Carlesimo gave no specific reason for the starters other than he wanted balance in both lineups, and said the starters will change as the preseason rolls along.

“In some cases it was the guy that was healthier if there was a choice between guys," he said. "In other cases I kind of wanted to balance the team and look at different combinations.”

Carlesimo said he plans to start tightening the rotation and figuring out a startling lineup with two or three games left in the preseason. Although he believes that lineup will fluctuate in the first part of the regular season as the coaching staff learns more about what the players can do.

Listen to the full conversation with Carlesimo here. And I'll have another report soon after tip-off.