OH COME ON! Is this guy serious? "soften the city'a hardheaded resistance"? Is this guy a regular sports columnist? Is this the level of thinking you can expect in that community? in that paper? The stupidity in this column really has nothing to so with sports. This guy doesn't really have any idea about how people or things work.

Eric, if you don't mind me asking, why do you keep linking to this guy's stuff? He really isn't writing anything of substance.

But if you're linking to it for the express purpose of riling up the Supes' fan base, rock on!

I kind of think that maybe the Sonics traded Ray Allen just so that they'd have a terrible team and be better able to move.

Ray Allen is amazing but on the tail end of his career - Rashard Lewis is proving that given the right support he can excel.

kapowsin2001,

I do think they made the deal because they wanted Jeff Green as another franchise cornerstone -- but I would agree with you that they knew trading Ray would create the beneficial side-effect of a rebuilding team. They certainly knew losing two All-Stars and nearly 50 points of offense would mean an awful season in the win column.

It's just the worst possible scenario for us Sonics fans. It really hurts to be so close to a fun season, and have it ripped away. They surely would not have won a championship, but we would have enjoyed an exciting season and a couple of playoff rounds.

Opal,

Rashard has been excelling for the past few years. Is he better now than he was last year? Nah.

Pwhit44: It's always good and interesting to see what other reporters and columnists are writing about the Sonics and the arena situation.

That article makes me appreciate you more Eric.

What a terrible, terrible article. I cant believe this guy is getting paid for that.

We're fortunate to have way better columns in the local newspapers.

Eric..

I'd really like your thoughts on this.. I'm beginning to think that PJ and Clay Clay our in unison to try to lose every game to accomplish this move. PJ's rotations make no sense to me, I went to the Detroit game when West, Szcerbiak and Thomas bring us back with some clutch shots and energy. When we have a chance to win he goes back to Ridnour and Wilkins who A. were having off nights and B. being completely overmatched defensively. I'm beginning to think that he doesn't want to win games, as unfortunate as it sounds.. Thoughts...

"I'd really like your thoughts on this.. I'm beginning to think that PJ and Clay Clay our in unison to try to lose every game to accomplish this move. PJ's rotations make no sense to me, I went to the Detroit game when West, Szcerbiak and Thomas bring us back with some clutch shots and energy. When we have a chance to win he goes back to Ridnour and Wilkins who A. were having off nights and B. being completely overmatched defensively. I'm beginning to think that he doesn't want to win games, as unfortunate as it sounds.."

Yeah, and the 911 trade tower thing was an inside job too...!

Ragpappy: P.J. and Presti are too competitive to tank games. What they are doing is continuing the evaluation process they began in the preseason.

They have to make decisions on what guys they want to keep around, and in order to do that they want to see everybody in pressure situations, which includes the end of the game.

But if you're watching tonight you'll see that P.J. is starting to settle in on a rotation, which is Watson, Durant, Wilkins, Wilcox and Collison or Thomas starting. And then West, Szczerbiak, Green and Thomas or Collison coming off the bench.

Whoever is playing well out of those guys will most likely finish the game.

Joe,

Actually I don't think 9/11 was..

But it's not too far-fetched to think that this is all part of Bennett's Oklahoma plan knowing how this city usually will not go to games and support sports franchises if they are losing, therefore he can cry "no fan support" to the NBA to get relocation approval..

Trading Ray was a sign that the team was going to rebuild, now. The Sonics won one playoff series when Ray Allen was here. Why not take care of future salary cap and build around and market Durant?

The rest of the NBA knows the Sonics are rebuilding and "no fan support" will be hollow. Everyone follows a winner.

The players are not trying to lose, the coach isn't, and Bennett isn't.

Maybe the team needed 10 games or so to learn each other, and the rookies to learn the differences in the NBA game.

I hope they're partying big time in Miami. They needed a win.

Durant on a fast break is a nightmare for opponents.

"The players are not trying to lose, the coach isn't, and Bennett isn't. "

"Bennett isn't" - you're joking right?

Bennett has every incentive to have a horrible losing team. We already know that teams tank at the end of the season for lottery and playoff positions, and this is much bigger than that. YOu shouldn't be so naive to believe that clay doesn't want the team to continue on their losing streak-right now, losing is great for his position.

Imagine a positive record right now, with that follows positive press, a filled key, and arguments against clay. What we have now is exactly what clay wants.

We now know what a scumbag and liar he is, why do you think he is actual trying to win right now?

"The Sonics won one playoff series when Ray Allen was here. "

Yes true, but he was a HUGE favorite here. As far as rebuilding, if you haven't heard... we are in the process of losing a team. Rebuilding is great for the OK sonics, but does nothing for the current Seattle sonics, and our effort to keep the team here.

Keeping Ray would not in itself kept the team here, but losing him is just another step in its departure.

I understand rebuilding is longer term - but Presti was thinking long term, and wanted to build the base regardless of where the team plays next year or after. In my opinion rebuilding was the right thing to do. If Durant wasn't a rookie, Green would be a legitimate ROY candidate himself, and when they get more experience it will be ridiculous. I don't think Ray was traded so the fans would lose interest. Rashard deserved his contract - the market paid it - but no one can believe the current or any former Sonics owners would've paid him that much.

Ray is a bonafide All star, the Celtics have a realistic shot at a championship. Garnett went to Boston AFTER Ray went, not before - that's why Garnett eventually agreed to the trade. I'm not bashing Ray, nor Rashard.

Danny Chump Ainge apparently tried tanking and he got neither Oden nor Durant. Tanking for the lottery leads to weakness and history shows it can be futile.

It's one thing to abscond with the Seattle team(s) but another right now with this roster and staff, this early in the season, that the stakeholders do not want to win. The players look like they're trying hard.

I don't believe that PJ (probably Presti too) would try to tank games. Bennett I would believe almost anything. I think that PJ and Presti wouldn't knuckle under if told to deliberately lose. They each have their own reputations and careers to look out for. They want to make it, and they want to win. They would look foolish and stupid otherwise. I don't think Bennett could pay them enough to make them do it. Their pride competitiveness would keep them from doing it. Even if Bennett wanted lots of losses, that doesn't mean he's able to do anything about it. Motive evidence is only evidence of motive, nothing else.

Although I'm sure Bennett WANTS to lose, (to sabotage fan support and get another very high pick), it's still up to us fans to show our love and support of the team.
Actually I don't mind losing either. I HATE being stuck in the middle-- which was where this franchise was for many years. I want to either to be good enough to get to the finals, or lose enough to get a top pick.
Losing while the team learns and grows is perfect.

We just need to keep up the support at the games and on the net.