Post-Sonics Watch
Feeling lost without your Seattle SuperSonics? Seattle-area NBA fans face their first season without an NBA team in 41 years. Primarily, our coverage here will focus on the City of Seattle’s attempt to bring the NBA back to Seattle. But we also will provide updates on the Portland Trail Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and area players plying their trade for other teams in the NBA.

Eric Williams covered the Sonics' last season in Seattle. A Tacoma native, Eric graduated from Mount Tahoma High and the University of Puget Sound.

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Keeping an eye on the NBA and Seattle's efforts to get back into the game
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Posted by Eric Williams @ 01:11:37 pm

It appears Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West got their wish. ESPN is reporting that Szczerbiak and Delonte West are headed to Cleveland in a three-way deal that also involves Chicago.

According to NBA sources, the deal calls for the Cavaliers to receive Ben Wallace, Szczerbiak, West, Chicago's Joe Smith and a future second-round pick from the Bulls.

The Bulls would get Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden and swingman Larry Hughes, along with Cleveland reserves Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown.

Seattle, which just traded Kurt Thomas a day ago, gets even more cap flexibility by ridding itself of Szczerbiak’s contract, and picks up the expiring contracts of Cleveland's Ira Newble and Chicago's Adrian Griffin as well as Cavs veteran Donyell Marshall.

The three-way deal has reportedly been submitted for league approval, and is currently being reviewed.

After two, injury-plagued seasons Szczerbiak rejuvenated his career in Seattle, averaging 13.1 points as a reserve, but wanted to start and to play for a winner. West has been frustrated with his lack of playing time and his limited role with the Sonics.

Categories: NBA 7 comments

COMMENTS:

yankinta @ 13:39 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
I love the comment by Bill Simmons:

"TRADE 4A: Seattle trades Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Mickael Gelabale to Cleveland for Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, my illegitimate brother Cedric Simmons and a 2008 No. 2 pick.

Why Seattle does it: Saves the Sonics nearly $5 million over the next two seasons and dumps their two unhappiest guys. Of course, they'd be acquiring three unhappy guys, but who cares? The Sonics need to keep saving Clay Bennett money so he can devote more resources to needlessly destroying basketball in the city of Seattle and ripping the heart out of a loyal fan base that's only supported the NBA for 41 years and counting. Yeah, let's pull their team from them because they don't want to help a billionaire build a new arena that doesn't need to be built. That's an awesome idea. I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how David Stern could care so little about saving basketball in Seattle. It's completely inexplicable and goes against everything he's ever been about. I don't get it. I don't get it.

Why Cleveland does it: The Cavs are getting two quality 3-point shooters, one of whom (Wally) has playoff experience and could be an X-factor in the right series. While we're here, I think Delonte West is the second-best bargain available for a playoff contender other than Quinton Ross (who's going to end up being the next Bruce Bowen before everything's said and done), and here's why: He shoots 40-plus from 3-point terriroty; he was the second-best player on a great college team; he's scrappy as hell; and he's never played on a good team in the NBA. If he's your 10th man in the playoffs, you're going pretty well. Hey, speaking of Quinton Ross ..."
jamesdhiggins @ 13:41 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
Sam Presti is a jedi.
yankinta @ 13:51 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
I love the comment by Bill Simmons:

"Why Seattle does it: Saves the Sonics nearly $5 million over the next two seasons and dumps their two unhappiest guys. Of course, they'd be acquiring three unhappy guys, but who cares? The Sonics need to keep saving Clay Bennett money so he can devote more resources to needlessly destroying basketball in the city of Seattle and ripping the heart out of a loyal fan base that's only supported the NBA for 41 years and counting. Yeah, let's pull their team from them because they don't want to help a billionaire build a new arena that doesn't need to be built. That's an awesome idea. I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how David Stern could care so little about saving basketball in Seattle. It's completely inexplicable and goes against everything he's ever been about. I don't get it. I don't get it.

Why Cleveland does it: The Cavs are getting a quality 3-point shooter, and (Wally) has playoff experience and could be an X-factor in the right series. While we're here, I think Delonte West is the second-best bargain available for a playoff contender other than Quinton Ross (who's going to end up being the next Bruce Bowen before everything's said and done), and here's why: He shoots 40-plus from 3-point terriroty; he was the second-best player on a great college team; he's scrappy as hell; and he's never played on a good team in the NBA. If he's your 10th man in the playoffs, you're going pretty well. Hey, speaking of Quinton Ross ..."
moo @ 15:08 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
Other then to continue Bennett's quest to dewstroy the Sonics, this makes no sense. Szczerbiak was our best player. With his contact expiring, this was unnecessary even for cap room. What did Seattle do to bennett 20 years ago? This is starting to feel like calculated torture & revenge for something or another.

I sure hope Seattle's lawyer's are looking at every & anything they can throw at the jerk.

Oh, & it looks like Cleveland just won the 2008 NBA title (that is if the refereeing is no longer fixed...)
gbutlerii @ 15:15 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
So, if I am figuring this correctly, the Sonics now will have both the Kurt Thomas money AND the Wally money off the books for next year and be WAY under the cap for what looks to be a dynamic 2008 free agent class?

So that means they could pursue a max/lucrative contract with a known superstar like Gilbert Arenas (who will opt out) or Baron Davis (also will opt out) or Elton Brand, have Jeff Green and Kevin Durant, a definite lottery pick from this bad season, the Suns 1st round pick, and 4 second rounders to go with whoever they decide to keep from the current team?

If this is the case, Presti has been MASTERFUL is getting them to this point in less than 12 months and the future is very promising. It will be a shame if that future is in OKC...
ron999 @ 16:44 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
Great move by Presti, I agree.
Wally has another year left after this one. Good riddance. He was our best player, are you kidding me? We have 6 first round draft picks in the next three years, and millions under the cap. This team will be very good in a few years. Hopefully in Seattle.
moo @ 20:58 - Thursday, February 21st, 2008 Email
CB will NOT be spending any $'s on big time free agents until after the team is in OKC.

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