March 2005 Oklahoma City Thunder Wiretap

Sonics Could Complete Radmanovic Sign-And-Trade Next Week

Jul 28, 2005 10:54 AM

The Sonics will sit down with Vladimir Radmanovic early next week in Seattle in a meeting that will ultimately define their relationship with the restricted free agent.

The sides have frequently been at odds regarding his role as a reserve forward and pursuit of a long-term contract since Seattle selected him 12th overall in the 2001 draft.

After being denied an extension last year, Radmanovic averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 rebounds and was a candidate for the NBA's sixth man of the year award before suffering a regular-season ending stress fracture in his right fibula.

Seattle has extended him a multi-year offer with a yearly salary between $6 million and $7 million. Still, it's far less than the five-year, $47 million deal that Bobby Simmons will reportedly receive from Milwaukee and the three-year, $24 million deal that Kwame Brown is expected to receive from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both forwards were drafted in 2001. Last season, Simmons produced better averages (16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds) than Radmanovic, but Brown (7.0 and 4.9) didn't fare as well.

"My motto all along has been to remain cautiously optimistic," said Radmanovic's agent, David Bauman. "We haven't had much movement yet, but that doesn't mean we won't."

Radmanovic is scheduled to return to Seattle on Monday and speak with general manager Rick Sund and president Wally Walker on Tuesday.

The Sonics are unable to comment on player negotiations until the new collective-bargaining agreement is ratified, but it appears the team is prepared to have Radmanovic sign a one-year tender worth $3.2 million.

By doing so, the 6-foot-10 forward will become an unrestricted free agent next season and the Sonics will save between $3 million and $6 million, which they can spend on restricted free agents Ronald Murray, Reggie Evans and Damien Wilkins.

Bauman declined to comment on the likelihood of pursuing a sign-and-trade deal, although that scenario remains a possibility.

One league source said yesterday the Sonics have had several discussions with teams about trading Radmanovic and Murray in separate deals, although it's unclear if Seattle is initiating the talks.

Percy Allen/Seattle Times

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Sonics Go After Free Agent Dixon

Jul 26, 2005 6:28 AM

The Sonics entertained free agent Juan Dixon, who left town over the weekend without receiving a formal offer. The former Washington Wizard, however, has a clearer understanding of where he'll play next season.

Chances of Dixon returning to his old team are slim, but Seattle is high on a list of suitors that includes Sacramento, Portland, Cleveland and Miami. The winning team likely will have to pony up a three- to five-year deal with an average salary of $3 million.

"We're not so much concerned with the years and financial package as much as the situation," said Calvin Andrews, Dixon's agent. "Is it a good fit and a good role? We want to know that he's going to have a contributing role and be able to make a significant contribution to a winning squad."

Seattle Times

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Sonics, Spurs, Pistons And Wolves Ready To Go After Evans

Jul 24, 2005 2:23 PM

Roger Montgomery, Maurice Evans' agent, said Saturday the Kings have not aggressively attempted to retain his client.

"Based on their recent acquisitions," Montgomery said, "I would have to infer the Kings are not really into re-signing Maurice. They have not been proactive pre-Bonzi Wells and post-Bonzi Wells. So I'm led to infer they have other plans that don't include Maurice."

The Timberwolves, Spurs, Pistons and Sonics all appear interested in Evans.

Sacramento Bee

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Kemp Vows To Play In NBA Again

Jul 24, 2005 2:11 PM

Shawn Kemp is still only 35 years old and he is committed to returning to the NBA.

"I'm going to play again,'' Kemp says, speaking in depth publicly for the first time since he retired two years ago after a 14-year NBA career. "And if I'm going to play again, there's only one way to do it. The right way. On my own.''

Seattle Times

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Sonics Up Offer To Flip Murray

Jul 21, 2005 1:20 PM

To replace Antonio Daniels, the Sonics have increased efforts to secure restricted free agent Ronald "Flip" Murray, who joined the team in February 2003 as part of the Ray Allen-Gary Payton trade.

In the past 2 ? seasons, Murray, a second-round pick in the 2002 draft, has developed into a part-time starter. He averaged a career-high 12.4 points during the 2003-04 season and 7.0 points last season.

Although he is considered a shooting guard, the Sonics attempted to return him last season to point guard, where he starred at Division II Shaw University.

With Daniels gone and the Denver Nuggets a potential suitor for his services, Murray has seen his value increase. A year ago, he earned roughly $700,000, but league sources say he's seeking a deal comparable to what Daniels received from the Wizards.

The Sonics are believed to have extended a three-year proposal with an average salary between $2 million and $3 million. Two years ago, Daniels signed a cost-efficient contract that paid him $2.2 million last season.

If Murray receives a better offer from another team, Seattle will likely match it and retain him.

"Our key thing was to make sure we can keep as many of our guys as we could knowing that we're going to lose some free agents," said general manager Rick Sund, whose team entered the offseason with eight free agents. "No way we could keep them all. The key one was obviously Ray, and we intend to sign Ray.

"We're negotiating with a couple of the other ones, particularly the younger ones, and then we'll supplement with other players."

Seattle Times

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Radmanovic Looking To Take The Stromile Route

Jul 20, 2005 6:53 PM

The Sonics have reportedly offered Vladimir Radmanovic a six-year contract that averages around $6.5 million per year.

His agent David Bauman says Radmanovic would rather sign the one-year tender offer of $3.2 million and become an unrestricted free agent next season.

Because Radmanovic is a restricted free agent, the Sonics can match any offer he receives. More importantly, the Sonics can wait seven days to match the offer, which leaves the offering team handcuffed for a week in a fast-moving market.

Seattle PI

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Sonics Lose Daniels To Wizards

Jul 20, 2005 12:32 AM

The Seattle Supersonics have lost another member of their team to free agency.

Guard Antonio Daniels as decided to the Washington Wizards for a five-year $30 million deal. He instantly becomes the replacement for Larry Hughes.

Tony Dutt, Daniels' Houston-based agent, said his client will join the Wizards as soon as the moratorium on free-agent signings is lifted, which could be as soon as Friday, though it appears that it will be extended.

"The more we talked with Washington, we just felt very comfortable," Dutt said. "When Larry Hughes went to Cleveland, it just became a perfect fit for Antonio."

Losing Daniels is another hard blow to the Sonics as they have already lost their head coach Nate McMillan to Portland and center Jerome James to New York this offseason.

ESPN

Tags: Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Blazers Out Of The Running For Daniels

Jul 19, 2005 9:26 PM

RealGM's Christopher Reina is reporting that the Portland Trailblazers are not in the running for Antonio Daniels.

Portland GM John Nash indicated to Reina that the Sonics' free agent wants a five year deal and that the club is unwilling to give him a long term contract.

This now leaves the Wizards and Lakers as frontrunners for Daniels, with the Jazz and Spurs considered to be long shots.  

It is also plausible for Daniels to return to Seattle, but it appears to be highly unlikely and only if the market for the former member of the Grizzlies, Spurs and Blazers dries significantly.

Without a proven NBA point guard on their roster, the Lakers are the logical choice for Daniels, who would likely step in immediately and join their starting line-up.  The Lakers have also stalled with Daniels over the length of the contract, but appear to now be close on a deal.

If Daniels goes to the Wizards, he would fill the void as a combo guard created by Larry Hughes' departure.

Daniels' agent Tony Dutt could not be reached on Tuesday night for comment.

Christopher Reina/RealGM.com

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Sonics Ask Weiss To Be Their New Coach

Jul 18, 2005 7:26 AM

The Seattle SuperSonics are on the verge of naming Bob Weiss their new head coach.

An announcement could come as early as today, according to sources.

Weiss has been offered a contract, though no details were available. The team was waiting for Weiss to sign.

Weiss would replace Nate McMillan, who left unexpectedly July 6 to accept an offer to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. Sources said the delay in naming a replacement was because principal owner Howard Schultz was out of the country.

An assistant with the Sonics since 1994, Weiss has been endorsed by key players, including Ray Allen.

Weiss was a player on the original Sonics, coming to the team in the expansion draft of 1967.

After 12 years as a player, he began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant with the San Diego Clippers.

Tacoma News-Tribune

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Jazz Meet With Daniels

Jul 18, 2005 6:49 AM

Utah Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor traveled to San Antonio on Sunday to meet with Sonics free agent guard Antonio Daniels and his agent, Tony Dutt.

Asked if he made any progress in recruiting Daniels, O'Connor said, "I'm going to give you my pat answer: 'No comment.' "

Daniels is expected to sign for at least a team's full Mid-Level Exception.

It is uncertain how much the Jazz would offer.

Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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McMillian To Portland

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Nate McMillan Agrees To Contract With Blazers

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Nuggets Chase Simmons, Mobley

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Ray Allen Re-Signs With Seattle

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As Pistons Wait On Brown, Bucks Wait On Saunders

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Lakers Become Latest Team Interested In Antonio Daniels

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