Frank Hughes of the News Tribune reports that maybe there's another reason why Seattle didn't match Portland's Offer Sheet on Ruben Patterson. Sources tell Hughes that Patterson's signing may be part of some larger discussions the Sonics and Blazers might be having that could send point guard Gary Payton to the Blazers.

One unconfirmed rumor had Payton and overweight teammate Vin Baker heading to Portland for Damon Stoudamire, Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells - although Aaron Goodwin, the agent for Payton, Baker and Stoudamire, said he would not "participate" in a deal that sacrifices Stoudamire for his other two clients.