Desmond Mason took the time to speak with former Sonics players Shammond Williams and Vladimir Radmanovic as the Hornets prepared to take on the Lakers, and Mason said all three came to agreement on one thing:
If the Sonics had not broken up the team in 2003 by trading Gary Payton and Mason to Milwaukee for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie and Ronald Murray, the team would have achieved more success and Howard Schultz would not have felt compelled to sell to Clay Bennett.
?Honestly, if we could have kept that group of guys together ... the outcome would have been a little different,? Mason said before the Sonics hosted the Hornets Friday night at KeyArena. ?That is what good teams are made of, like Detroit and San Antonio, they keep their guys around, they let them grow together, they let them play together and learn each other. You can get good that way.
?When you keep cycling guys in and out, it is hard to get a good feel for basketball. I honestly think the situation would be better. I think Nate (McMillan) would still be here and Howard would still be owner.?