EXCEEDED

Nate McMillan: Coach's first full year with team. Rookie mistakes overcome by rapport with players. Kept Sonics at .500 in spite of numerous injuries and six new players. Has star player's respect, not a given with any coach in the past.

Gary Payton: Star player with same competitive attitude, but more accepting of teammates than ever before. Incredible transformation in light of volatile past. Also performing at high level. Finally, the Glove seems to be an all-around fit.

Vin Baker: Showing up in shape, staying in shape and playing well in what cynics would call the most amazing trifecta in franchise history. Taking charge in post after drifting outside early. Playing through injuries, exhibiting toughness.

Art Long: A longshot to make the team in training camp, he beat the odds and now is pounding on opponents as starting center. Gives team a rugged rebounding presence in the paint.

Earl Watson: Tailing off lately, but rookie guard from UCLA mostly has been productive. A second-round draft choice is supposed to be on the end of the bench or the waiver wire, but Watson has been a contributing force.

Brent Barry: Team's best shooter also distributes and rebounds and creates off drives to the hoop, finishing himself or finding someone else who will. He makes many other things happen when his shot isn't falling, which is rare.

MET

Rashard Lewis: Scoring is up slightly, but shooting percentage is down. Criticized for his defense and not being able to produce off the dribble, Lewis is nonetheless a gifted athlete with plenty of attributes and continued upside.

Desmond Mason: Improved his range and nearly doubled his scoring average while continuing his role as a slam-dunk specialist. Just now getting back to full strength after spraining his knee.

Vladimir Radmanovic: First-round draft choices are supposed to be good, and this Yugoslavian rookie is, quickly becoming one of the NBA's best 3-point shooters. As he improves, so will the Sonics.

Jerome James: Right when he was warming up, sprained foot caused him to miss 20 games. Trying to find himself again, but potential is there for the 7-1 center who has lost weight and gained confidence.

Olumide Oyedeji: Still-raw 20-year-old who can rebound and scrap, but needs to develop softer hands and touch. In his sophomore NBA season, he remains a long-term project.

FELL SHORT

Predrag Drobnjak: The Sonics' other rookie from Yugoslavia can stick the J in practice, but has yet to deliver when it counts. Slow afoot, he does not defend very well, causing McMillan to limit his appearances.

Shammond Williams: Extraordinary offensive weapon who is a better dribbler than defender. Too frequently calls his own number and isn't as effective as the multi-dimensional Watson.

INCOMPLETE

Calvin Booth: Some are quick to trash the Sonics' new center, saying he's the second coming of Jim McIlvaine. But who really knows? Booth has missed more than half the season with ankle problems and was far from 100 percent when he did play. Appears, when healthy, to be a player who can stick 15-footers and block shots.