Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reports that the Sonics newly-signed center Jerome James is hurting. He injured his foot in a pickup game three weeks ago and his pre-season is sufferring because of it.

Because of the pain in his foot, James has been compromised on the court during four exhibition games. His turnover-to-field-goal ratio is 9-2 and he's averaging just 2.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. James' minutes have declined from 19 in the opener, to 18, 16 and 12. On Monday, he didn't play in the second half because of the pain, which team trainers diagnosed as plantar fascitis.

"I can't do nothing," James said. "I 'm slower. I can't slide. I did better (Monday) night, but after the second quarter, I started hurting again and had to come out."

James originally thought that his new, "beefed-up" physique was the cause for his slow start. Yesterday, however, he attributed his slow start in the exhibition season to his ailing foot that caused him to miss the latter portion of the morning practice.

James has had private sessions with ex-NBA greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Joe Johnson. Both tutors have said that James just needs a little extra work and that "he?s coming along". Sonics coach Nate McMillan is tired of the talk and wants to see some results.

When asked about James, he replied: "We need more out of him."

But to get more out of James, the Sonics want to see less of him on the court. That's why James has given himself a two-week deadline to shed 12-15 pounds from his 285-pound frame before the Oct. 30 regular-season opener. And to do this, the Sonics' center says he has refrained from eating after dark. He has given up Pepsi and Coca-Cola. And he's cutting back on beef and pork.

To treat the plantar fascitis, James is plopping his feet in ice baths, taking Ibuprofen and wearing corrective insoles in his basketball shoes.

Still, the only sure-fire cure is rest.