With 14 players under contract and the payroll at $63.4 million next season, Seattle is over the $55.6 million salary cap, though well below the $67.9 million luxury tax threshold that requires teams to pay a dollar per dollar penalty.

If GM Sam Presti continues tinkering ? and every indication shows he will ? then he'll have to do it with more trades or by using the $5.4 million mid-level exception.

There's also a possibility the Sonics will trade either Luke Ridnour or Earl Watson because both point guards share similar skills, were disappointing last season and have three years left on contracts.

Presti has never mentioned a four- or five-year plan, but it's clear he's building for the future. The Sonics have five first-round draft choices in the next three years and will have in excess of $30 million in salary cap room before the 2009-10 season.