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SuperSonics report: Getting inside
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti still has a few decisions to make before the deadline for signing free agents concludes. Currently, the team has 14 players under contract, although Mouhamed Sene likely will begin the season unavailable to the team because he still recovering from microfracture knee surgery. With a payroll of about $52.9 million, Oklahoma City is well under this year's salary cap, and don't expect the team to nudge very close to it. With the franchise likely finishing out of the playoffs again in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, they probably will not be major players during the free agency signing period. Oklahoma City finished a franchise-worst 20-62, hasn't been to the playoff since 2004-05 season, and has been in the NBA lottery five of the last seven years. The team still has to figure out what the future holds for one-time franchise point guard Luke Ridnour. With Earl Watson and Russell Westbrook likely playing most of the minutes at point guard, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have the second-highest paid player on the team as the No. 3 point guard. Ridnour is scheduled to make $6.5 million next season, just a shade less than the team's highest paid player, power forward Chris Wilcox ($6.75 million) will make next season. The Sonics signed Utah guard C.J. Miles to an offer sheet reportedly worth $15 million over four years, but the Jazz matched it. Troy Weaver, Oklahoma City's recent hire as assistant general manager, worked as the player personnel director for the Jazz for four seasons before joining Presti, and is very familiar with Miles. The 21-year old was a second-round draft pick for the Jazz in 2005. Also, Oklahoma City has yet to sign second-round draft pick DeVon Hardin. The rookie center from California played sparingly for the team in the Orlando Summer League and probably will see some in the NBA Development League if he is earns a roster spot during training camp. Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved. |
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