Sonics, Hawkins Near Deal; Mcilvaine Expected To Sign

The news was good for the Seattle SuperSonics Friday as negotiations with Hersey Hawkins took a turn for the better while the team came to a tentative agreement with center Jim McIlvaine.

Hawkins had complained Thursday that he felt shunned by Seattle’s initial four-year, $12 million offer.

But Seattle apparently added some money to the deal Friday, along with the extra year it had earlier conceded, and Hawkins’ agent, John Caponigro, said Friday night that “we’re getting pretty close to resigning. It’s possible we could get off track, but I don’t anticipate that.”

MvIlvaine’s agent, Ron Grinker, said McIlvaine had tentatively agreed on a seven-year contract, with a possible out after three years. Grinker wouldn’t divulge specifics.

The 7-foot-1 McIlvaine also is good friends with Seattle reserve center Steve Scheffler, also a client of Grinker’s. Grinker said it is likely the Sonics will re-sign Scheffler, who is also an unrestricted free agent.

McIlvaine has been a reserve in his two years with Washington after being a second-round draft pick in 1994 out of Marquette. But Seattle likes the potential he showed last season when he played 80 games and averaged 2.2 blocks per game, 10th-best in the league despite playing less than 15 minutes per game.