Hill says SuperSonics not that far away
SEATTLE – As their intensity increased and the victories over quality opponents mounted late in a lost season, the Seattle SuperSonics couldn’t stop from pondering: “What if?”
The question was painfully obvious in a season in which the Sonics’ struggled to a 35-47 record on the court and had ownership and arena issues away from the floor.
Seattle closed the season as one of the better teams in the NBA. After March 3, the Sonics were 13-10. They beat playoff-bound San Antonio, Phoenix, Memphis, Milwaukee and both Los Angeles teams.
“I just don’t think that in today’s NBA, we are as far away from the playoffs as people think,” coach Bob Hill said in the season’s final week.
Of course, the strong final two months failed to make up for the four miserable months before it, which left Seattle far from the Northwest Division champions of a season ago.
Beyond the losses and early-season discontent among since-traded players, owner Howard Schultz threatened the team may be sold or may move from KeyArena when its lease expires in 2010. The Sonics are seeking money from the state Legislature for arena improvements and a more profitable lease from the city, which commissioner David Stern has said is the league’s worst.
The Legislature balked at the Sonics’ threats. The Seattle City Council questioned the team offering just $18 million to a proposed $220 million arena renovation plan. The team countered that it’s exploring offers to buy the franchise.
“To me, Seattle has always been a cornerstone of the NBA,” said Hill, who has been in the league for 11 seasons. “It would be shame if the team had to leave.”
Hill was promoted from assisting Bob Weiss – the players’ choice to replace Nate McMillan before the season – in early January when Weiss was fired for a 13-17 start.
Seattle didn’t improve, however, until three subsequent trades in which it replaced disgruntled pieces – including contract-minded Vladimir Radmanovic and Ronald Murray – with energizing point guard Earl Watson and forward Chris Wilcox.
Wilcox, a restricted free agent this off-season acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers, sparkled in the first extended playing time of his career. He was Western Conference player of the week in April following four consecutive double-doubles, including a 26-point, 24-rebound performance against Houston. The Sonics won all four of those games, their longest streak of the season.
Wilcox is the only significant player not already under contract for next season. General manager Rick Sund has indicated the team intends to make a qualifying offer to the forward once it is permitted to in July. That would give Seattle the option of matching any contract offer Wilcox may receive.
“To be successful, you’ve got to have a guy like Chris, not only to win more games, but to get to the next level,” Rashard Lewis said.
Watson, who arrived from Denver, served as a complement to starter Luke Ridnour and provided another outside scorer besides All-Star Ray Allen. The Sonics were 14-9 when Wilcox and Watson both played.