SportsLine.com Report
May 6, 2000

1999-2000 in review

Preseason prognosticators who foresaw a finish of around .500 and a first-round playoff ouster for the Sonics weren't far out of line.

Seattle was 45-37 in the regular season, which led coach Paul Westphal to proclaim his team had overachieved. The Sonics came ever so close to knocking off the Utah Jazz in the first round, losing 96-93 in the Delta Center in the deciding Game 5.

After being embarrassed in the first two games of the Utah series, Seattle was given little chance to even extend it beyond a third game. The Sonics ruled in Games 3 and 4 and showed a heart that might provide the foundation for next season.

Seattle was an odd mix of veterans and youthful performers, of players playing out of position, with superstar Gary Payton the glue holding everything together.

The Sonics were good enough to handle the lesser lights of the NBA but had trouble with the better teams. They were 16-28 against playoff teams, 29-9 against the rest of the league.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The rise from the dead in Games 3 and 4 of the Utah series. Payton was sensational, Vin Baker and Brent Barry were impressive, and youngsters Rashard Lewis and Ruben Patterson showed they are players on the rise, particularly Lewis who will be one of the most highly sought free agents this summer.

SEASON LOWLIGHT: In a three-week span near the end of the regular season, the Sonics were a Clipper-like 2-9, though seven of the nine losses came against playoff teams. Still, it was not the way to make a run at a higher playoff seed (they wound up seventh).

KEY STAT: Payton has started 315 consecutive regular-season games, the longest active streak in the NBA. He finished among the league's top 10 in minutes (second), scoring (seventh), assists (third) and steals (sixth).

The Personnel File

MVP: Payton had his greatest individual season, contributing 24.2 points, 8.9 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 1.87 steals a game. Next to the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, he was probably the MVP of the league.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: The emergence of Rashard Lewis. The 6-10, 215-pound Houston native, a second-round pick in the 1998 draft, played both forward spots and even some shooting guard, and came on strong in the second half of the season. He had 30 points and 12 rebounds against Dallas and 28 points and 11 boards against Toronto. Lewis wound up a starter -- and arguably Seattle's second-best player -- in the playoffs, ranking second behind Payton in scoring (15.4 points).

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Baker. The $87.5-million man had his moments, but overall suffered through a second consecutive discouraging season. He was an inconsistent scorer and unwilling defender and rebounder, the latter two areas where the Sonics needed help the most.

COACH: Westphal is not the most popular guy with his players, but he will probably survive. It is possible owner Barry Ackerley will decide to jettison Westphal -- and maybe general manager Wally Walker, too -- and go with either assistant Dwane Casey or Nate McMillan as the head man. Payton, not enamored of Westphal as a coach, could figure here. He might demand a trade or at least try to help push Westphal out the door.

Offseason tinkering

THE DRAFT: 17th pick. The Sonics would love to get a center, since power forward Horace Grant is playing out of position there. At No. 17, 7-footer Dan McClintock from Northern Arizona will be available.

FREE-AGENT MARKET: Outside of Payton, Seattle's most valuable commodities this year were small forwards Rashard Lewis and Ruben Patterson. Patterson, 24, is signed for two more seasons, but if Lewis stays as the starting small forward, Patterson wants a trade. Lewis, a free agent, will listen to offers that Seattle will have an opportunity to match. The Sonics will do all they can to keep him. At 20, with a nice outside shot and cool demeanor, he could blossom into an All-Star. Walker will be on the lookout for free agents with size and muscle.