The Sonics got a glimpse of some newcomers that could make the team's roster for summer league play in Orlando come July.
Seattle general manager Sam Presti invited 19 players to a minicamp at the team's practice facility in Seattle, the Furtado Center, for a two-day workout. Minor league players on hand included a quartet of experienced guards, led by Seattle native and University of Washington product Will Conroy. Joining Conroy were Oklahoma State product John Lucas III, ex-Florida floor leader Anthony Roberson and NBA Development League standout Earl Calloway.
Forwards who made a lasting impression were Ronald Dupree, an athletic, 6-foot-6 swingman who finished the year as part of Seattle's roster, and Dahntay Jones, another competitive, defensive-minded forward who has played for Sacramento and Memphis in the NBA.
Big men at the two-day camp included 6-foot-11 center Larry Turner of the D-League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and 6-10 wide body Kevin Lyde out of Temple.
The Sonics have 11 players under contract and, with a payroll of a little more than $48 million, should be well under next year's salary cap. However, with the uncertainty of where the team will play next season, it will be hard for Presti to attract top-notch free agents to join this rebuilding franchise.
But the Sonics have six picks in this year's draft, so Presti will continue to rely on bringing in young talent either through the draft or free agency to build around a young nucleus that includes Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.
"I just want to show Seattle that I can be a piece of what they're trying to build," Roberson said. "I think that, being young, they're trying to build something here. And I've come here to show them that I can be a piece of the puzzle and I can help."
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Playing in perhaps the last home game at Seattle's KeyArena in Sonics history last Sunday, the Sonics put on a performance to remember in a 99-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Seattle rookie Kevin Durant hit the game winner, a 15-foot jumper from the elbow with under a minute left. Afterwards, Sonics fans stood chanting "Save Our Sonics" for two minutes. Durant said he almost cried after the game.
TURNING POINT: Seattle started the beginning of the season on an eight-game losing streak -- a foreshadowing of the miserable season to come as the Sonics lost a franchise-record 62 games.
