BBarry reportedly could not get 4 years starting at the MLE earlier this season from his Sonics. Watch him cash in this summer! (And yes, Brent, there is a place for you in the Rox backcourt.) http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_2762434,00.html Nuggets covet Sonics' Barry Guard fits Denver's up-tempo style, but Seattle plays keeps By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News March 27, 2004 SEATTLE - Though his head barely was visible behind the steering wheel, Quin Barry looked right at home sitting in the driver's seat of the Denver Nuggets' luxury bus. The 3-year-old son of Seattle SuperSonics guard Brent Barry tinkered with the lights and turned on the windshield wipers as his dad sat by his side. The Nuggets wouldn't mind seeing the father-son pair board their team bus on a regular basis next season. It is no secret Denver will pursue Barry if he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Sonics are determined to retain the versatile 6-foot-6 guard but were unable to sign him to a contract extension earlier in the season. "My first choice is to have work," Barry said Friday before facing the Nuggets at KeyArena. Barry's older brother Jon plays for the Nuggets, but Denver might not have an inside recruiting edge if Jon leaves after his one-year contract expires at the end of the season. The Barry boys have yet to play on the same team, despite being in the league together since 1995. "We haven't talked about it, but I don't think either of us would be against something like that," Brent said. "It would be an interesting scenario. "It would be a lot of fun for our wives and our kids. Having a chance to spend time together would be really worthwhile, but obviously nothing like that has happened to this point." If the Sonics have their way, Jon and Brent will have to continue their long-distance relationship. Brent Barry's importance to Seattle has been highlighted during the team's recent late-season surge. The Sonics lost 15 of 20 games while Barry was sidelined because of a broken hand, and they went on a six-game win streak after he returned from a hip injury. "He's a big part of this team. He's equal to Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis," Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. "Our plans are to re-sign him. He's the leader of this team." Brent Barry, 32, does not boast a statistical line that screams superstar (10.6 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds), but he can play both guard positions, makes smart decisions and is a career .406 three-point shooter. He also would be a natural fit for the up-tempo style that has helped the Nuggets make the leap from bottom feeders to playoff contenders. "Not just me, but I think it's attractive for a lot of free agents in the league to see what (general manager) Kiki Vandeweghe's been able to do with the franchise in a short period of time," he said. VO NO GO: Center Marcus Camby returned from a groin injury, but Denver was without starting shooting guard Voshon Lenard, who bruised his rib cage Wednesday night. Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen said Lenard, the team's third-leading scorer (14.6), probably will miss tonight's game at Utah. He could return Tuesday for Denver's home game against the Sonics. "Vo has been good to us all year, been invaluable," Camby said. Asked if he could play tonight, Lenard said simply, "We'll see." With Lenard out, Jon Barry made his fourth start of the season. ETC: Halftime took 24 minutes - 10 minutes longer than normal - as the Sonics retired Gus Williams' No. 1 jersey. McMillan is among the other four Seattle players whose number has been retired. "For me, it's almost a ghostly feeling to see my jersey up in the rafters and still be here," McMillan said. "Normally those guys are long gone and somewhere else." . . . Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony on his alma mater Syracuse falling three games short of defending its NCAA title: "I was a little bit upset, but it's all right. Next year, they're going to be back." . . . Denver forward Ryan Bowen remained bothered by a strained lower back and was available Friday night only if the Nuggets were in serious foul trouble.
Denver has a big advantage over a lot of teams. They are under the Salary Cap and can offer Brent a contract ABOVE the MLE which would price out a lot of teams (including the Rockets). Clearly the Sonics can offer Brent the most but you have to wonder how much they would be willing to give up with Daniels and Ridnour still in the backcourt at the PG spot (not to mention Allen and Murray at the SG spot).
Sund has intimated before that the deal will be brent+vlad (or more)in a sign and trade for a power forward. The Sonics know they can't pay Brent 6.5 mil or more and develop the other guards. They hope to change him out for a 4. Sonics, meet Mo Taylor. We could make that deal better by taking two of their overpaid centers for Cato - say Potepenko (a 4) and James (and just throw in Francis for Allen, too). . We'd still have Cat, Pike and Boki to trade, and the TE and MCE. You'd have lots of good shooters around Yao, and no ballhogs.
P.S. - if that's not good enough, perhaps Francis to Portland for SAR, SAR to Sonics for Allen, and they say thanks with Taylor for Barry and VR.
You bring tears to my eyes. BTW - with a Sign'N'Trade and TE Sonics have lots of options besides Denver.
Barry and VR would be nice. But I don't see the Sonics giving up those guys for just Mo Taylor. I also don't see Portland wanting Franchise since that screws up their plans to be a player in free agency in 2005. S&T may be the only way Barry will come to us though since all things (money) being equal, Barry will choose SA or another contender over us.
No question SAR will be available this summer. I would think that the Sonics would be very interested in him. They could probably get him for Vlad Radmonovic, Flip Murray plus one of the Sonics bad Center contracts. Portland needs a shooting 3 and Vlad fits the bill (plus they get a backup 2 in Murray, something they need) and the Sonics need a low post player and SAR is probably the best available one. I would think the Sonics would look at SAR WAY before they even considered Mo Taylor.
