Sonics Trade Mikki Moore to Nets for 2nd Round pick

SEATTLE - Today the Seattle Sonics traded Mikki Moore to the New Jersey Nets for a second round pick in the 2009 draft. Moore, a 7-foot veteran center, was signed by the Sonics on August 31, 2005 to a two year contract. The Contract was for one year plus a one year player option.

The play of first round draft pick Saer Sene in the Rocky Mountain Reviewsummer league games has shown that he could see some floor time this coming season. With three young centers on the team and a need shore up depth at other positions made Moore the odd man out.

When it became known to me on July 10 that Moore had exersized his option I wrote this:

As much as I like Moore, and think he would be a better influence on the young players than wrestle mania's Danny Fortson, but he may have opted in to get paid all summer until the Sonics cut somebody loose. If the Sonics want to keep all of the second rounders then somebody has to go. They are not paying Danny Fortson $6,596,990 to leave, not when they can pay Moore $1,070,000 to open the roster spot.

The reality is that the Sonics have 3 more picks coming next year and they have to figure out who can play, who they keep, and who they don't. They should consolidate the roster into 10 guys that will play and 2 or 3 guys that are developing. Swift, Petro and Sene look like they will land on both of those lists, playing and developing.
It's also quite likely that Yotam Halperin goes back to Europe for another year. Paccelis Morlende was drafted in 2003. They need to know this summer if he can play.

Consolidate. - from Seattle Sonics Sign Rookie Draft Pick Sene, July 10, 2006

As it turned out Moore did get paid this summer and was delt, Sene did step up, and a few other players this summer sorted themselves out. Word is Paccelis Morlende is on the outs. Noel Felix doesn't see guaranteed money until after January 10, with Moore leaving the likelyhood of Felix being in a Sonics uniform on January 11 just went way up.

The number of players on the roster that have contracts at 12:

Ray Allen - SG
Nick Collison - PF
Noel Felix - SF
Danny Fortson - Doghouse
Rashard Lewis - SF
Johan Petro - PF
Luke Ridnour - PG
Robert Swift - C
Earl Watson - PG
Damien Wilkins - SG
Saer Sene - C
Mickael Gelabale - SG

Two free agents the Sonics have rights are:
Chris Wilcox - PF - Restricted FA
Mike Wilks - PG - FA

If Wilks were to return that would put the roster at 13, but that's very unlikely. 13 is the likely total not including other draft picks once Wilcox signs a contract.
Andre Emmett was named to the All-Revue Team. The Sonics may see the 6-5 Emmett as an asset. If Emmet makes the team then the roster is at 14 and likely somebody goes to Idaho, maybe Emmett, until Danny Fortson goes away.