Brooks, Locke, Marques Johnson, Portland Blows Smoke

SEATTLE - Gary Washburn of the Seattle PI gives they full story on the state of happeneings with the Sonics in today's edition. (read it here)

The highlights are:
Portland is talking up Durrant.

Scott Brooks was the NBA assistant that was interviewed by the Sonics for the head coaching job. Brooks, former Sonics assistant Dwane Casey, and Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo are they three candidates left.

Also, "Marques Johnson is in negotiations to rejoin FSN. Johnson was the team's analyst in the late 1990s"

David Locke was fired.

In order:
Portland talking up Durrant.
I think Portland has Jamaal Magloire they could resign, and Joel Przybilla under contract, so they don't need Oden. They have Darius Miles, Durrant would be an upgrade there. But you don't pass on a talented center, talented small forwards are in the draft every year, maybe not at the talent level of Durrant, but they are there. The quality of Oden at center is simply a rarity they can not pass up.
They are putting on a show.

Scott Brooks.
Really? Why him? I've seen the other two either coach a long time ago, or have seen the other up close for a decade. I don't know what Scott Brooks brings to the table as a coach, and why that special thing wasn't good enough for him to land the Kings head coaching job, that job going to one of the most selfish players I've ever seen play, Reggie Theus.

David Locke was fired.
I'm sure David Locke is a nice guy and all, but, he was horrible as the play-by-play announcer. I actually care where players are in relation to the basket, it's something I can't see while in my car (If I could we would all have a much bigger problem). Locke was busy making a media experiment out of a pretty simple thing, tell the listeners what is going on with the players on the floor.

I really disliked Locke as a play-by-play announcer. He was horrible. Everybody I know has mentioned how bad he was. He spent a large amount of time kissing Howard Schultz's ass to get the job only to have that ass leave. Had he gotten the job on skill he might have a job today. I think Howard went cheap, and went with a yes man, in the end, Locke was bad. He'll find another job. I'm glad he was fired, saves me the trouble of turning off my radio when I get in my car.

Francis Williams, what about him G-Wash? Williams was an actual asset. He had first hand observations of many of the players that he could draw on.

I'm glad Marques Johnson could possibly return, he and Calabro were great partners, interesting and informative.

My Mock draft:
Portland takes Greg Oden #1
Seattle takes Kevin Durrant #2
The rest of the teams, I don't care.