09-10 Seattle Supersonics Presser

[Darth Vegito]

Owner: Welcome to our pre-season presser. We appreciate all that are here. We have nothing extravagant planned this year. Only hard work. Darth is working hard in the gym with the team as this presser is happening. As you know our season did not end the way we were hoping it would last season. It was by our standards a huge disappointment and we are working diligently to ensure that doesn't happen again.

We wanted to thank the people who did vote for Darth as GMOY. He didn't want to be a part of the politics of the award and didn't even vote for himself. But at the end of the day he still won the award despite the massive amount of dissenters and "party politics" so for that he thanks you all. I thought he obviously deserved it and was happy to see him win it along with the Lakers GM. Congrats to TrayWithAnA as well.

Speaking of the Lakers, if you've followed the season they are now the primary threat for us in the Pacific. The Kings decided to start a massive overhaul and rebuild. We wanted to do 2 things in the off-season:
1. Address our cap issues going forward.
2. Take any opportunity to make our team even better while keeping #1 in mind.

Our first move was a very cap minded move. We unfortunately had to trade Anderson Varajao to the Knicks for Courtney Lee and a pick. Anderson was the only player left on the roster that was drafted by us and we wish him the best in New York. As far as making our team better goes, well let's just say that we were attached to some of the best players in the league and in negotiations with several teams. That being said we were very comfortable with our team. We had been talking with the Celtics organization for a while and finally got something done to get Steven Hunter in a Sonics uniform. We feel he is the best Center in this league and are very proud for him to be a part of this team.

Our starting lineup going forward will look something like this:

5. Steven Hunter
4. Eddie Griffin
3. Rashard Lewis
2. Wade/Lee
1. Miller/Wade
6. Lee

We'll wrap it up there. Any questions are welcomed.

[TrayWithAnA]

Is your team better this year than last year? How long do you foresee your team competing at this level?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NOLa.]

The Kings are in a rebuild, but in their place are the rising Clippers and the Curry led Warriors, not to mention the Lakers being taken over by Amare. Who do you feel is the biggest threat this season for your team in the Pacific

Sent via Morse code

[Darth Vegito]

Is your team better this year than last year? How long do you foresee your team competing at this level?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sure hope it's marginally better. You never truly know of course but I think it is. I think Believe it or not the Andre Miller signing was possibly bigger than the Hunter trade. It allows me to have a legit starting PG for periods of time on the floor so that Wade and Shard can do their thing. Yeah he's slow and may struggle at times defending but I think he'll be fine for the periods he's on the floor.

And I am hoping that for the next 3 years this team will be a strong contender. Each year we'll re-evaluate and go from there and make the best decision for the future of this franchise.

[Darth Vegito]

The Kings are in a rebuild, but in their place are the rising Clippers and the Curry led Warriors, not to mention the Lakers being taken over by Amare. Who do you feel is the biggest threat this season for your team in the Pacific

Sent via Morse code

I think it's definitely the Lakers by far actually. The warriors will probably post a good regular season record, maybe finish 2nd-4th in the Pacific but come playoff time Wade will easily dispose of the young inexperienced Curry. Slow Curry, you easily beat the Warriors. And the Clippers, well Durant will be trouble for the entire league for a very long time. But the rest of his team lies in his front court and well his front court < my front court. Brand will struggle to score against Griffin and Hunter will embarrass Booth or Dirk. So as these teams may certainly be rising, this year I'm not too concerned with them. It's the Lakers and the Lakers defense that will continue to worry me. I do look forward to Amare vs. Griffin. Should be fun!

[JNR]

GWR: You've officially gotten rid of all our young players and now you have a team full of win-now players. It has to be title or failure, right?

[Darth Vegito]

GWR: You've officially gotten rid of all our young players and now you have a team full of win-now players. It has to be title or failure, right?

It's kinda always title or failure. Honestly I don't think I could ever take 3+ years before I contended. I was fooling myself to think that I'd wait for all those young guys to fully develop. Sure I'm win now, but my top 5 players are 30 and younger and most in their prime. I'm happy with where I am.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[fearthebrow]

Random Dallas reporter:

It looks like your team is built for a championship run this season. How difficult has it been to shake off last season's disappointment and keep your guys focused and motivated for another run?

[Darth Vegito]

Random Dallas reporter:

It looks like your team is built for a championship run this season. How difficult has it been to shake off last season's disappointment and keep your guys focused and motivated for another run?

It's been very difficult. Our expectations were high as they should have been. As they are this year. Ultimately a championship is the goal always. But making it to the finals or even the conference finals is still something I guess. But losing in the second round, granted to a pretty good team, but still we expect more. And with our tax bill being 60+ before ever entering a repeater...well we were worried and discouraged too say the least. But we took a few weeks off and hit back it and I'm very happy at what we've accomplished in the off-season. Now it's the results part of the process. So we shall see.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Bowtothebill23]

Was last year the most disappointing memory in your sim league history? Did you honestly look past the Lakers to the Kings at all?

[Conroy]

Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, my sources in Boston told me the Celts wanted 1 point for every reply in the messages chain in the Steven Hunter negotiations, but it would have exceeded the 10 point max allowed on a single trade. Any truth to this?

[WigNosy]

Can you address rumors ownership is planning to move this team to Oklahoma City?

[Darth Vegito]

Was last year the most disappointing memory in your sim league history? Did you honestly look past the Lakers to the Kings at all?

Is probably say it was most disappointing yet only probably cause it's most recent. It still stings. And I don't think I looked past the Lakers. I think I thought the Lakers would be a harder matchup than the kings actually. Just because of the matchups and the defense the Lakers play. Not to mention the have the most OP player in the league so that helps.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Darth Vegito]

Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, my sources in Boston told me the Celts wanted 1 point for every reply in the messages chain in the Steven Hunter negotiations, but it would have exceeded the 10 point max allowed on a single trade. Any truth to this?

Yes I can confirm this. I actually petitioned the league to pay the celts 43 points, 1 for every message, but they declined. I tried.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Darth Vegito]

Can you address rumors ownership is planning to move this team to Oklahoma City?

These rumors are false. We have no intention on relocating. We love the city of Seattle and the fans deserve this team. Hope that puts that idea to bed.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk