Sonics players

Published 9:00 pm Monday, May 23, 2005

These are the 14 players on Seattle’s roster. The first figure is their contract amount for the 2004-05 season. For some players, the second figure is their contract for 2005-06. UFA means they will be an unrestricted free agent, RFA means restricted free agent. The contracts are base amounts and do not include certain 2004-05 incentive bonuses that may have been earned.

Ray Allen

$14,625,000

Seattle’s foremost offseason free-agent. Negotiations went on during the season, but the two sides are still divided – the Sonics have offered five years at around $75 million, while Allen wants a deal worth closer to $90 million. Talks could continue throughout the summer, and will be affected by negotiations between the NBA and players association about a new labor agreement.

Mateen Cleaves, $720,046, UFA –

Kept around strictly as a practice player and someone who is a great teammate. Will probably have to earn a spot in training camp next fall.

Jerome James, $5,455,200, UFA –

Imagine, a player in the last year of his contract who suddenly blossoms. But if the Sonics give him a new multiyear deal, will he lapse into old habits? Seattle needs someone to play the middle for another few years until Swift, the team’s center of the future, develops. It could be James, but not if another team tosses a huge contract his way.

*Antonio Daniels, $2,200,000, UFA –

A primary backup and sometimes starter who was a big part of the team’s success. Whether he sticks around will be determined by how much interest he draws from other teams. The Sonics want him back, but not if it means an expensive bidding war.

Vitaly Potapenko, $6,191,250, UFA –

Like Murray, Potapenko is the insurance policy in case James goes elsewhere. If he returns, it would likely be for a substantially lower salary.

Nick Collison, $1,696,680, $1,815,000 –

A cornerstone for the team’s future, he could unseat Evans as the team’s starting power forward before much longer.

**Danny Fortson, $5,818,136, $6,207,670 –

Acquired in a 2004 offseason trade, he brought considerable toughness to the team and a sometimes troublesome disposition. Barring a trade, he should return.

Rashard Lewis, $7,792,208, $8,571,429 –

Coming off his first All-Star season in 2004-05, Lewis is under contract through 2008-09.

Luke Ridnour, $1,531,200, $$1,638,000 –

Took over the starting point guard spot this season and showed he will probably hold onto it for many seasons to come.

Robert Swift, $1,641,360, $1,764,480 –

The teenager (he turns 20 on Dec. 3) will likely move into the regular rotation next season, albeit as the backup center.

Reggie Evans, $770,000, RFA –

A blue-collar player with limited offensive skills who started almost every game this season. With Collison emerging and with Fortson under contract for two more years, the Sonics will see how much it costs to keep Evans before deciding whether or not to do so.

Flip Murray, $695,046, RFA –

A player who is the insurance policy in case either Allen or Daniels departs. If Seattle re-signs those two, Murray could be allowed to leave.

Vlade Radmanovic, $2,300,984, RFA –

Will certainly draw interest from other teams, though the Sonics can keep him by matching any other offer. Given his promising future, they would probably do so.

Damien Wilkins, $385,277, RFA – A terrific free-agent find, Wilkins went undrafted a year ago and snagged Seattle’s last roster spot in training camp. Now he looks like someone who will likely be in the regular rotation next season.

*Antonio Daniels has an option year that he is not expected to exercise, meaning he would become a free agent.

**Danny Fortson can opt out of his contract, but is not expected to do so.