Sonics Identify Summer Prospects -- UW's Dion Brown Among 9 Invitees

Nine of the 13 free agents who took part in the Seattle SuperSonics' recent free-agent camp have been invited to play on Seattle's entry in two summer leagues.

Former Washington Husky Dion Brown, ex-Washington State Cougar Harold Wright and Abdul Shamsid-Deen, who was drafted by Seattle in the second round of the 1990 NBA draft, are among the players invited to take part.

Gary Wortman, Sonic assistant coach, said several players performed well, but would not say if the Sonics had uncovered any keepers among the free agents.

"I'm encouraged, but it would be premature to project anyone for a roster spot," Wortman said. "Some of them are close, but there are a lot more levels to go through.

"This was stage one. We've invited them for Utah and L.A. If they compete well at that level, we'll see some of them invited to camp in the fall."

Those asked back will play alongside some of the Sonics' younger veterans. The team hasn't announced which vets will play in the summer leagues, but point guard Gary Payton and forward Shawn Kemp are expected to see considerable duty.

Wortman said the Sonics are placing more emphasis on summer leagues this offseason as a means of looking at new talent and evaluating the progress of younger players.

"We're putting a lot more energy into them this year," he said. "They give us a different way to look at players."

The Sonics open summer-league play in Salt Lake City July 22. Seattle is one of seven teams playing in the Utah Jazz-hosted league, set to run through Aug. 1.

Joining the Jazz and Sonics are teams sponsored by Golden State, Phoenix, Sacramento, Portland and Denver. After the Utah competition ends, the Sonics squad will take part in the Los Angeles summer league Aug. 2-8.

Two of the players invited back yesterday, guard Jerome Harmon (6 feet 4, 185 pounds) of Louisville and forward Ed Horton (6-8, 250), who spent some time with the Washington Bullets, will skip the Utah league in order to try out for other NBA teams. However, both are expected to join the Sonics in Los Angeles.

NBA notes

-- Partial summer-league roster: Teo Alibegovic, Oregon State (6-9, 220); Dion Brown, Washington (6-3, 200); Marty Conlon, Providence (6-9, 220); Jerome Harmon, Louisville (6-4, 185); Ed Horton, Iowa (6-8, 250); Stan Kimbrough, Xavier-Ohio (5-11, 180); Chris Munk, USC (6-9, 240); Abdul Shamsid-Deen, Providence (6-10, 240); and Harold Wright, Washington State (6-3, 185).

-- Charles Shackleford, who left the NBA to play in Italy, reached tentative agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers and was expected to sign today as a free agent. The Sixers recently released center-forward Rick Mahorn.

-- Tom Chambers, a Phoenix Sun and former Sonic, will conduct a basketball clinic at the Pro Club in Bellevue July 15-19. Among the players scheduled to appear at Chambers' camp are Detlef Schrempf of the Indiana Pacers, Alton Lister of Golden State, Blair Rasmussen of Atlanta and ex-Sonics Russ Schoene and Jack Sikma. Sessions are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and end at 5. For more information call the Pro Club.

-- For some people, it's never too early to start thinking about the next NBA champion. Oddsmakers Keith Glantz and Russell Culver have released their early line on next season's NBA finals, which shows the defending champion Chicago Bulls at 3-1, Portland 4-1, the L.A. Lakers 6-1 and Detroit and San Antonio 8-1. The Sonics are 35-1. Minnesota and Orlando bring up the rear at 500-1.