Analysis -- Charlotte's Pain Is Sonic Gain -- Disgruntled As Hornet, Gill Bolsters Backcourt

Kendall Gill needed a change of address. New teammates. New coaches. New challenges. His differences with the Charlotte Hornets were irreconcilable.

There were shouting matches with assistant coach Bill Hanzlik. There were icy moments with some of his teammates. Late last season some Hornets called Gill "Solo," behind his back.

Kendall Gill had become an island in Charlotte. He needed and asked for a trade. And after a fortnight of speculation, yesterday the trade finally came.

Now, Gill, 25, who averaged 16.9 points per game this season, is freed from Charlotte's web.

Gill came to the Seattle SuperSonics yesterday in a trade for Eddie Johnson and Dana Barros.

Karl calls trade `a steal'

"We added a player who fits our personality very, very well and didn't give up a starter to get him," Sonic Coach George Karl said. "To me that's a steal.

"Bob Whitsitt (Sonic president) just continues to amaze me. For the second time since I've been here, (Sam Perkins for Benoit Benjamin was the first) he's given me a player who can start for us and he's only had to give up some productive bench people. I'm amazed it happened."

Charlotte and Seattle also exchanged draft picks. The order will be determined after the regular season, but Seattle probably will get Charlotte's pick and the Hornets will get the Philadelphia pick owned by the Sonics.

And, if you are keeping score at home, the Sonics' own pick probably will go to the Los Angeles Clippers as final compensation for the late, unlamented Benjamin.

`He didn't want to be here'

And just to complicate this mix, Barros said yesterday he expects to be traded by Charlotte, probably with Sidney Green and a first-round pick, to Philadelphia for guard Hersey Hawkins.

"Why did we make the trade?" Charlotte player-personnel director Dave Twardzik asked, repeating a question. "We traded him because he didn't want to be here. Why keep somebody when he doesn't want to be here? He's a very good player. Why didn't he want to be here? He's going to have to answer that."

Why did Gill leave a team on the make with franchise players such as Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning?

He was to answer questions today at a Seattle news conference.

"If we're the only franchise in the league that had personnel problems last year, I'd be very surprised," Twardzik said yesterday. "I guarantee you we're not the only team with players and coaches yelling back and forth from time to time."

Twardzik said reports that Gill had differences with coach Allan Bristow, Hanzlik and teammates were "overstated."

But Bristow's relationship with Gill never got past the first contract talks. When Bristow was Hornet player-personnel director, he wrestled with Gill's agent, Arn Tellem, during their acrimonious negotiations.

Later, Coach Bristow and player Gill never got along.

"Kendall certainly did not want to be part of this organization," Hornet President Spencer Stopen said. "He preferred to be traded. He's now with a club and a market that is obviously excited to have him. Obviously, he's excited to play for them."

A better shooter than Payton

Let's discount a couple of Kendall Gill myths.

Myth No. 1: Gill is just another Gary Payton. A guard who can't shoot straight.

Although Gill isn't the three-point threat Barros was, he is a much better shooter than Payton. Gill, 6 feet 5, averaged 20.5 points per game his second season. Payton averaged 9.4.

"If you're asking me his weakness - and I'm not saying it's a hole in his game - he won't stand out there and drain the 20-footer all day," Whitsitt said. "But he's not where Gary Payton was two years ago. He's better than that. He's a good scorer and he'll become a better shooter.

"He likes to score off the dribble. Likes to put it on the floor. We'll be able to run some of our isolation stuff with Kendall like we do with Ricky (Pierce)."

Gill, however, is only a career 24.8 percent three-point shooter. The Sonics will be thin at the three-point line. Sam Perkins, Ricky Pierce, Nate McMillan and, if he still is a Sonic, Derrick McKey, will be the three threats.

"My only nervousness," Karl said, "is that our personality is at a point now where teams will really pack it in against us. But I think by adding Kendall we've taken another step forward. And NBA history says you improve your shot if you work at it. He'll be a better shooter than some people are saying."

Myth No. 2: Gill is another McKey. Some nights he shows up to play. Some nights he doesn't.

Wrong.

"Both Allan and I agreed that if Kendall had come back for just one more year he wouldn't have been a problem for us," Twardzik said. "He wouldn't have just gone through the motions. He works extremely hard. He plays very hard. He wants to be a good player. The part of his game that is the most consistent is the hard work."

Added Whitsitt: "I know he can play defense. I know he can extend the floor. And I know he likes to work.

"The problems in Charlotte weren't because Kendall wanted to be the star. He wants to play. Loves to work. And loves to win."

Gill was the fifth pick in the first round of the 1990 draft, chosen by Charlotte three slots after the Sonics took Payton. Now Seattle has 1990's second and fifth picks - two lottery picks - as its starting backcourt.

Stay tuned for another deal

Although Whitsitt wouldn't comment yesterday, the Sonics also will try to make a deal sending McKey to the Indiana Pacers for Detlef Schrempf.

Stay tuned.

"With Kendall, we got a guy who fits perfectly with our philosophy," Whitsitt said. "He's an athlete who can run. I think his ability to run is the most important thing. There were times last year when Gary wanted to push the ball and, when Eddie Johnson and Ricky Pierce were on the floor together they had trouble filling the wings."

The Sonics lost a three-point shooter in Barros, but little else. Johnson is at the end of his career. Charlotte is expected to waive him if it can't trade him.

The trade makes the Sonics faster, more defensive-minded and more uncomfortable to play against.

It means Gill is out of Charlotte and into a place he wants to play.

It is another trade that cost the Sonics almost nothing. And it turns up the heat in the Western Conference.

----------------------------------------------. Kendall Gill at a glance . . Age: 25. Pos: Guard Ht: 6-5. Wt: 210. Prep: Rich Central (Matteson, Ill.). College: Averaged 20 points at Illinois as senior. First Illini player in 48 years to lead Big Ten in scoring. UPI first-team All-American. Drafted: No. 5 pick, first round, '90. Contract: Seattle assumes contract Gill signed last week for $26.6 million over seven years. Quote: "I'm glad to have the opportunity to go to a contender. Seattle is a team that wins a lot of games, and their style of play matches a lot of what I like to do. I think this is a great opportunity for me." - Gill on the trade. . Gill's NBA statistics: (Regular Season). . Charlotte G FG FT Reb Ast Pts. 1990-91 82 .450 .835 263 303 11.0. 1991-92 79 .467 .745 402 329 20.5. 1992-93 69 .449 .772 340 268 16.9. Totals 230 .457 .774 1005 900 16.1.