Sonics Say So Long To X-Man -- Mcdaniel Traded To Suns
The Seattle SuperSonics' trade yesterday of forward Xavier McDaniel to the Phoenix Suns for Eddie Johnson and two future draft choices was made to shake the team out of its doldrums and develop younger players, said the team's president.
Sonic President Bob Whitsitt said the team's poor start - the Sonics have a 5-11 record after last night's 106-100 loss to Orlando - was the major reason for the surprise move, which was announced 30 minutes before a game against the Orlando Magic.
``It will let us reposition some players, like Derrick McKey, who will get more minutes at small forward,'' Whitsitt said. ``You have to do the deal when the timing is right - when there's another team that's willing.''
In addition to picking up Johnson, a 6-foot-7 forward, Seattle received Phoenix's 1991 No. 1 pick and either the Suns' or Philadelphia's top choice in the 1993 draft. However, if Philadelphia's 1993 choice is a lottery pick, Seattle would choose between Philadelphia's or Phoenix's 1994 No. 1 selection.
The possibility exists that yesterday's deal may be a prelude to another. The two first-round picks give the Sonics additional trade fodder.
``The first-round picks give us a little flexibility to do some things now or down the road,'' Whitsitt said. ``I'm not going to say we're going to do anything else tomorrow or two months from now. I'm not saying that getting this guy for that guy is going to automatically make us better. What we need to do is give the guys a chance to reblend a little and see how they do.''
Seattle's biggest need is at center, and Sonic Coach K.C. Jones said the club could use the draft picks to get a strong pivot player.
``(McDaniel) was by far the most (marketable),'' Jones said. Down the line, it will help us.
``We've got some other considerations besides EJ (Johnson) that are going to help us as far as trying to get a big man in next year's draft. We have things we can deal with.''
Whitsitt said the trade doesn't mean the team is writing off this season.
``No, not at all,'' he said. ``We're trying to turn the team in the right direction. We made the deal based in part on what has happened in recent games, we lost 10 of 12 (now 11 of 13).
``We're trying to get the team in a position to make the playoffs this season.''
McKey, who scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his debut at small forward, agrees it's too soon to say this season's lost.
``The season's still early,'' he said. ``I thought we played well tonight. If we can play without turnovers, we'll have a chance to win some games.''
Jones said it was difficult to trade McDaniel, the team's leading scorer with a 21.8 average, and one of its most popular players.
``It's sad to see him go,'' Jones said. ``He's been the fire for us. It was hard to do.''
While McDaniel was warming up for last night's game, he was informed by Seattle Coach K.C. Jones that he'd been sent to Pacific Division rival Phoenix.
``I knew something was up when K.C. called me over,'' said McDaniel, who Seattle's No. 1 pick out of Wichita State five years ago. ``He never talks to me during warmups.''
Johnson is expected to practice with the Sonics today in Milwaukee, where the Sonics will meet the Bucks tomorrow.
Johnson won the NBA's sixth-man award following the 1988-89 season. A 10-year veteran, he averaged 13.5 points and 20 minutes a game with the Suns this season as the first player off the bench.
Jones said Johnson's role with the Sonics will not be determined ``until I've had a chance to talk with him and see him practice.''
While his teammates were shocked by the trade, McDaniel, who was nearly traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with guard Nate McMillan for John ``Hot Rod'' Williams before training camp, said he was expecting a moved.
``Based on how close that deal was, I knew I was probably going to get traded, anyway,'' McDaniel said. ``I think the team needed a change, in some direction, whether it was me or someone else.''
Like McDaniel, Johnson suspected he would be traded.
``I've been around long enough to know something was happening,'' he said. ``I could tell I was being showcased.''
McDaniel expressed mixed emotions about the deal. He's sad to leave his teammates, but excited about joining the Suns, whose chances forn an NBA title improved by adding McDaniel.
``The positive thing is that I'm going to a team that's a contender instead of a pretender,'' he said.
The acquisition of McDaniel could be the final piece in what the Suns hope is an NBA championship puzzle.
``Potentially, that could happen,'' said Sun President Jerry Colangelo, whose team has advanced to the Western Conference finals the past two years. ``The West is loaded, and we've been underachieving to date. We could use this influx of juice.
``Even if we were undefeated today, I'd make this trade. We know he can score. We think he adds competitiveness and toughness to a team that needs more of that. And maybe a change of scenery will be a boost to his career at this stage.''
The Sonic players said McDaniel will be missed.
``We'll miss him, on and off the court,'' said McKey. Michael Cage said, ``It comes as a shock to us all, but this is something that has been boiling all year long.''
McDaniel bio
Name: Xavier McDaniel.
Position: Forward.
Ht.: 6 feet 7. Wt.: 205 pounds.
Age: 27. Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
College: Wichita State, 1985.
Draft: First round (fourth overall) of 1985 draft by Seattle.
NBA highlights: Sonics' leading scorer this season (21.8 points per game). Averaged 20.8 points in six seasons. Sonics' No. 4 all-time rebounder with 2,839 (7 average). Sonics' No. 2 all-time rookie scorer and named to league all-rookie team. Named to 1988 Western Conference All-Star team.
-- Career statistics (Regular season)
Year Team GP Reb. Points Avg.
'85-86 Seattle 82 655 1,404 17.1
'86-87 Seattle 82 705 1,890 23.0
'87-88 Seattle 78 518 1,669 21.4
'88-89 Seattle 82 433 1,677 20.5
'89-90 Seattle 69 447 1,471 21.3
'90-91 Seattle 15 81 327 21.8
Totals 408 2,839 8,438 20.8
Johnson bio
Name: Eddie Johnson.
Position: Forward.
Ht.: 6 feet 7. Wt.: 215 pounds.
Age: 31. Hometown: Chicago.
College: Illinois, 1981.
Draft: By Kansas City, 29th overall pick in second round, 1981.
NBA highlights: Earned Sixth Man Award in 1989, averaging 21.5 points per game. Scored more than 13,000 points and averaged 18.7 in 10 seasons. No. 2 in free throws last season (.917).
-- Career statistics (Regular season)
Year Team GP Reb. Points Avg.
1981-82 Kansas City 74 322 690 9.3
1982-83 Kansas City 82 501 1,621 19.8
1983-84 Kansas City 82 455 1,794 21.9
1984-85 Kansas City 82 407 1,876 22.9
1985-86 Sacramento 82 419 1,530 18.7
1986-87 Sacramento 81 353 1,516 18.7
1987-88 Phoenix 73 318 1,294 17.7
1988-89 Phoenix 70 306 1,504 21.5
1989-90 Phoenix 64 246 1,080 16.9
1990-91 Phoenix 15 46 203 13.5
Total 705 3,373 13,108 18.6