Payton, Mason traded to Milwaukee for Ray Allen

The Sonics traded nine-time All-Star Gary Payton and Desmond Mason today to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for 6-foot-5 guard Ray Allen, 6-2 point guard Kevin Ollie, 6-4 rookie Ronald Murray and a 2003 conditional first-round draft pick.

What might feel surreal to long-time Sonics fans is seeing Payton and Mason Friday night on the Bucks’ bench against the Sonics in KeyArena. However, Sonics GM Rick Sund said all the players must pass physicals and probably would not be available to play in the Friday game.

But that’s not where the news ends. Sonics guard Kenny Anderson, who has been on the injured list for the past three games for back spasms, was swapped to New Orleans for 7-footer Elden Campbell.

Payton, 34, will rejoin former Sonics coach George Karl, now with the Bucks. Milwaukee is in Seattle today, preparing for a game against the Sonics Friday. The game, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will be televised locally on KONG and nationally on ESPN.

Allen, 27, who played collegiately for Connecticut, has been in the league seven years. He is a three-time Eastern Conference All-Star, and won a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics. His consecutive games streak of 400 games — ended Dec. 22, 2001 at Houston because of left knee tendinitis — is the longest such streak in Bucks history.

Allen is averaging 21.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 47 games this season for Milwaukee. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round (fifth pick overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft, Allen was traded on draft night along with Andrew Lang to Milwaukee for Stephon Marbury.

Campbell, in the league for 12 years out of Clemson, is averaging 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds for New Orleans.

Ollie, a six-year veteran, averaged 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 53 games with Milwaukee this season. He leads the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio with 5.03.

Murray was drafted by the Bucks in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft. He averaged 1.9 points in seven games for Milwaukee this season.

Mason was averaging 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, while Payton contributed 20.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

A 13-year veteran, Payton was originally selected by the Sonics in the first round (second pick overall) of the 1990 draft. He averaged 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.1 steals in 999 career games with the Sonics. He is the franchise’s leader in games, minutes played, points, three-point field goals and steals.

Mason, who was selected by the Sonics in the first round (17th pick overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft, has posted career averages of 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 205 games with the Sonics.