Notebook | Durant feels for the loss in the Redskins family

LOS ANGELES — Shock overcame Sonics rookie Kevin Durant on Tuesday morning.

And it had nothing to do the matchup later in the day with Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant.

Durant, a fan of the Washington Redskins since growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, couldn't believe the news that safety Sean Taylor died after being shot in the leg in a home-invasion incident at Taylor's home in Miami.

Durant, 19, doesn't know the Taylor family personally, but still sent his prayers.

"It's a tragedy," Durant said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. I don't know what you can do in that situation, but he's up in a better place right now. He's up in heaven."

The Sonics discussed Taylor's death on the bus to their shoot-around Tuesday. There has been a rash of armed robberies against athletes in the NFL and NBA in recent years, including New York's Eddie Curry and Detroit's Flip Murray, a former Sonic.

Durant, the No. 2 overall draft choice, acknowledged he could be a target because of his name recognition, leading all NBA rookies in scoring at 18.9 points a game. People even know the location of the Mercer Island home he shares with his family.

"People tell me I am," Durant said of being targeted. "I'm a young guy, tall, and there's a lot of so-called hype. I just try to surround myself with good people who won't allow me to be in a bad position. And I'm a low-key guy. I really don't wear too much jewelry or wear flashy things. You've got to be careful."

Sonics guard Earl Watson, a seven-year veteran, felt for the Taylor family.

"Your heart goes out to people who are close to him, like I think about his mom, first," Watson said. "It could be anyone. It could be just someone looking to rob someone. It's something we talk about and you have to be careful."

West starts

Sonics guard Delonte West received the nod to start Tuesday night. The move simply was part of Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo's plan to give West, Watson and Luke Ridnour time to start in the beginning part of the season before settling into a regular rotation.

But only Watson has been healthy every day since the opening of training camp, receiving the bulk of the starts — 12 of the Sonics' past 15 games.

"Depending on who does what during the game, that'll be who finishes the game," said Carlesimo, who's leaned toward West the past few matchups.

Ridnour, Petro closer

Ridnour didn't make the trip to Los Angeles, but a team spokesman said he's close to returning from a partially torn left quadriceps.

Ridnour is doing some work on the court, but athletic trainer Mike Shimensky hasn't told Carlesimo when Ridnour can return to practice.

Center Johan Petro, who suffers from a lower back strain, is able to play, but Carlesimo doesn't want to use him until he has a chance to practice.

With the Sonics playing the second of a back-to-back set against Orlando tonight, that probably won't be until Thursday at the earliest.