Notebook | Szczerbiak appears to be unfazed by trade rumors

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's a regular pregame routine Wally Szczerbiak doesn't like to break.

There's calisthenics, jumping and stretching, followed by shooting, interviews and evaluating scouting reports. But this time of year, the eight-year veteran has to make room for trade rumor discussions.

Szczerbiak and teammates Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour have been linked to possible deals — a trend that will continue until the Feb. 21 deadline passes.

Sources said the latest — Szczerbiak and Watson to Miami for guards Jason Williams and Ricky Davis and forward Dorell Wright — is unlikely. Yet the Sonics, looking to clear cap space for another busy offseason building the team, could be in the market to unload hefty contracts.

"It's tough. I think the writing is on the wall here," said Szczerbiak, who has been traded twice.

He added, "We have two very promising young rookies in my position who they want to see play and they're very capable," referring to Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. "I don't think they're just going to be good players in this league, I think they're going to be great players. So I don't know where my future lies here."

Szczerbiak is the team's highest-paid player, due $15 million during the next two seasons. Watson is contracted through 2010; he makes $5.8 million this season, $6.2 million next season and $6.6 million the season after.

Williams ($8.9 million) and Davis ($6.8 million) have contracts that expire at season's end, and Wright, a promising third-year player, has a qualifying offer of $2.4 million next year.

Said Szczerbiak: "At this point in my career I want to win. I want to get on a team that has the opportunity to make the playoffs, not saying we can't here. We could get on a run. But a change of scenery could help that."

Trade rumors are nothing new, Szczerbiak said, and being traded to Miami and playing with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade — "there's a lot worse places to play."

The Sonics are on a nine-game losing streak, and trading any combo of Szczerbiak and Watson would be ridding the team of its fiercest competitors and better offensive players. Szczerbiak is the team's third-leading scorer (12.6 points), and Watson leads in assists (6.2).

West rests

Guard Delonte West missed his second consecutive game because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. An MRI exam Thursday showed inflammation. West said he would play, but coach P.J. Carlesimo wants to wait until West is healthy, though he is on call when the Sonics are in foul trouble.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Green	19:02	2-6	0-0	1-4	0	0	4
Thomas	21:23	1-4	0-2	1-8	1	2	2
Collison	24:22	6-12	0-1	4-6	0	1	12
Watson	20:48	3-8	0-0	0-1	8	2	6
Durant	28:25	8-18	4-4	3-3	0	1	22
Szczerbiak	26:46	8-16	1-2	0-5	2	1	19
Wilkins	27:57	4-10	0-0	1-4	1	1	8
Wilcox	23:59	5-9	3-6	3-4	1	2	13
Ridnour	27:12	4-10	0-0	0-5	6	3	8
Petro	11:17	0-3	2-2	2-7	0	0	2
Gelabale	8:49	2-3	0-0	0-0	0	0	4
Totals		43-99	10-17	15-47	19	13	100

Percentages: FG .434, FT .588. Three-point goals: 4-19, .211 (Durant 2-4, Szczerbiak 2-7, Gelabale 0-1, Green 0-1, Watson 0-3, Wilkins 0-3). Team rebounds: 9. Team turnovers: 13 (17 PTS). Blocked shots: 7 (Collison 2, Petro 2, Green, Thomas, Wilcox). Turnovers: 11 (Durant 3, Petro 2, Watson 2, Collison, Green, Ridnour, Szczerbiak). Steals: 3 (Petro, Thomas, Wilkins).

MEMPHIS
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Miller	28:49	9-17	1-3	1-4	0	1	25
Gasol	32:17	11-19	2-3	5-12	5	1	24
Milicic	18:58	3-7	0-0	1-4	2	2	6
Conley	29:30	3-8	0-0	0-3	8	1	7
Jones	40:24	8-13	2-3	5-13	7	4	20
Warrick	13:35	3-6	2-4	2-4	1	4	8
Navarro	26:47	9-12	0-0	0-4	5	0	21
Lowry	18:30	2-7	0-0	0-1	2	0	5
SSwift	14:55	3-5	0-0	0-4	1	2	6
Brown	10:10	1-4	0-0	1-4	1	1	2
Cardinal	6:05	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		52-100	7-13	15-53	32	16	124

Percentages: FG .520, FT .538. Three-point goals: 13-26, .500 (Miller 6-9, Navarro 3-5, Jones 2-4, Conley 1-3, Lowry 1-4, Gasol 0-1). Team rebounds: 8. Team turnovers: 14 (19 PTS). Blocked shots: 11 (Milicic 5, Gasol 4, Jones, S.Swift). Turnovers: 13 (Miller 3, Navarro 3, Gasol 2, Brown, Jones, Lowry, Milicic, S.Swift). Steals: 6 (Jones 3, Conley, Lowry, Navarro).

Seattle	25	22	25	28 — 100
Memphis	32	36	34	22 — 124

Attendance: 13,451 (18,400). Time: 2:00. Officials: Scott Foster, David Jones, Eli Roe.