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Originally published Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:00 AM

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Sonics | Hill names Swift his opening-night center

Sonics coach Bob Hill has named Robert Swift his starting center for the Nov. 1 opener against Portland. Swift has drawn praise from Hill...

By Jayda Evans

Seattle Times staff reporter

Sonics coach Bob Hill has named Robert Swift his starting center for the Nov. 1 opener against Portland.

Swift has drawn praise from Hill for his smart play and rebounding. It was enough to replace last year's starter, Johan Petro, who is averaging more fouls (2.8) than points (2.7) in exhibition play. In Monday's win over Phoenix, Petro was called for three fouls in eight minutes and was scoreless.

Swift should start inside with power forward Chris Wilcox, but Hill said he has had several discussions with Wilcox about his exhibition performance — averages of 5.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in six preseason games.

The coach wants to see the same aggressive player who averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 29 games in Seattle last season after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in February. The display — topped by a 26-point, 24-rebound night against Houston in April — helped get Wilcox a three-year, $24 million deal.

Hill wants to start seeing that player tonight, when the Sonics host Sacramento in an exhibition matchup at KeyArena.

Fortson back?

Veteran forward Danny Fortson could see his first exhibition action tonight. He has been out with a left knee injury, practicing sporadically until he participated in a full session Tuesday and looked solid, according to Hill.

Fortson didn't expect to return until the season opener on Nov. 1.

He missed 46 games last season due to the injury.

Notes

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• Teams must shave their rosters to 15 by Thursday, meaning at least two Sonics players will be waived. Injuries and the pending sale of the team prevented Hill from making cuts earlier, but now that the NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale to Oklahoma City-based owners, Hill expects to have more serious talks about the roster and whether the team can keep 14 or 15 players, as the coach would like. The roster minimum is 13.

• Rookie center Mouhamed Sene practiced after leaving the Phoenix game on Monday due to a stomach illness. He was evaluated at US Airways Center and cleared to return home with the team.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com

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