Sonics listen as record plunges

It's a sensitive subject, but Sonics President Wally Walker will admit to this much when the topic turns to trade offers and the availability of Gary Payton:

He's listening to what NBA general managers have to say.

Before Friday's 90-88 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers, the fourth in a series of five straight losses, Walker declined to indicate whether Payton was on the trading block. In fact, Walker sidestepped nearly every inquiry involving the Sonics and the possibility of making a deal before the Feb. 20 trade deadline.

However, Walker has watched his team, which began the season 8-2, lose nine of the past 11 games and fall from playoff contention with a 16-20 record.

His best player, Payton, is in the final year of a seven-year deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season. Payton's agents made claims before the season about their unwillingness to re-sign with Seattle after overtures for a contract extension were denied.

If Payton walks away this summer, the Sonics get nothing other than the ability to use his $12 million salary to lure other free agents. But the Seattle point guard, who averages 21.2 points and a league-leading 9.3 assists, has tremendous value when trades are discussed.

So Walker is prudent enough to listen when general managers telephone, and he acknowledged the Sonics have received a few offers. So far it's just talk, but the conversations most certainly will increase as the deadline approaches.

"To say that we're listening, that means that there are people out there that might have some interest in our players," Sonics GM Rick Sund said. "I told our players this: No one is untouchable. No one, and that's true.

"But I also told them that I'm not going to publicly talk about trades or the possibility of trades."

Payton is at the forefront of the speculation. Internet reports and special-interest magazines have linked the Sonics guard to as many as six different trade scenarios.

One team often mentioned as a possibility is Indiana. Pacers GM Donnie Walsh said before the season the teams discussed a deal involving Payton last summer. The trade was never made, perhaps because Indiana wanted to part with forward Austin Croshere and his $6.9 million salary.

The climate for trading Payton to Indiana is constantly changing. A week ago, the chances were good because Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley had been benched and publicly chided by Coach Isiah Thomas. However, Tinsley regained his job and has started the past two games.

Because Tinsley is playing better and the Pacers are unwilling to make a deal that does not involve Croshere, who is on the injured list, a trade with Seattle seems unlikely. When asked about trade talks with the Sonics, Walsh told reporters in Indianapolis that it's an old issue.

The Pacers are leery of trading for Payton because the team would be unable to meet his contract demands this summer. Indiana is committed to re-signing guard Reggie Miller and forward Jermaine O'Neal and would be unable to give Payton the contract he covets.

A more realistic trade scenario involving the Sonics would be dealing Kenny Anderson, who has scored at least 10 points in four of the past five games.

"Make no mistake, we're rebuilding," Sund said. "We try to use the word transition, but we recognize that we've really emphasized the youth (movement) the last two years.

"If you're a team looking for home-court advantage or assured of being in the NBA playoffs and you're struggling, then you look at doing a trade to shake your club up. I'm not looking for a trade. If we do any trade, it's because it's an opportunistic opportunity. Then we'll definitely pursue that. Otherwise, we're happy with the course we're going."

Notes

• Forward Vladimir Radmanovic, who sprained his right ankle Sunday night, will resume playing in about a week. He underwent X-rays, which did not reveal a break or severe ligament damage. ... The Sonics are offering a $10 package that includes an upper-bowl ticket and a voucher redeemable for a fast-food breakfast.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com.