Seattle SuperSonics: Three Reasons Why They Should Draft D.J. Augustin

The Seattle (for now) Sonics are facing many, many problems.

For one, they don't know whether they'll be the Seattle Sonics anymore.  Hell, they don't know if they'll be the Sonics anymore.  Currently, the city of Seattle and the Sonics are in court, fighting over whether the team has the right to leave the lease they have on Key Arena and move to Oklahoma City.

Secondly, the Sonics have roster issues so bad, it makes Donnie Walsh's job look like a piece of cake.  Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, last year's first round picks, are the only sure things on this roster.

Ray Allen and Wally Szczerbiak were traded.  Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour should not be starting point guards.  Chris Wilcox has shown some glimpses of promise, as has Nick Collison (when he's not injured).

The Sonics need something to spark this team.  If they do move to OK City, they need more than Kevin Durant to draw fans.  Remember, Durant was brought in to replace memories of Ray Allen.

By trading the fourth pick in the draft, the Sonics can move down and safely select D.J. Augustin out of Texas.  By drafting Augustin, the Sonics will be addressing three major issues facing their team going into the 2008-2009 NBA season.

1) Finally, no more watching Luke Ridnour or Earl Watson attempt to run an offense

Let's be brutally honest here—Ridnour and Watson are not the first names that come to mind when you think of elite point guards.  Yes, Watson did a great job of dishing out the ball, averaging 6.8 apg last season.  But Watson didn't have that "it" factor that point guards have.

Take Chris Paul, for example.  Paul was able to put the team on his back and do everything coach Byron Scott asked of him.  He was a distributor, he was a scorer, he made everyone around him better.  More importantly, he led his team to a surprising run in the playoffs, eventually losing to the San Antonio Spurs.

Paul launched himself into the upper echelon of point guards.  Putting his name in the same sentence as Steve Nash is not unusual any longer.

D.J. Augustin has done that.  After Kevin Durant left Texas for the NBA, D.J. Augustin carried the Longhorns on his back.  I know—I saw him play every Saturday.

Augustin made A.J. Abrams better.  He made Damion James better.  Augustin was the leader of the Longhorns squad.  He took the big shot when necessary, and he passed the ball when necessary.

Without Augustin, I can honestly say Durant would not have been as good as he was.  Augustin has that determination to be the best point guard in the land. He's got the shot, and he sure as hell can be a leader.

(By the way, the Boston Celtics have just won the NBA Championship.  Total domination of the Lakers.)

2) By trading down, the Sonics can either acquire more picks or a decent player(s) in return

Another logical reason for trading down and drafting D.J. Augustin would be that the Sonics can shore up other parts of their team.  The Sonics have a pressing need for a shooting guard (Durant and Green should stick to playing forward) and a center if Collison/Wilcox don't pan out.

With a rotation of Augustin, Durant, and Green, the Sonics have a good core to build around if/when they move (or if they stay).

Yes, I understand they could trade down and draft someone like Eric Gordon or Russell Westbrook.  But that would ruin the whole purpose of this article.

3) Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry

How many times have we seen chemistry play a huge part in a team's success? Just look at the countless examples: Jordan and Pippen.  Chris Paul and David West.  Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.  Steve Nash and the Suns (pre-Shaq, of course).  The Big Three for the Celtics.  Chemistry is as big a factor as any in the NBA.

By drafting D.J. Augustin, the Sonics are not only helping his development, but also that of Kevin Durant.  These two played together for a year and helped turn around the Texas basketball program.  They built a very strong bond as college teammates and friends.  They can adjust to each other, they can adapt to each other.  They play off each other's strengths.

The Sonics have a great chance here to shore up their future with two guys who've already established a relationship with each other, which in turn should make the entire team better.

I know the idea seems very far-fetched.  The Sonics are entertaining offers for the fourth pick, but chances are that Augustin is not the guy they want (although I'm sure Durant would love it if they drafted him).

But as a Texas Longhorn, nothing would make me happier than to see these two together again—and I'm not the only one.  Ask the other 50,000 members of the Longhorn student body.  

Road trips to Oklahoma City, anyone?