Rick Sund
Rick Sund
Rick Sundis an NBA executive who is the former GM of the Atlanta Hawks, replacing Billy Knight in 2008...
afternoon fact possible response starting talked time
I talked to him this afternoon and acknowledged the fact of possible starting time and (the Timberwolves) revamping their team, and his response was, 'Rick, this is home.'
above athletic fresh looking player plus run start
We were looking for an athletic player that can play above the rim. His athleticism is a big plus for us, and he can run and can finish. He's looking for a place to be where he can get a fresh start as well.
next plan playoffs
My only plan is next season. I think we're playoff-caliber, and our expectations are we should make the playoffs next year.
body certain comfort somebody type zone
We like that bulky type of center. It was important for us to get somebody with that type of body. And there is a certain comfort zone with Vitaly.
change happen imagine july might wait
We like him. We want him back. I've said we'll try to get something done, and now we'll have to wait and see how it goes. I can't imagine anything that might happen between now and July 1 to change that.
deal help liked somebody targeted
We like him and we've liked him for a long time. We didn't want to do a deal just to do a deal. He's somebody that we targeted and somebody we feel can help us.
believe bob coach experience goal help playoffs success toward
With Bob Hill's experience and success as a coach in the NBA, we believe he will help us toward our goal of making the playoffs this season.
good guy heals hopefully last quarter starting tough year
We were so good last year being injury-free. Nick's starting to play pretty good, a really good first quarter (on Sunday). He's a tough guy and hopefully it heals and he will be back.
depth gives
We are doing center-by-committee, and we have to have that depth there. Vitaly gives us bulk. Mikki gives us length.
adds both excited flip guard next versatile
We're excited to have Flip back next season. He adds explosiveness to our backcourt and is versatile enough to play both guard positions.
center committee needed teams
We basically, like most teams in this league, do center by committee. We needed another committee member.
center committee couple floor gives guys needed player runs swift teams virtually
We basically, like most teams in this league, do center by committee, ... We needed to get another committee member. We've got a couple of young guys in (Robert) Swift and (Johan) Petro with Vitaly and now Mikki. Mikki's 7-foot and a little different player than Jerome, but their stats are virtually the same. Mikki runs the floor a little better, Jerome gives a little more bulk.
fighting fights-and-fighting league meaningful playoff playoffs race step
We're in a playoff race, and not only in the race but fighting for home-court advantage, and he had to step up and get meaningful minutes. When he did that, he responded. Nothing is more meaningful than the playoffs in the NBA. That's why the league went after him.
acquired asset both since tremendous
He's been a tremendous asset for the Sonics, both on and off the court, since we acquired him in 2003.