Rick Sund
Rick Sund
Rick Sundis an NBA executive who is the former GM of the Atlanta Hawks, replacing Billy Knight in 2008...
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.
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.
depth gives
We are doing center-by-committee, and we have to have that depth there. Vitaly gives us bulk. Mikki gives us length.
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.
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.
leadership nice taking
He's taking on a real nice leadership role,
ability along given middle physical presence three
In his three years with the Sonics, Vitaly has given us a tough, physical presence in the middle along with the ability to score.
easy maybe seem team wants
It's never easy to make a deal, even those that seem the simplest. When you want to do it, another team maybe wants to wait. So there's much to consider.
best knows minutes per played unknown
His assists per minutes played is one of the best in the league. What we like is that there is no unknown with him. You know what you're getting. He knows who he is.
complement defense existing knowledge skills
His knowledge of defense will complement the skills of our existing staff.
developing nice since took
In my view, he's been developing since he took over. He's done a nice job.
fun key knows love seeing watch
It's been fun to watch him mature. You love seeing that in your young players. Now he knows he's one of the key spokes in the wheel.