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--> --> Sonics will go for size in draft SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle SuperSonics, who are ready to jettison Vin Baker, like North Carolina senior Brendan Haywood and DePaul sophomore Steven Hunter, a pair of 7-foot centers. The Sonics know they're going to need some more size. "We definitely need a four or a five," coach Nate McMillan said Monday, referring to power forward and center positions. "We need length and we need size." The Sonics, who are expected to make some major roster moves this summer, will pick 12th in Wednesday night's NBA draft. If they don't trade up or trade down, that is. "I don't know. I can't answer that," new general manager Rick Sund said when asked if the Sonics were likely to stay at No. 12. The Sonics didn't want to talk about the expected trade of Baker, their underachieving power forward, or the possible trade of All-Star point guard Gary Payton, who was suspended twice last season for yelling at McMillan and previous coach Paul Westphal. Baker is not expected back for a fifth season in Seattle, where he had career lows of 12.2 points and 5.7 points this season. And Payton, the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 15,308 points, could be gone, too, because the Sonics missed making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Payton issued a public letter Tuesday night thanking his Seattle fans for their support. "I have two years left on my current contract and I feel as though I am still playing the best basketball of my career," he said. "I was looking for a Seattle SuperSonic extension only as a reward for how I have played throughout the years." Payton said he "would like nothing more than to finish my career in Seattle" working with McMillan and the new young talent. "Whatever happens, I want you, my fans, to realize that my heart is now, and always will be, in Seattle," he said. Payton said he realizes basketball is a business and management would make decisions over the next few days. The Sonics managers did want to talk about the draft. "We do have six or seven guys that we feel comfortable if they do fall to us that could help us next year," said McMillan, a former Sonics player and assistant coach who became head coach when Westphal was fired 15 games into the season. "I think we will get a good selection with the 12th pick." The Sonics released a list of 24 players, including Haywood and Hunter, who have worked out for them. The list included 6-foot-11 junior forward Troy Murphy, of Notre Dame, and 6-foot-10 junior forward Michael Bradley, of Villanova. "Bradley and Murphy provide shooting from the perimeter," McMillan said. The Sonics hope they can come up with a player like starting small forward Rashard Lewis, whom they drafted out of high school in the second round in 1998, or swingman Desmond Mason, who was their top draft choice last year. Sund and McMillan will be handling their first draft in Seattle, but team CEO Wally Walker will be overseeing them. "I think it's a really important draft particularly from the standpoint that they've done a really good job the last couple of years of getting some potentially pretty good players in Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason," Sund said. "If we can continue to do that, then you can continue to grow from within." In addition to the 12th pick in the first round, the Sonics will choose 40th and 42nd in the second round. They might use one of the picks on local favorite Casey Calvary, a 6-8 senior forward from Gonzaga and Tacoma's Bellarmine Prep. Calvary was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior. "I love the guy," McMillan said. "Energy, smart player. We're looking at him. The guy plays a lot bigger than he is. He came in and had a great workout for us." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing