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--> --> Sonics' Patteron now a Blazer SEATTLE (AP) - Ruben Patterson, the No. 3 scorer for the Seattle SuperSonics, has signed an offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers. Patterson has pleaded guilty to a sexual offense and recently served a 15-day sentence on home detention. The Sonics could have matched the Blazers' offer because the 6-foot-5 forward was a restricted free agent. "The Sonics have no intention of exercising our matching rights on this offer," Seattle general manager Rick Sund said Monday in a statement. "This will clear additional cap room space for the Sonics to pursue free agents. Ruben has made on-court contributions to the Sonics in the past two seasons and we wish him well." Sund told The Associated Press in an interview later Monday that the Sonics never intended to sign and trade Patterson, a three-year veteran who was drafted 31st by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1998 draft. Sund said Patterson's departure was actually an advantage. "We've decided that the best situation is the free agent market and this gives us more financial room," Sund said. "If we sign a free agent in the near future for next season, then it's a pretty good tradeoff." Patterson averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 27.1 minutes a game last season. Patterson had entered a modified guilty plea to a third-degree rape charge involving his children's nanny. He was charged with forcing the family's 24-year-old nanny to perform oral sex. He was sentenced May 15 and still faces a civil suit from the nanny. Under his plea, Patterson did not admit guilt but agreed a jury might convict him. Patterson's off-court troubles were certainly a factor in his leaving the Sonics. "We said from the beginning that there was an issue," Sund said. The Sonics missed making the playoffs last season with a 44-38 record. Since the end of the season, center Patrick Ewing, guard Emanual Davis and forward Jelani McCoy have left. Also on Monday, the team waived forward Ruben Wolkowyski, a power forward from Argentina who was highly touted by the Sonics but had trouble adjusting to the NBA game. He played one season, averaging 2.2 points per game in limited playing time. In the NBA draft in June, the team added forward Vladimir Radmanovic, guard Earl Watson and center Predrag Drobnjak. The Sonics are looking for a starting center in free agency to replace Ewing. "We're looking primarily at frontcourt players," Sund said. All-Star point guard Gary Payton and former All-Star power forward Vin Baker remain on the Sonics' roster, but that could change. "Nobody on our team is an untouchable," Sund said. 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