European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              July 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Page 25 Carlesimo predicts Bright future for sonics new coach confident team will stay put with prize rookies by Percy Allen the Seattle times Seattle when new Seattle super sonics coach Carlesimo interviewed with Clay Bennett last he had a few questions for the teams majority if the former san Antonio assistant was going to leave the fou time Aba Champion spurs and move his wife and two sons from the Southwest to the he needed to know if the sonics Are going to play in Seattle beyond the 200708 he wanted to hear from Bennett if the sonics intend to break the final two years of their key Arena lease and move to Oklahoma City or Kan Sas As has been before asking his Carlesimo was quizzed by Bennett and general Man Ager Sam Presti on How hed guide prize rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff the sonics brass probed Carlesimo psyche with esoteric questions about his heart and they spoke philosophically about basketball and specifically about his defensive then it was Carlesimo turn to ask ques what did he think of Bennetts an Swers in convinced that Clay wants to stay Here and Hes going to do everything he can to make that he said i dont think i can Impact that a Ive got my hands full doing what in work ing with our Guys and trying to be As Good we if we do a decent the product on the floor is going to help that but i dont know what its going to who coached three years in Portland before a 2v2year stint with Golden knows How valuable basketball in the Northwest is to the during thurs Days news when he was introduced As the teams 15th head he referred often to the sonics 1979 Aba title and their 1996 Aba finals in my mind and Ive been Here a Cou Kevin Seattle supersonics new head coach talks with the Media As super sonics general Sam looks on in on pie of hours i believe were going to be Carlesimo i talked to people in the league office and i dont know All of but i know from talking to Clay this is where he wants to in absolutely con Vinced of he explained to me Why in terms of whats Best for this i be Lieve that and i really Hope that whats going to How its going to happen or Why its going to i dont i also think theres a certainly a and i dont want to put words in anybody in the league office this is where they want the didst hire Carlesimo to Campaign on his he has deep experience in the College and pro game and will immediately instill a highly defensive mentality with players that play intelligently and play the sonics chairman said in a we believe is absolutely the right person for the Job and is More than ready for the anyone seeking reasons Why the sonics chose Carlesimo from a list of candidates that included former Minnesota Timber wolves coach Dwane Utah jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Sacramento Kings assistant Scott Brooks needed to watch the 58yearold coach interact with the sonics 30yearold on whenever Carlesimo memory failed who sat to his filled in the when Carlesimo cracked Sel Depre Cating Presti was the first to break into a smile before dipping his head to mute his by the end of their 26minute news con Carlesimo and Presti were finish ing each others sentences and retelling Sto Ries from their dynasty Days with the we were As close As assistants and front office executives can said pres who worked in san Antonio the past seven we spent a great Deal of time together and shared a lot of conversations and a lot of time talking about basketball and talking about we shared our visions and a Way wed like to approach things from a professional standpoint and a basketball philosophy one of the great things about san Anto Nio and what Well create Here in Seattle is that Mere will be a an understand ing that were in this who replaces fired coach Bob inherits a Young team that will be without its top two scorers because Presti traded seven time Allstar guard Ray Allen to Boston on draft Day and free agent Rashard Lewis has agreed to sign with the Orlando magic on july Carlesimo said the Seattle Job was the perfect fit for him because theres a shared vision in place and i dont think Well waver from he has been looking for that fit since being the victim of a Latrell Sprewell Chok ing attack on and being fired by Golden state on after compiling a 46113 Carlesimo also guided Portland to three playoff appearances and a 137109 record in three his last year there in they had the youngest team in the Presti because the sonics Are so Young no player is older than 30 Carlesimo likened his new Job to previous stints at Wagner col where he coached for six and Seton where he had a 212166 record and an Mcaa title game appearance in 12 the past eight including a five year stint As a spurs Hast tempered Carlesimo Iny surface approach that caused a mini Mutiny at Golden state and alienated players in i dont know that Ive changed All that he next year will be my 35th year in 23 in College and 12 in the i think a coach evolves Day to Day and week to i think i Learned an awful lot from spurs coach Gregg i think a lot of my beliefs were reinforced by pop and the other coaches and players in san Antonio and the Way they having said in still who i and i think when you get outside your own per that not a Good you need to learn from you need to learn from your past hopefully in a much better coach than i was seven or eight years Bryant says he apologized to lakers pm Kupchak the associated press los Angeles although he didst rescind his Trade Kobe Bryant softened his stance somewhat thursday saying he had apologized to los Angeles lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in person for the Way he handled his upset feelings five weeks i just Felt like As a it was important for me to Tell in sorry it came out that Bry ant said at a lightly attended news conference at Loyola Mary where he spoke mainly about his Camp for youngsters at the school this Bryant said that while he could have called it was important he speak with him i was i was vent Bryant when asked whether he still wanted Bryant replied i Haven thought about that in a Long Ive kind of stepped away from Ive concentrated on team what i Aba briefs say is what i Well just have to see where it the National team be july 20 in Las gins practice the nabs leading scorer the past two complained about a Lack of Talent around him at seasons and said May 30 he wanted to be Trad adding nothing could change his despite that the Lak ers have made Clear that trading Bryant int in their Bryant is owed million Over the next four but could Termi Nate his contract in two no More magic for Hill Grant Hill made seven Aba Allstar teams and won two College Champion he also has never been past the first round of the Aba hungry for a Hill is Leav ing the Orlando magic after seven injury plagued years to join a perennial contender in the Phoenix his agent said the 34yearold Forward agreed to a two year Deal Worth about million for the first with a second year player option for about agent Lon Babby theres no question he Coul Dve gotten considerably More Money but that was not the Babby i think the most important Factor for him was the Opportunity to make a meaning Ful contribution to a team competing for the Hill was considering retire ment or returning to Orlando for another his million contract finished this and the magic have used it As a flashpoint for that salary Cap room was ear marked for a free agent and Orlando agreed to spend it on Seattle supersonics Forward Rashard his agent said this teams cannot discuss or Complete deals until the signing period begins citing those the magic and suns declined comment Hill has played about Only a third of Orlandos 574 regular sea son and made the Allstar team just once since leaving the Detroit this year was the first Hill finished healthy since arriving in or Lando in 2000 with an ankle injury that eventually required five oper Kings sign shakur the Sacramento Kings signed two rookies including first round draft pick Spencer a Center from washing free agent Mustafa shakur also Hawes was chosen 10th Overall in last weeks the 7foot who is led Washington with Points per game and shot 53 percent from the All while dealing with an injured knee and ankle As Well As a mid season illness in his Only College he averaged Sec Ond on the a 190pound averaged Points and assists through 131 games Dur ing a fou year College career at he scored Points per game As a wizards Ink first round picks Washington Nick Young and Oleksiy Pechero signed con tracts with the Washington Wiz Ards on giving the team its first round picks from the past two Aba Young signed a two year Deal that will guarantee him nearly and the 18th Overall pick in signed a two year Deal that ensures him nearly the wizards hold options for two additional years on a 6foot7 guar for was the 16th Overall pick in last weeks draft out of Southern a 7foot Cen played last season in his native