The Sonics want to deal Payton, but throwing Vin Baker in scares teams.

Salary cap flexibility huh? Turns out, the Ewing deal gave them $500,000 more than every other team in the league, who had their $4.5 million exceptions. And when it comes right down to it, the Sonics actually outsmarted themselves, because while every team over the cap also gets a $1.3 million exception, the Sonics lose theirs by being under the cap. I'm no mathematician, but that seems to be an $800,000 deficit.

But they got Calvin Booth, who averaged 2.9 rebounds last season.

The Sonics went on to miss the playoffs; they have made no offseason trades, and they have had six players leave the franchise.

Did I mention Booth has played only 66 career games?

"I hope the fans will give me the time to understand the situation, bring some positive changes and have faith that we will make the right decisions," Schultz said. "We will put them first, and we will bring a winner back."

When, 2010?

"I'm not receptive or open to excuses for not playing hard," Walker said."We talked about the fact that change might be good for (Baker), that he's in a place where expectations might be different, and he's not in the city where he signed the contract. ... Vin set the bar pretty high based on the way he played his first year here. In that sense, change could be positive."

So far, the Sonics have been unable to deal Baker, and all indications are he will be back. Several sources within the organization said not one team would take Baker, who had $66 million left on his contract. In fact, Schultz had Baker over to his home to begin the process of making up.

So far, the Sonics have been unable to get anything in return. Portland wanted him, but when the Blazers stole Ruben Patterson and Seattle got nothing in return, it infuriated the Sonics so much that irreparable harm apparently has been done between the sides. Miami still has an interest, but nothing to offer. Minnesota wants Payton, but the Timberwolves have only one asset on their team, and I'll give you a hint: it's not Joe Smith.

"There's a scenario with the luxury tax looming," Walker said. "There will be some poor basketball decisions made by teams who need to get under the tax. We want to be able to take advantage of that, and we have the flexibility to be in those conversations.

"If we were sitting here with an old team that didn't have the kind of assets we have, you'd have to look at it completely different. We're going to make changes with a purpose in mind. There's no lack of will or anybody shirking from making tough decisions."

I wonder if it was a tough decision to sign Calvin Booth for $34 million?