Editor's note: As part of "The Stein Line" every Monday, ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein gives his take on things in "Slams and Dunks."

Multiple general managers report that Seattle is indeed open to moving Gary Payton as soon as the Feb. 20 trading deadline, provided that the team GP goes to also takes on either Calvin Booth or Jerome James in the transaction. The Sonics are only interested in deals that would either net certifiable young studs in or create a sea of a salary-cap space to go after Jason Kidd. Ridding the payroll of either little-used (but handsomely paid) center would set them up for some major roster renovation.

	It's not a matter of whether Gary Payton will be traded -- it's when.

Even in the latter case, though, it'd still be hard for the Sonics to make a deal now.

A hypothetical swap centered around the acquisition of a large, expiring contract (like, say, Scottie Pippen's in Portland) would be a boon to the Sonics' future salary-cap flexibility but an extremely difficult PR sell. Payton is the Seattle athlete most synonymous with the city post-Ken Griffey, and casual fans aren't likely to embrace the idea that their beloved Glove was moved for cap room, even if it's the right basketball move.

That's one more variable to make a summer sign-and-trade the more likely vehicle for Payton's departure.