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Wednesday, February 21, 2001
Payton won't accept trade to losing team



SEATTLE – Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics would accept a trade – to a contender.

Gary Payton
Payton

"I'm not going to go to a team that's losing," Payton said after Tuesday's practice. "I think that would be disrespectful to me to trade me to somebody like that.

"I'm going to have to go to a team that's winning and that I'm going to feel comfortable with. I'm not going to anybody."

For the first time in Payton's 11-year career in Seattle, the Sonics say he is not untouchable in trade talks. General manager Wally Walker has said he will listen to offers for any player on his team, including Payton.

The 32-year-old Payton became the Sonics' all-time leading scorer this season and is averaging 22.5 points, 8.3 assists and 1.49 steals.

Payton helped the Sonics reach the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls in 1996, but the 2001 Sonics are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. They have not won a playoff series since 1998.

It is unlikely the Sonics will deal Payton before Thursday's NBA trading deadline, but Seattle's group of new owners could decide to rebuild the franchise this summer by trading the All-Star point guard.

Payton would rather stay in Seattle to complete his career, but he also knows he has a lot of trade value.

"This is a business," Payton said. "I want to stay, but I can't control nothing."

Payton made his seventh All-Star game, but he also has run afoul of coaches Paul Westphal and Nate McMillan this season.

Westphal and McMillan each suspended Payton, but Westphal rescinded his suspension. McMillan, who replaced the fired Westphal Nov. 27, suspended Payton for one game following a shouting match after a game against Phoenix on Jan. 17.

Payton has been playing at less than 100 percent because of a strained abdominal muscle that caused him to miss the second and third games of his career because of injuries.

Payton hasn't given up on this Sonics' season, although the team has lost to Boston and Atlanta at home since the All-Star break to fall to 28-26.

"I can't be disappointed yet," Payton said. "We still can make a run for the playoffs."

Payton teammates Vin Baker, Ruben Patterson, Brent Barry and Shammond Williams also have been mentioned in trade speculation.

The trade talk swirling around the Sonics has been a distraction, according to McMillan, who scolded the media following Tuesday's practice.

"What I first want to say is that some of us are writing some inaccurate stories," McMillan said. "These guys have enough to worry about with the trade deadline coming up. To write stories that upset these guys and get these guys concerned is wrong."

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