Sonics Suspend Forte
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
The Seattle SuperSonics suspended Joe Forte for conduct detrimental to the team Thursday.
They also speeded up discussions about what to do about Forte's future, according to multiple team sources.
Around the trade deadline, the Sonics were trying to decide whether to keep Forte or waive him, even though he has one year and $1.1 million remaining on his three-year contract.
They decided to keep him in part because the trade that sent Gary Payton to Milwaukee left the Sonics with one true point guard - Kevin Ollie - as well as Brent Barry, a converted shooting guard.
But this summer, with the Sonics eying point guards in the draft and free agency, the Sonics are likely to make a move.
They are going to try to trade Forte, who came to Seattle in the trade that sent Vin Baker to Boston last September. And if they can't find any takers, they are likely to waive him.
Forte already had alienated the team when he refused to go on the injured list on multiple occasions. It forced the Sonics to place Ansu Sesay and Calvin Booth on the injured list.
Now, the Sonics have suspended him for a game because, as one team source said, "He's very divisive. He's not a good teammate."
Sources said Forte's suspension was the result of an accumulation of corrosive actions during the season.
The sources described Forte as disruptive in practices, taunting teammates he considered to be inferior players.
Sonics officials warned Forte repeatedly about his disruptive behavior.
Things came to a head Wednesday night, in part, sources said, because Forte was upset he didn't play against Michael Jordan and Brendan Haywood, both fellow University of North Carolina alums.
In the locker room after the game, a stinging 80-74 loss to the Washington Wizards, Forte was joyously singing in the shower.
The suspension will cost Forte $11,211, 1/90th of his $1.009 million salary.
lol..ouch, $11,000 fine for "joyously singing in the shower"..hahaha gayness..
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
The Seattle SuperSonics suspended Joe Forte for conduct detrimental to the team Thursday.
They also speeded up discussions about what to do about Forte's future, according to multiple team sources.
Around the trade deadline, the Sonics were trying to decide whether to keep Forte or waive him, even though he has one year and $1.1 million remaining on his three-year contract.
They decided to keep him in part because the trade that sent Gary Payton to Milwaukee left the Sonics with one true point guard - Kevin Ollie - as well as Brent Barry, a converted shooting guard.
But this summer, with the Sonics eying point guards in the draft and free agency, the Sonics are likely to make a move.
They are going to try to trade Forte, who came to Seattle in the trade that sent Vin Baker to Boston last September. And if they can't find any takers, they are likely to waive him.
Forte already had alienated the team when he refused to go on the injured list on multiple occasions. It forced the Sonics to place Ansu Sesay and Calvin Booth on the injured list.
Now, the Sonics have suspended him for a game because, as one team source said, "He's very divisive. He's not a good teammate."
Sources said Forte's suspension was the result of an accumulation of corrosive actions during the season.
The sources described Forte as disruptive in practices, taunting teammates he considered to be inferior players.
Sonics officials warned Forte repeatedly about his disruptive behavior.
Things came to a head Wednesday night, in part, sources said, because Forte was upset he didn't play against Michael Jordan and Brendan Haywood, both fellow University of North Carolina alums.
In the locker room after the game, a stinging 80-74 loss to the Washington Wizards, Forte was joyously singing in the shower.
The suspension will cost Forte $11,211, 1/90th of his $1.009 million salary.
lol..ouch, $11,000 fine for "joyously singing in the shower"..hahaha gayness..
