Karl Learns His Place in SuperSonics’ Organization

His frustrating draft-day work done, Seattle SuperSonic Coach George Karl finished a bottle of beer and was ready to start on another.

“Do you think they’ll fire me for drinking a beer?” Karl said.

No, George. But SuperSonic owner Barry Ackerley might fire you if the team doesn’t live up to his championship expectations next season.

Karl’s lack of control over his destiny was evident in Wednesday’s NBA draft.

Thrust into the unfamiliar role of running the team’s draft, Karl was close to landing one of the game’s premier players in Chicago’s Scottie Pippen.

Then Ackerley apparently said no.

For Karl, it was NBA reality at its devastating worst.

Karl thought he had a better chance to win a title with Pippen than with Shawn Kemp, the player the Bulls wanted for their four-time All-Star.

“I want to coach the best team possible,” Karl said. “We’re not going to say there’s anyone unprotectable or untradeable.”

Ackerley apparently nixed the deal because he was afraid of a season-ticket holders’ backlash if the Sonics lost the spectacular and popular Kemp.

By telling Karl he couldn’t make the trade, Ackerley in effect told him who was calling the shots. It’s Ackerley’s team, not Karl’s.

Karl must win next season and he must win on Ackerley’s terms.

Karl and draft consultant Wally Walker took one small chance. They traded second-round pick Zeljko Rebraca, a nondescript 6-foot-11, 198-pound center from Yugoslavia who was the 54th and final pick in the draft, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves’ 1996 second-round draft choice.

“I don’t think I called him on it,” Karl said. “We’re very powerful on second-round picks.”

The sarcasm in his voice reflected his frustration.

The Bulls said the Sonics wanted to trade Kemp to them.

Karl said otherwise. The Bulls wanted the deal, he said. The Sonics listened, then rejected it, he added.

“I can tell you we have never shopped Shawn Kemp since I’ve been here,” Karl said. “But a team did present a trade to us that we did consider. I will not deny that.”

The Sonics had an NBA- and franchise-best 63-19 record this season. Then, they held a two-games-to-none lead over Denver in a first-round playoff series.

Since then, they’ve been in a slump.

The Nuggets did the unexpected and came back to eliminate Seattle from the playoffs 3-2. Then Bob Whitsitt, the NBA executive of the year, told Ackerley he wanted out of the final three years of his five-year contract as president and general manager of the team.

Ackerley let Whitsitt out of his contract but not without considerable pain.

The 1994-95 season could be explosive. If the Sonics’ slump continues, it could cost Karl his job.