Wilkens' implication he was in charge led to demotion

More light is being shed on the demotion of former Sonics team president Lenny Wilkens, and it appears owner Clay Bennett was angry that Wilkens intimated that he was solely running the general manager and coaching searches, according to NBA sources.

According to those sources, Wilkens' interview with media members May 29 from the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., infuriated Bennett to the point that he decided to take full control of the search and move Wilkens back to vice chairman.

Wilkens broke his media silence May 29 and discussed the general manager search with members of the Northwest media. What angered Bennett, according to sources, was Wilkens' repeated use of the word "I" during his session, implying he was in full charge of the search.

"Whomever I pick, we will all work together because we want to make this a very good franchise," Wilkens said. "If I hire you, I am going to give you that latitude to make those judgments. I want to be here to help, but if I hire you, I want you to do the job. I want the (general manager) on board (first) so that he can work with us (in hiring a coach)."

According to sources, Wilkens was never in charge of the general manager or coaching search; Bennett was. Bennett told Wilkens to use the word "we" when discussing the coaching search. Bennett ordered a media shutdown after he removed Bob Hill as coach and reassigned Rick Sund as general manager, and was quite uncomfortable about Wilkens talking to the media.

When he saw that Wilkens acted as if he were in charge of the search, he decided to strip the Hall of Fame coach of his duties. Wilkens has not spoken with the media since Sam Presti was hired as general manager June 8.

Tom Savage, Sonics director of public relations, flew to Orlando on the night of May 30, but it appeared Wilkens had already sealed his fate. Bennett conducted the interviews with Washington Wizards assistant general manager Tommy Sheppard and Presti while Wilkens was phased out of the process.

Wilkens will serve in an advisory role to Presti, but it is uncertain whether he will have any say in the draft or coaching search. Wilkens also did not show interest in signing a new contract with Fox Sports Northwest as an analyst.

Presti has been guarded about revealing any of the team's plans since taking over, and is on board with Bennett's desire to limit information to the media.

NO. 1 CANDIDATE? While Presti is good friends with former Detroit and Indiana coach Rick Carlisle and Carlisle officially broke ties with the Pacers this week, he may take himself out of the running for the Sonics' coaching position for two reasons, according to a source.

First, Carlisle just completed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Pacers, and Bennett, who has been critical of the NBA economic model and increasing salaries, has no intention of paying a coach $4 million per season, according to league sources. It is highly unlikely Carlisle would come to Seattle with a reduction in pay.

Second, Carlisle apparently enjoys his television work with ESPN and has been tempted to take a year off from coaching and pursue openings after next season. Hill made $2.5 million this past season, which is considered a bargain for an NBA coach.

Florida coach Billy Donovan accepted a five-year, $27.5 million package with the Orlando Magic before backing out of the deal. The Magic then signed Stan Van Gundy, who coached less than three years in Miami, to a four-year, $16 million deal.

Carlisle has more experience than Van Gundy and took the Pacers and Pistons to the Eastern Conference finals.

WORKOUTS: The Sonics brought in their most intriguing prospect for a workout so far, auditioning former Louisiana State standout Glen "Big Baby" Davis on Friday.

Davis, who left school after his junior season, is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick. The Sonics own the 31st and 35th picks. Davis elected not to go to Orlando for the pre-draft camp and has not improved his draft stock over the past few weeks.

Seattle also worked out former Wake Forest center Kyle Visser (6 foot 11) and Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko (7-0) in the first session. In the second set of workouts, Syracuse forward Demetris Nichols, Iowa guard Adam Haluska and Fresno State guard Quinton Hosley auditioned.