Sonics sign first-round pick Sene
SEATTLE – Center Mouhamed Sene, the No. 10 pick in last month’s NBA draft, signed with the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday.
Sene is expected to make a guaranteed $3.3 million in the first two years under terms outlined in the NBA rookie contract scale.
Sene, a 7-footer, was the third consecutive young, inexperienced center the Sonics selected in the first round. In 2004, Seattle chose Robert Swift with the 12th pick and then took Johan Petro with the 25th pick last year.
Neither Swift nor Petro played a minute of college basketball. Sene spent last year playing for Verviers-Pepinster of the Belgium Division I League, and Sonics officials were impressed by his shot-blocking.
“We’re glad to get Mouhamed on board,” Sonics general manager Rick Sund said in a statement. “His participation in this month’s summer league in Salt Lake City will give him a feel for the NBA and he can begin to get acclimated to the style of play.”
The 20-year-old Sene was born in Thies, Senegal and didn’t begin playing basketball until four years ago. He originally went to a private school in Senegal to become a mechanic, but his father pushed him toward basketball.
Sene didn’t gain much NBA attention until the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit, when Sene had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 9 blocks in 27 minutes. He is still considered a raw talent offensively and could spend the first-half of next year playing for the Sonics’ NBA Development League affiliate in Boise, Idaho.
“With his ability to block shots and rebound, we hope he can give support to Robert Swift and Johan Petro to improve our defense in the paint,” Seattle coach Bob Hill said.
Around the league
The Atlanta Hawks signed first-round draft pick Shelden Williams to a four-year deal that will earn the former Duke standout about $5 million the first two years. Only the first two years of basic rookie contracts are guaranteed. Williams will earn about $2.46 million as a rookie and $2.65 million in his second season. Williams was the fifth pick in the draft after averaging 18.7 points and 10.7 rebounds as a senior. … New Orleans Hornets president Paul Mott has left the organization. It was unclear whether Mott resigned or was fired.