Sonics can Pendergraft, hire Pistons' director of player personnel

Updated: June 21, 2007, 5:12 PM ET

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Associated Press

SEATTLE -- The Seattle SuperSonics confirmed on Thursday that they have fired director of basketball operations Dave Pendergraft and director of college scouting Steve Rosenberry, clearing the way for Scott Perry, the director of player personnel for the Detroit Pistons, to become Seattle's new assistant general manager.

The Pistons said the 43-year-old Perry is expected to assume his new role as soon as contract details are finalized. Sonics spokesman Tom Savage said he could not confirm Perry had been hired as of Thursday afternoon, but that a front-office personnel announcement was likely coming soon.

Perry was hired by the Pistons as a college scout in 2000. Before that, he was coach at Eastern Kentucky for three seasons.

Savage confirmed that Pendergraft, with the team since 1999, and Rosenberry would not be back for the last year of their contracts as new general manager Sam Presti begins assembling his own staff.

The firings, plus the expected departures of Seattle's assistant coaches from last season's 31-51 team, mean nearly all Sonics personnel who have attended predraft workouts this spring are now gone on the eve of Seattle selecting second overall June 28. Rich Cho, an assistant GM last season, remains on Presti's staff and the two have been watching prospects work out daily for the last week.

Lenny Wilkens, the president of basketball operations last month who attended the NBA predraft camp in Florida, has since been stripped of his basketball responsibilities by owner Clay Bennett. Bennett has given Presti the authority for all basketball decisions, subject to ownership approval.

Greg Oden, the Ohio State center expected to be Portland's choice at No. 1, is due to work out at the Sonics' practice facility on Friday and undergo a team physical exam this weekend. Kevin Durant, the dynamic 18-year-old small forward from the University of Texas likely to be Seattle's choice at No. 2, is due to work out on Sunday and have a physical Monday.

Seattle also has the 31st and 35th overall picks.