Going Green

It's not every year that the No. 5 pick in the draft can be so overshadowed by a rookie teammate.

But that's the situation Jeff Green finds himself in with the Sonics.

Green, who last season helped carry Georgetown to the Final Four, landed in Seattle after the Celtics -- who took him with the fifth pick -- included him in the deal for Ray Allen. Of course, that meant he'd join No. 2 pick Kevin Durant in the Sonics' youth movement.

"I've seen both sides of being a rookie -- coming in and not being known as well, and getting all of the attention," Green told the Seattle Times. "I think I'm getting the best of it. I'm learning a lot from it and knowing what to expect."

Out of the limelight, the 21-year-old forward has mixed flashes of excellence with bouts of inconsistency. In November, Green had back-to-back double-doubles, and he finished the month averaging 10 points (on 44.6 percent shooting) and 5.9 rebounds. Last week, the former Hoya had a 17-point performance, but scored a combined 13 points in his three other games. He's averaging 7.1 points (on 39.6 percent shooting) and 4.9 rebounds so far in December.

"[He's] been more up and down because of how we've used him," coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "He needs more regular minutes -- 20, 24 minimum a game."

Luckily for Green, his ups and downs are often eclipsed by those of the Sonics' other rookie. What's his name again?

(Send comments, complaints or hype for your favorite rookie to Drew Packham at drew.packham@turner.com.)