"Marcus Thornton is near the top of the Kings' priorities once the business of basketball resumes with the anticipated official end of the NBA lockout.

Thornton is a restricted free agent, so the Kings can match any offer the guard receives from another team. But he must wait before he knows what the Kings – or anyone else – offer him.

Early Saturday morning, the NBA reached a tentative agreement with player representatives to end the lockout. Players, however, still cannot have contact with team personnel or use team facilities until both sides approved the deal.

Until the deal is official, teams also are not permitted to comment on it or players.

Commissioner David Stern said training camps ideally will start Dec. 9, coinciding with the start of a compacted free-agency period. The season would begin with a Christmas tripleheader.

By then, the Kings will have had time to use the $25 million to $30 million under their salary cap to add to the roster, which would include re-signing Thornton and signing their three draft picks.

But until Thornton actually can speak with the Kings, he remains in limbo.

"I really don't know where I'm going to be until I have something in writing," Thornton said. "I'm going to keep my options open. This free-agency thing is going to go fast."

The quick free-agency period will contrast with the labor negotiations that delivered an agreement on the 149th day of the lockout.

The delay in starting the season led to Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins considering taking their game overseas. Evans was to decide by Wednesday whether to play in Italy."