Sacramento Kings News

Evans, Mayo, Wallace, McGee cut by Team USA
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July 28
ESPN.com
 
"Team USA trimmed its roster to 15 on Wednesday by cutting Tyreke Evans, Gerald Wallace, O.J. Mayo and JaVale McGee. The moves, coming four days after the completion of the team's minicamp in Las Vegas, come two weeks before the opening of training camp in New York, beginning Aug. 9. More cuts are ahead, as the U.S. federation must submit a 12-man roster Aug. 26 -- two days before the Americans open pool play against Croatia in Istanbul, Turkey, at the World Championship. The cuts left the team with six guards (Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Stephen Curry and Eric Gordon); four wingmen (Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay and Danny Granger); three power"
Swingman Antoine Wright, guard Pooh Jeter join Kings
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July 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings continued to rebuild their roster Friday by signing free-agent swingman Antoine Wright and guard Pooh Jeter. The Kings have 13 players on their roster, excluding unrestricted free agents Sean May and Ime Udoka. Wright and Jeter, both 26, are among seven players who were not on the opening-night roster last season. "Antoine Wright and Pooh Jeter are two solid players at their respective positions who will add to our roster's depth," Kings general manager Wayne Cooper said in a news release. "Wright has five years of NBA experience under his belt, and Jeter is coming off a great summer league showing, as he played for Cleveland's team in Las Vegas." Wright said his contract is"
Kings guard Tyreke Evans sentenced to informal probation for reckless driving
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July 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans pleaded no contest Friday to reckless driving. Evans, 20, was ordered to serve three years' informal probation and 80 hours of alternative sentencing, Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully said in a written announcement. His driver's license also was suspended for 30 days, and he was ordered to participate in two California Highway Patrol Start Smart Driving programs, educational programs targeting teenage drivers. Evans was driving his black Mercedes S550 shortly before 7 p.m. May 31, when a Highway Patrol flight officer in a CHP Cessna airplane spotted the vehicle traveling more than 100 mph while crossing lanes on westbound Interstate 80. The"
Brockman trade from Kings to Bucks is official
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July 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jon Brockman took to Sacramento as much as Kings fans took to him. So it wasn't easy for Brockman not to respond to the messages on Twitter and fan pages as to whether he would be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Once the trade became official Wednesday and Brockman was no longer a King, he let fans know his second NBA season would begin with Milwaukee. "I wish I could have kept them posted," Brockman said via telephone Wednesday. "I wished I could have told them how everything was going. I was instructed not to comment on the trade possibilities at all. As soon as I was able to, I got on Twitter." With that, Brockman's more than 320,000 followers on Twitter and the rest of the world knew he"
Kings' Tyreke Evans off to sore start at USA tryouts
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July 21
Sacramento Bee
 
"Ouch. This was not the debut Tyreke Evans envisioned. Two hours into his tryout with the U.S. national team, Evans elevated for a layup, came down on an opponent's foot and landed with a wince. "I tweaked my left ankle," Evans explained Tuesday while slumped against a wall in the UNLV gym, his foot encased in ice. "It's a little sore. I just hope it doesn't swell tonight. The trainer wants me to get some treatment back at the hotel. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully I can get back out there tomorrow." Though the Kings' young star didn't seem overly concerned about the extent of the damage, he certainly didn't need the complications. The competition to make the 12-man roster for next month's"
Brockman likely headed to Milwaukee
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July 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings have been excited for weeks about the new faces in their frontcourt. A familiar face now appears on his way out. The Kings are nearing a deal to send forward Jon Brockman to the Milwaukee Bucks in a sign-and-trade for forward Darnell Jackson and a second-round draft pick, according to team sources. A Kings official who was not authorized to comment on behalf of the team confirmed that the trade was close to being finalized. Brockman was picked 38th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2009 NBA draft and traded to the Kings on draft day. His energetic play made him a fan favorite at Arco Arena. Brockman, despite being undersized at 6-foot-7, made an impact in his limited minutes"
Kings' Cousins named Rookie of Month for July
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July 19
NBA.com
 
"Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins was named the NBA's T-Mobile Rookie of the Month for July prior to the Sacramento vs. Dallas game at the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Prior to Sunday's game, Cousins had played in five games for Sacramento and led the league in rebounds with 10.6 rounds."
No guards stand out in Las Vegas
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July 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"After six summer league games, the Kings are still looking for guards to invite to training camp. In the midst of developing rookie centers DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside, and monitoring veteran forwards Omri Casspi and Donté Greene, the Kings looked for a guard or two to stand out. "I think that nobody stood out as kicking down the door of opportunity," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. "Let's put it that way." The group of guards included Donald Sloan, who signed a non-guaranteed, one-year contract before summer league. It also featured Sylven Landesberg, Tyrese Rice, Devan Downey and Ryan Thompson, the younger brother of Kings forward Jason Thompson. The Kings would like to"
Divac visits Kings in Las Vegas
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July 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"Former Kings center Vlade Divac, who is taking a few weeks off from his duties as president of Serbia's Olympic Committee, made a surprise appearance at the Kings-Bulls game Saturday evening at the Thomas"
Kings' Cousins praised for his play in Vegas
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July 17
Sacramento Bee
 
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. OK. Let's do it. DeMarcus Cousins is the best thing to happen to the Kings since the transformative offseason of Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Rick Adelman. Yes, the best early Christmas present since then. And, no, it's not the mind-numbing desert heat, which on Friday approached 114 degrees. At the Las Vegas Summer League, Cousins is receiving more accolades than double teams - and earning every one of them. The rookie has turned more heads here than the scantily clad pixies over at the Palms. He has coaches, scouts and assorted league executives publicly and privately drooling and suggesting the Maloofs have scored the real deal."
Guards try to make an impression
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July 16
Sacramento Bee
 
"There's some pressure that comes with being a guard on the Kings' summer league roster. With an obvious need for help at that position, the Kings are evaluating not only the guards on their summer league roster but also guards playing for other teams. At stake are invitations to the Kings' training camp in October. That need has led to three starting backcourts in three summer league games. Coach Mario Elie will continue to take a look at different players as coaches and management decide whether they have someone on their summer roster who could stick after play ends Sunday. The group in contention for a training camp invitation includes Dionte Christmas, Sylven Landesberg, Ryan"
Sacramento Kings say no, they are not the mystery team
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July 15
Sacramento Bee
 
"Moving with point guard-like alacrity, Sacramento Kings officials today were quick to say they are not the team a Texas developer has claimed is working with him on a deal to move to Las Vegas. That developer, Chris Milam of International Development Management, was quoted in the Las Vegas Sun today saying he has "an NBA team under contract," but the deal will only take effect if Las Vegas officials work with him to get an arena built. Milan is looking for county redevelopment funds to help build what's being called the Silver State Arena. Milam refused to say which team he's dealing with. NBA officials said they have an internal committee looking at Las Vegas' suitability as an NBA city,"
Casspi, Greene play at same time
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July 15
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings' plan this week is to feature Omri Casspi and Donté Greene at small forward during summer league. Greene and Casspi have alternated starts, with Greene getting the nod Wednesday in the Kings' 79-78 win over Minnesota. Kings summer league coach Mario Elie played Greene and Casspi together at times against the Timberwolves by using Casspi as a guard. "I was just trying to get him some minutes," Elie said of Casspi. "He got it going early in that first half, so I tried to reward him with minutes." Casspi finished with 13 points, eight in the first half. Casspi struggled defensively trying to contain Minnesota guard Wayne Ellington, who had a quickness advantage. Elie turned to"
Cousins' play has caused buzz from Strip to midtown
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July 15
Sacramento Bee
 
"DeMarcus Cousins probably didn't realize how his honesty would be mistaken for cockiness. The Kings' rookie center told reporters before June's NBA draft he had a diverse offensive game. Yes, he could score on the perimeter. He loved to pass. Not to mention, Cousins said he had a little "boogie" in him with some deft ballhandling. Yeah, right. If this were the case, why didn't the 6-foot-11, 290-pound center show off any of this during his freshman season at Kentucky? Most predicted Cousins would play near the basket, as he did in college. Guess what? So far, Cousins has been right. Forget those predraft allegations of Cousins having a bad attitude and poor work habits, among other"
Hunter: NBA lockout is possible
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July 15
ESPN.com
 
"In response to NBA commissioner David Stern's assertion that the league lost $370 million last season, the head of the players' union claimed Wednesday that Stern's numbers are as much as $370 million off base. Union director Billy Hunter made that statement in a telephone interview with ESPN.com, saying the commissioner's assertion of the severity of the owners' financial woes "just doesn't hold water." His comments illustrated the fundamental differences the sides are facing as they work to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one due to expire next June 30."
Cousins impressive in summer league
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July 14
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was asked if the speed of games at the NBA Summer League was comparable to what he encountered in his one season at Kentucky. This after he scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 90-84 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. "I can't really tell," Cousins said. "I think I fit in pretty good." After two games, Cousins is fitting in very well. He's been everything the Kings believed he'd be when they selected him with the fifth overall pick in last month's draft. He's posted consecutive double doubles and made life easier for his teammates by drawing double teams. The Kings believed Cousins would be a deft passer, and he's been that when pressured in"
Levien had skills Kings could use
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July 14
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"While prize rookie DeMarcus Cousins entered the Kings' castle a few days ago, one of the organization's more important players quietly slipped out the side door. General counsel and assistant general manager Jason Levien – the attorney and former agent hired 18 months ago to assist in contract negotiations and expand the Kings' presence overseas – resigned because Geoff Petrie felt his services were no longer needed. We know that last part's not exactly true. While success isn't exactly rocket science, it's certainly more demanding than simple math. Acquiring the right pieces. Making the shrewd deals. Maintaining salary cap flexibility. Placing the calls instead of merely answering the"
Cousins impresses in summer league debut
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July 13
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings center DeMarcus Cousins did a lot of good in his NBA summer league debut. He also did some things that reminded his coach that he's a rookie. "He tends to want to dribble it up the court," said Mario Elie, who's running the Kings' summer league team. " 'Get it to your point guard, DeMarcus, and get your big butt down on the box.' " When Cousins did, Elie found a lot to like about the rookie's play at center in the Kings' 97-68 win over the Detroit Pistons. The Kings' first-round draft pick out of Kentucky had 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. "I just kind of let the game come to me and tried to get my teammates involved," Cousins said. "I knew I was going to get double teamed"
Cousins showing Kings his leadership skills
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July 10
Sacramento Bee
 
"Mario Elie praised rookie center DeMarcus Cousins for the things everyone knows he does well on the basketball court. Elie, the Kings' summer league coach, noted Cousins' rebounding and skilled offensive game among highlights of the team's first minicamp practice Friday morning. But Elie also pointed out something Cousins hasn't been given much credit for displaying: leadership. Cousins, the Kings' first-round draft pick, was dogged for being immature before the NBA draft. But as he did when he worked out for the Kings before last month's draft, Cousins continues to show there's more to him that you might not know. "(Cousins) was really vocal out there," Elie said. "He was encouraging his"
Casspi, Greene vying for small forward nod
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July 10
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jockeying for the starting small forward spot has already begun. Omri Casspi and Donté Greene are two players for that position that the Kings' coaching staff will monitor during the Las Vegas Summer League and into the fall training camp. Greene started 50 games last season, his second in the NBA, and averaged 8.5 points. Those starts came at both forward spots, along with some time at guard. Casspi started 31 games as a rookie, averaging 10.3 points. There's plenty of opportunity for playing time. After having a glut of small forwards last season, the Kings now have Casspi, Greene and Francisco García. Gone from that group are Andres Nocioni, Dominic McGuire and Ime Udoka. García also"
Assistant Elie to run Kings during summer league
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July 9
Sacramento Bee
 
"Summer league is the time when head coaches sit back and allow an assistant coach to run the show. That means the Kings' entry in the NBA Summer League will get to know Mario Elie very well. Elie, in his second season as an assistant with the Kings, will be in charge when they begin their three-day minicamp today at the team's practice facility. They will then travel to Las Vegas, where they will play six games in seven days during the NBA Summer League. Elie began working with members of the summer league team earlier this week. So far, he likes what he sees. The Kings' two draft picks, DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside, have worked out with Elie. They have been joined by rookie"
Top pick Cousins signs Kings contract
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July 8
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings signed first-round draft pick DeMarcus Cousins to a contract, team basketball president Geoff Petrie announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Based on the NBA rookie pay scale, Cousins could make 80 percent to 120 percent of the set amount for the fifth pick. That rate is $2,812,000 for the upcoming season and $3,023,100 for 2011-2012. The Kings would hold options for the third and fourth seasons. The Kings believe they have in Cousins a potential franchise center who will bring an aggressive presence to their frontcourt. Cousins was selected with the fifth overall pick in June's NBA Draft. The 6-foot-11 center spent one season at the University of Kentucky and was"
2010-11 cap $2M higher than thought
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July 8
ESPN.com
 
"NBA teams found out Wednesday that the salary cap for next season will be nearly $2 million higher than anticipated, providing additional unforeseen cap space to several teams. The NBA announced a cap of $58 million for the 2010-11 season, when most teams had budgeted a cap of $56.1 million. The exact salary cap figure, according to league sources, is $58,044,000, up from $57.7 million in the 2009-10 season."
Kings give Jon Brockman qualifying offer
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July 4
Sacramento Bee
 (scroll down)
"The Kings planned to be cautious buyers in this year's hyped free-agent market. After seeing some of the contract agreements early in the process, the Kingshave only strenghened their resolve. There's Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay committing to a contract worth a reported $82 million over five years. Well-traveled forward Drew Gooden reportedly has agreed to a five-year contract worth $32 million. And the most mocked member of the 2003 draft class, Darko Milicic, has cashed in to the tune of four years, $20 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves."
Kings won't go after big-name free agents
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July 1
Sacramento Bee
 
"When the clock strikes 9:01 p.m. tonight on the West Coast, the free-agency frenzy begins. Teams can officially line up to make their pitch to LeBron James. They'll try to woo Chris Bosh. They'll hope to entice Dwyane Wade. The Kings, for their part, will sit back and watch how it all plays out. At least eight teams are expected to have at least $10 million in salary cap space, including the Kings, who will have approximately $15 million to spend. But don't expect the Kings to go after the big names in this free-agent market. The Kings will make calls to address their needs in the backcourt, but won't spend a lot for the sake of it and ruin their financial flexibility for the future. The"
Kings won't go after big-name free agents
Comment
June 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"When the clock strikes 9:01 p.m. tonight on the West Coast, the free-agency frenzy begins. Teams can officially line up to make their pitch to LeBron James. They'll try to woo Chris Bosh. They'll hope to entice Dwyane Wade. The Kings, for their part, will sit back and watch how it all plays out. At least eight teams are expected to have at least $10 million in salary cap space, including the Kings, who will have approximately $15 million to spend. But don't expect the Kings to go after the big names in this free-agent market. The Kings will make calls to address their needs in the backcourt, but won't spend a lot for the sake of it and ruin their financial flexibility for the future. The"
Kings' Dalembert earns Hall honor
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June 29
Sacramento Bee
 
"New Kings center Samuel Dalembert on Monday was one of three winners of the Mannie Jackson - Basketball's Human Spirit Award, by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and Massachusetts community leader Alfreda Harris were the other winners. The award is presented to those "who have honored the game of basketball by virtue of their personal growth and lifelong accomplishments," said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame. Dalembert was recognized for his charitable work in his homeland of Haiti. Dalembert is the UNICEF national ambassador for Haiti. He has donated more than $125,000 for relief efforts since a January earthquake."
Kings add three to summer league roster
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June 26
Sacramento Bee
 
"Ryan Thompson of Rider, Wayne Chism of Tennessee and Sylven Landesberg of Virginia have agreed to join the Kings' Las Vegas Summer League team, the club said Friday. Thompson, a guard, is the younger brother of Kings center Jason Thompson. Chism, a forward, helped the Vols to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last spring. Chism averaged 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. Thompson had 17.2 points and 2.8 assists per game. Landesberg, a guard, averaged 17.3 points as a sophomore last season."
Big draft gives Kings options
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June 26
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings spent much of the 2009-10 season trying to figure out ways to overcome their lack of size. Entering the offseason, Kings management knew getting by with gimmick lineups wouldn't help the team move up in the standings in a conference that features some of the best post players in the NBA. But in a week, the Kings drastically altered the look of their frontcourt. They traded center Spencer Hawes and forward Andres Nocioni for center Samuel Dalembert. On Thursday, they drafted Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins and added center Hassan Whiteside of Marshall in the second round. The Kings went from undersized in the paint to a team with a lot of young big men, from loaded with small"
Team welcomes Cousins into their family
Comment
June 25
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"The Kings didn't win the lottery, but they got the win. They got their man. DeMarcus Cousins is big and beefy, immensely talented and somewhat controversial, and he plopped right into their laps at No. 5. That noise you heard? That was Geoff Petrie exhaling. That other noise you heard? That was the 3,460 fans whooping it up inside Arco Arena when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson at No. 4, in essence, delivering Cousins to his Sacramento family. If the Kings were willing to take a risk, were in the mood to be adventuresome, this is the guy. Cousins is a 6-foot-11, 292-pound load with a ton of talent. He has pillows for hands, a bit of a nasty streak by nature, and the"
Kings fans upbeat about team's pick
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June 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"Bill Walton, who will work an occasional Kings game on TV next season, knows a thing or two about the center position. "In this league, it's the domination of the paint that counts," the Hall of Famer said after the Kings made DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky their first-round pick Thursday at No. 5 overall. "It's a perfect, harmonic convergence to get a player of his stature, demeanor and capabilities. It's a tremendous advantage for the Kings' franchise." Not only did Walton agree with the Kings' first-round pick, so did the crowd of 3,460 attending a team party at Arco Arena. When NBA Commissioner David Stern announced the No. 5 selection, fans cheered wildly. The crowd didn't stop until it"
Kings draft Cousins fifth overall
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June 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"In the weeks leading up to Thursday's NBA draft, DeMarcus Cousins had been a lightning rod for criticism. The Kentucky center had been called a talented but problematic player, one who argued with his coach, lacked commitment and was often out of shape. Cousins weathered the storm, saying the opinion that mattered was that of people who knew him best. After the Kings selected the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year fifth overall, Cousins declared he won't forget the criticism. "I'm very motivated," Cousins said via telephone from New York, where the draft was held. "I'm going to hold that every minute. People have things to say about me, and I played with that chip on my shoulder"
Dalembert defends his offensive game
Comment
June 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"Last week's trade for Samuel Dalembert had a lot to do with shoring up the Kings' defense and adding a center who could provide consistent rebounding. But if you think the Kings essentially will be playing with four players on offense with defensive-minded Dalembert on the court, think again. Dalembert, who was introduced to the Sacramento media at a news conference Wednesday afternoon at Arco Arena, said he won't hinder the Kings on offense. "I don't want to step outside of my role," Dalembert said. "It's going to be up to coach (Paul Westphal), and I think coach wants me to explore everything. "We just need some inside presence, some putbacks, and I can provide that." The Kings acquired"
Kings shouldn't hesitate to draft Cousins
Comment
June 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie has years of experience and is considered one of the best at his job in the NBA. He doesn't need anybody giving him advice on how to draft players. But here it is, anyway. If DeMarcus Cousins is available after the first four picks in today's NBA draft, take him. He's everything the Kings need. He's big. He's physical. He has a mean streak. The Kings know he's a good fit. Cousins knows he's a good fit. Yes, scouts and draft experts have raised questions about Cousins, who played one season at Kentucky. He has been labeled as immature. He has been criticized for arguing with his college coach, John Calipari, on the sideline during games. No,"
Kings want Cousins, Warriors eye Udoh
Comment
June 24
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Sacramento Kings are planning to select Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins with the fifth pick in the draft, sources with knowledge of the franchise's plan told Yahoo! Sports. The Kings have ultimately decided Cousins is just too talented to pass and believe they can provide the support system he'll need in the NBA. Cousins is 6-foot-11, 285 pounds, and has a refined offensive game. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie and coach Paul Westphal are banking the organization can help Cousins improve his conditioning and maturity. Cousins had a fantastic workout with the Kings, delivering the best shooting performance of their predraft process. He made 78 percent of his shots, including plenty"
Petrie has made some huge draft picks for Kings
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June 23
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Historically, Geoff Petrie is very good at this NBA draft business. He has plucked players with star potential (Jason Williams) later in the lottery. He has drafted international stars who were relatively overlooked (Peja Stojakovic, Hedo Turkoglu). He saw something in a young Gerald Wallace. He found Kevin Martin. Yet when Commissioner David Stern gives the Kings their five minutes of fame Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, it will only be Petrie's second crack at a top-five selection in his 16 years with the club. Last year produced Tyreke Evans at No. 4. This year at No. 5? The situation is too fluid to venture a guess. Team executives are frantically pursuing trades, attempting"
Uzoh gets point across in workout
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June 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"After 16 predraft workouts, Ben Uzoh now will sit and wait. Uzoh was one of six players the Kings hosted Tuesday in the team's final workouts before Thursday's NBA draft. For the 6-foot-3 Uzoh, an All-Conference USA first-team selection as a senior at Tulsa, it was his second workout in front of the Kings. Uzoh said Tuesday's workout allowed him to show his ability to run the pick-and-roll and play in different sets. Though he has been labeled as a guard who isn't a pure point guard, Uzoh wants to convince clubs he can run a team. "I want to be a point guard," Uzoh said. "I want to make decisions and put guys in the right spot." Uzoh would be a player the Kings might consider in the"
Second-round draft success not Kings' thing
Comment
June 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"The best NBA draft prospects can pick and choose which teams to work out in front of before the big night. Then there are second-round prospects like Saint Mary's center Omar Samhan. Players such as Samhan rack up frequent-flyer miles traveling across the country working out for teams, hoping to climb high enough on a draft board to warrant being drafted Thursday night. "I want as many people as possible to see me," Samhan said recently after working out for the Kings. "I'm a basketball player, so I can do this every day. A lot of people only want to do three or four because they'll get tired or don't want to travel. But this is what I do." Second-round picks aren't expected to become"
Team works out D-League guard for second time
Comment
June 21
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jeremy Wise was a part of the first group of players the Kings hosted for predraft workouts last month. And Wise was pleased to return Saturday for a second workout with the Kings. "I was excited," Wise said. "I felt like I did real good in the first workout. I was just happy to be back." Wise starred at Southern Mississippi for three seasons before spending last season playing for Bakersfield of the NBA Development League. And with the NBA draft Thursday, Wise is the only guard to have returned for a second workout with the Kings. Wise declared for the draft last year. He left Southern Miss after three seasons as the sixth-leading scorer in school history with 1,691 points. In"
Hawes trade could leave Kings at the pass
Comment
June 20
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Spencer Hawes and Samuel Dalembert couldn't be any different if they were born in different countries, which of course they were. But this trade? The swapping of a young finesse center for an athletic veteran who runs, rebounds, blocks shots and promises to create major congestion in the lanes at Arco Arena? Ummmm … I'll take a pass. Let's see how the ball moves. There were several reasons the Kings made this trade - several reasons to like this trade - not the least of which is that, unlike the younger, Philadelphia-bound Hawes, Dalembert is a proven commodity. You know what you get every night: Rebounds. Blocked shots. Dunks off alley-oops. Additionally, if the Kings don't like the fit,"
NBA Draft: Five power forwards to watch
Comment
June 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"The days of power forwards who only played with their backs to the basket seem long gone. Having a jump shot and ballhandling skills are almost as important now as the ability to bang in the paint. In the end, there's no substitute for a player who will rebound and defend. And this year's class of power forwards has some players with the athletic ability to do that as rookies. The versatile offense that made players such as Kevin Garnett into All-Stars might come later for some of these players. But there are some who should be able to be competent scorers as rookies. But like most big men, this group will need time to mature, especially with so many underclassmen. Derrick Favors"
Monroe returns against other big men
Comment
June 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"Tyreke Evans impressed the Kings in an individual pre-draft workout last year. He followed that with a good showing in a group session. Shortly thereafter, the Kings made Evans the fourth overall selection in the 2009 NBA draft. Georgetown forward Greg Monroe could be following the same path. Monroe was among four players who returned for a second workout Saturday at the Kings' practice facility. Unlike the other three - Baylor forward Ekpe Udoh, Marshall center Hassan Whiteside and Bakersfield D-League guard Jeremy Wise - Monroe's first session was an individual workout. Monroe is a realistic possibility for the Kings with their first-round draft pick Thursday. If Kentucky center"
Dalembert deal not a surprise
Comment
June 20
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Whether the deal came with a bag of balls or two players about as helpful, the point of emphasis here is that Samuel Dalembert (and all that came with him) is no longer a 76er. That has been a long time coming. There are a couple of different views regarding Thursday's trade of Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for center Spencer Hawes and swingman Andres Nocioni. 1. For two years, the Sixers have been trying to trade Dalembert, who looks forward to basketball season about the same way a vampire anticipates daybreak. The guy did not like basketball. He showed up late, didn't work on improving his game, and took every opportunity to stay away from the practice court. With Dalembert as your"
NBA teams often willing to gamble on big men
Comment
June 19
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Jason Jones
"Sometimes being really tall and talented is what matters most. Kentucky freshman Daniel Orton scored in double figures twice in 38 games. Not once did he grab 10 rebounds in a game. Orton averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.2 minutes. What does that make him? A likely first-round pick in Thursday's NBA draft. That's the benefit of being 6-foot-10 with potential. As teams search for the next dominant post player, they're forced to look at younger prospects. The bigs who tease with the most talent often don't have a track record to back up the expectations. But with size at a premium, teams draft centers and hope they're more like Dwight Howard than Kwame Brown."
NBA Draft: Top 5 center prospects
Comment
June 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"For more than a decade, teams have been looking for the next Tim Duncan in the NBA draft. Since Duncan in 1997, there hasn't been a post player who has starred immediately. Impactful big men alter franchises and win championships. Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal have won four titles each. Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals last year. Once again, no Duncan is available this year. None of the top centers was a senior last season. And each has questions about how much he'll contribute as a rookie. But there is talent available. Just be prepared to wait a couple of seasons before anyone makes a big impact. KINGS CENTERS Samuel Dalembert and Jason Thompson The Kings recently"
Hawes 'thankful' for time with Kings
Comment
June 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"He didn't become the Kings' franchise center. But Spencer Hawes still views his time in Sacramento as positive. Hawes and Andres Nocioni were traded to Philadelphia for center Samuel Dalembert on Thursday. The Kings chose Hawes, a 19-year-old freshman from the University of Washington, 10th overall in 2007. Hawes said Friday he was surprised by the trade but not bitter. "I'm very thankful for my time there," Hawes said via telephone from Seattle. "It helped me immensely." Hawes said his final season helped him grow on and off the court. He started 59 of 72 games as the Kings' only true center. Hawes' decision to skip the summer league in Las Vegas last July irked the new coaching staff."
Dalembert trade was a move that Sixers had to make
Comment
June 19
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"SINCE TAKING OVER as the 76ers' general manager early in the 2007-08 season, Ed Stefanski has pretty much always had an item on his to-do list: trade Sam Dalembert. The 6-11 center was about as unsettled during his 9-year tenure here as was the head-coaching situation, since Dalembert played for seven coaches. The divorce was finalized Thursday when the team dealt Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for center/forward Spencer Hawes and fierce swingman Andres Nocioni. "People need a change of scenery sometimes," said Stefanski. "Sam asked to be traded numerous times. His agent called a lot and felt a change of scenery was necessary. We tried trading him but the [trade] kicker, that was the"
Ex-King Ron Artest joins long list of Placer short sales
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June 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"When Ron Artest left the Sacramento Kings more than two years ago, he took with him a very expensive reminder of his time here - the mortgage on his home in Loomis. Artest paid $1.85 million in 2006 for the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath house, but the property attracted no buyers as he bounced from Sacramento to Houston to Los Angeles. That finally changed late last month, when the property was sold to local businessman Paul J. Bianchi for $1 million. Like so many others who bought before the real estate market crashed, Artest had to resort to a short sale, in which the lender agreed to take less money than was owed on the property. "His was very similar to the people who were"
Kings get Dalembert in trade for Hawes, Nocioni
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June 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Sacramento Kings have acquired center Samuel Dalembert from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for center Spencer Hawes and swingman Andres Nocioni, the team announced today. "We're excited about the acquisition of Samuel Dalembert," Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said in a statement released by the team. "He will certainly bring a defensive presence and increase our ability to defend around the basket with his rebounding, shot-blocking and athleticism. "I think he'll add a very different look to our team defensively and we're really excited about having him." The Kings held a 2:30 p.m. press conference at the team's practice facility, where Petrie further discussed details"
Kings acquire Dalembert from 76ers for Hawes, Nocioni
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June 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"For Samuel Dalembert, it seemed Thursday's trade that made him a King took an eternity. For months, the athletic center from the Philadelphia 76ers heard of the Kings' interest in acquiring him. And when his agent, Marc Cornstein, called to relay the news, Dalembert was in disbelief. Dalembert, who has played all eight years of his NBA career with Philadelphia, was traded to Sacramento for center Spencer Hawes and forward Andres Nocioni. "There's no words to describe when you feel wanted by a team and a team wants to utilize you," Dalembert said via phone from Miami. "With (the 76ers), by their actions, it didn't seem like it was the case." All three players have until June 26 to report"