Ailene Voisin: Have doubts about Thompson? Let him play first

No dynamic point guard. No swashbuckling Italian small forward. No dramatic trades, nor for that matter, a swap even of minor parts.

The Kings select ... Jason Thompson.

Hmmmm. Hmmmmm. Hmmmmmm.

Where is Rider University located, anyway? So, OK, before slamming or praising the first-round draft pick that ESPN's experts promptly labeled the first "surprise" of Thursday's annual proceedings – a more tactful way of characterizing the Kings' No. 12 pick as a questionable choice – we need to see the 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward in the flesh, in his new uniform, on the basketball court.

These underpublicized small-school products – and sometimes even the dropouts – can sneak up on you. Once in a while, they even surprise you. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, who has exposed more than a few alleged draft experts, was booed for selecting Peja Stojakovic, had his sanity questioned when he drafted Jason Williams, and again a few years later, when he projected skinny little Kevin Martin as a future scoring star.

Maybe Thompson will grow on us. He grows quickly, in fact. We already know that much about him. A four-year starter for Rider, a private coed university in New Jersey, he began his prep career as an undersized point guard and left college as a stud power forward who averaged 20.4 points and 12.1 rebounds during his senior season. And yet somehow, apart from the Kings and the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly planned to pluck him at No. 14, the Mount Laurel, N.J., native failed to generate much buzz from the predraft crowd.

"He was the best big man we saw in our workouts," Kings coach Reggie Theus said adamantly between rounds. "What we liked most is that he can do a combination of things. He can step out and shoot, he can rebound, and he can play around the basket, which is something we desperately need. We think he complements Spencer (Hawes) because he can play inside and out, and having two guys like that gives us certain advantages.

"We're pretty happy because we came out of the draft strengthening one of the two areas we had targeted."

Pretty happy, but not ecstatic. If someone had bugged the conference room late Thursday afternoon, when it appeared that one of the coveted point guards might slip past Indiana at No. 11, there is little doubt about which way the Kings were leaning. True point guards are precious and few. Also, Beno Udrih is a free agent and, according to his agent, deserves a hefty raise. The availability of Jerryd Bayless or D.J. Augustin undoubtedly would have altered the conversation and, ultimately, the composition of the roster. Instead, Udrih's return as the starting point guard suddenly seems more probable.

Petrie was left Thursday night to choose the best available big man from a group that included Thompson, Anthony Randolph, Robin Lopez, Marreese Speights and Roy Hibbert, among others. Maybe not such a difficult decision.

The debate that began months ago – which of the bigs was the best fit for the Kings? – ended well before the draft. Petrie revealed that Thompson had been the unanimous choice among his scouts and his coaches for the past several days.

Theus, who has campaigned for the addition of longer, athletic frontcourt players who aggressively pursue rebounds and provide a physical interior presence, sounded pleased with the selection. Petrie, who traditionally favors skilled, multidimensional performers, appeared similarly upbeat about the rookie.

"This is part of the process of continuing to rebuild our frontline," he continued, "and he gives us another big that can really run. He can pass and make plays.

"Sometimes you have to have the courage of your convictions."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.