'Tank' joins Bobcats as their strength coach

LAS VEGAS - He was keeping busy. That wasn't the problem by any means.

Former Kings center LaSalle "Tank" Thompson was there to help his customers in Sacramento at his car and truck customizing business, TNT Motorsports. He was in Indiana, too, buying and selling foreclosed homes for the kind of profit that meant he was hardly desperate for a career change.

But there wasn't nearly enough basketball. Until now.

Thompson has joined Hall of Famer Larry Brown in Charlotte this season as the Bobcats' strength and conditioning coach. Having reunited with the coach whom he spent parts of three seasons with in Indiana (1993-95, 1996-

97), Thompson hopes this is the start of a long and enjoyable return to the NBA.

"I've always stayed in touch with Larry since I played for him, and he has a coaching seminar every year (in Memphis) that I'd been going to," said Thompson. "He's been telling me for a couple of years, 'Tank, when I get a job I'm going to bring you in.' "

Brown kept his word, with one disclaimer. Thompson wouldn't have a coaching title, but he would certainly be coaching.

"He got the job and asked me, 'Do you care what your title is?' and I said, 'No, I just want to coach ... ' " Thompson said.

As backup plans go, it's all's well that ends well. At the start of the summer, though, Thompson had envisioned a return to the Kings franchise with which he came from Kansas City to Sacramento and spent seven seasons. When Thompson heard at the end of last season the Kings sought a coach to work exclusively with the team's big men, Thompson wanted the job but didn't receive a response.

"I called them on it, and what I can say is I think Reggie feels confident with the coaching staff he has," he said. "I would've loved to have been there with him, because I know those guys, but I'm happy where I'm at."

J-Will return? - While Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie has said the Kings likely are done with any outright free-agent signings this offseason, Jason Williams hopes that's not the case.

The agent for the former Kings point guard, Dan Tobin, said he's continuing his reunion attempts despite the fact Beno Udrih recently locked up the starting job when he was signed to a five-year, $32 million deal.

"Both the team (the Kings) and Jason had a lot of success there (from 1998 to 2001)," Tobin said Thursday at UNLV's Cox Pavilion during summer league action. "That's been one of the situations we've looked at from the beginning. We've obviously been patient."

Tobin said the discussions with Petrie have continued after the Udrih signing.

"We continue to talk to him," he said. "We're looking for a specific type of situation where Jason can help elevate a team to that next step. That's what he's been really good at."

Williams, who has played 10 seasons, earned $9 million last season but would certainly come at a much cheaper price this time around. The Kings, whose payroll is approximately $70 million and pushing the luxury tax threshold of $71.15 million, have only their bi-annual exception (approximately $2 million per season to start) left to spend if they so choose.

Third-year guard Quincy Douby had 36 points (14 of 21 shooting). That threatened the summer league scoring record set by Miami's Marcus Banks last season (42 points).

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