Ailene Voisin: Kings working on transition game

Editor's note: Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie recently sat down with Bee columnist Ailene Voisin for an interview in which he discussed, among other things, getting under the NBA salary cap and his assessment of the players. Excerpts from part one of the interview follow. Tuesday, Petrie talks about his relationship with Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

Q: Are you in full rebuilding mode or trying to reach the playoffs even though that means worse drafting position for what is being projected as a very strong 2007-08 class?

A: The team is in a state of transition. ... We're trying to develop our younger players and get the best leadership, the best productivity out of the veteran guys we have, win as many games as we can and along the way, emerge with a new core that starts to win again. ... The exact timetable for that is as quick as possible. But it's still a function of the development of your players, the draft, your trade opportunities and some salary cap flexibility.

Q: So there is a plan?

A: I think it's obvious by what we're doing that there is a plan. We have to see with Kevin (Martin) and Francisco (García) and Quincy (Douby) and Spencer (Hawes) and John (Salmons), and even Ron (Artest). Ron's only (28). He's still young. And Beno (Udrih), as a young point guard, hasn't had an opportunity to show us what he can do yet. They're all showing signs that they can be good NBA players. Now, getting around to a unit that is going to start winning again is the next part.

Q: Your team payroll can be reduced by nearly $20 million at the end of next season. Are you positioning yourself for another offseason similar to that of 1998, when you wooed Vlade Divac, traded for Chris Webber, signed Peja Stojakovic, drafted Jason Williams – in essence, obtained the nucleus for the Kings' most successful teams?

A: Yes, that's been by design to a large extent. Now, that's always subject to change, too. If something came along that made sense, talent-wise, and compromised that somewhat, we would pursue that. Otherwise, you're going to have to restrain your spending between now and then to preserve that salary cap flexibility. The overall plan is to get to the year after next and have some real cap room of significance.

Q: Have you discussed this with Kings coach Reggie Theus? It's a fine line there, isn't it, trying to develop young players, auditioning veterans you might want to retain, while remaining competitive?

A: Yeah, coaches want to win, and everybody wants to do the best you can every day. And you never know for sure exactly what's going to happen until you get into a significant portion of a season, and the season reveals itself to you.

Q: Has Mike Bibby's injury clarified the matter and accelerated the pace of rebuilding?

A: Well, I don't think you can give up on a season before it starts. Mike's injury was certainly unfortunate, especially for it to happen at the start of the season, and Reggie being a new coach. But the other side of that is, it creates some opportunities for other players going forward until Mike comes back, primarily Beno and Quincy. We're going to get a chance to see how they play, how they develop, how they fit in to the framework of what we're trying to do.

Q: You have been outspoken about no one being untouchable, except perhaps Kevin Martin. Is it difficult for veterans like Bibby, Artest and Brad Miller to avoid being distracted by the trade chatter? Or in the case of Bibby, offended by his possible involvement?

A: Sometimes it can be a distraction, especially when (trade) drumbeats get started and there's no drum. The general sense, historically, with our team and any team, anyone can be traded, and I think all players understand that. But we're also in the process of team building and trying to find a group of players that will commit to each other, are the right fit, play the right style, and that you can win with. I think you have to have the respect of your players and be straightforward with them. ... We all know and recognize that, as a part of professional sports, people get traded.

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