Kings notes: Rookie Hawes almost receives first NBA start

The day will surely come when the notion of Spencer Hawes starting will be an everyday occurrence.

But the Kings' rookie center came closer than he ever has Wednesday, when the stitches on Brad Miller's right index finger forced him out of the lineup and coach Reggie Theus considered plugging in the 19-year-old.

But Theus opted to go small, with John Salmons playing small forward, Ron Artest playing power forward and Mikki Moore manning the center spot.

"I really contemplated starting 'Spence' tonight," said Theus, who was also without point guard Beno Udrih (illness). "But the lineup that we have right now is a lineup that we've had before."

Shaq is back in the West - When Memphis traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Theus had no problem admitting he wondered what Grizzlies management was thinking.

And though there were plenty who felt that way about Phoenix and its decision Wednesday to acquire Shaquille O'Neal from Miami and send Shawn Marion to the Heat, Theus wasn't one of them.

"I've heard people say, 'How is Shaq going to play with those guys?' " Theus said. "Well, Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) played with (the) 'Showtime' (Lakers of the 1980s), and there were many times he never made it past halfcourt ... . But at the end of the shot clock, you'll always find somebody to pass it to."

Artest said the move should rejuvenate O'Neal.

"(The Suns) are going to be contenders," he said. "They've been contenders, but they are going to be better. It's a burden off (O'Neal's) shoulders so to speak (to leave the 9-38 Heat). Plus, (Phoenix) needed a big man. They've never had a big man."

Douby returns - Quincy Douby returned from New York after leaving the team Tuesday to handle a family situation.

It was a long day for the Kings' second-year guard, as he awoke at 4 a.m. EST and didn't land until noon.

"It was a family situation that I thought I had to be there for to make sure everything was OK," Douby said. "I couldn't get a direct flight, so I took a flight at 6:30 (a.m.). I feel good because I was sleeping on the plane. I took a long nap on the plane."

'G-Man' rebounds - Gary Gerould was back in his familiar spot Wednesday, calling the Kings' game as only he can and leaving the inactive lists to the players.

The team's radio play-by-play man missed the previous two games while battling pneumonia. Gerould, who is in his 23rd season with the Kings, has been fighting the illness for some time but said his health is improving. He also missed the Jan. 8 game against Orlando.

Jim Kozimor and Jason Ross filled in for him.

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