Smart likes versatility in Kings' point guard play

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The conventional thinking is that the Kings have three point guards: Isaiah Thomas, Aaron Brooks and Jimmer Fredette.

That trio should provide coach Keith Smart with plenty of options.

"I want to be versatile," Smart said. "Obviously, their size is going to put them in the point guard category, but all three bring something different."

But that's not all Smart has planned for the position.

"I still have two other point guards I can put in there," Smart said. "Tyreke Evans playing there, and he's going to play there a lot this year as well, and you still have John Salmons from time to time."

Evans was moved from point guard to small forward last season. Salmons went from starting small forward to serving as the facilitator for the second unit before a hip injury ended his season.

"That's why I like the mix that we have," Smart said. "We've got to get them to buy into that. That's going to be the next step for this team."

Buying in means accepting there could be games when Smart decides to go with Evans if he wants more size at the point or opts for the shooting of Fredette – and that the others understand.

But the primary point guards figure to be Thomas, Fredette and Brooks.

Thomas said even if Brooks wasn't signed, he was ready to fight to keep his starting job.

"I used that as motivation," Thomas said. "I want to be the starting point guard, and I feel like I am the starting point guard and I'm a leader on this team. And that's how I went about it ever since I was a little boy. So nothing has changed for me that much."

That Thomas is confident in himself and his role is no surprise. Even as a rookie last season he had no problem being a leader on a team in desperate need of someone willing to step up and say what needed to be said.

"Isaiah, he's a dynamic leader already," Smart said. "He's been that way his whole life."

Fredette has been asked to play like he did in college and be a scoring point guard. The Kings don't want Fredette to be passive and ineffective.

"They want me to just play like I always do," Fredette said. "I can score the basketball, and that's what makes me a threat on the floor. And I can also pass the ball, and I'm a willing passer."

But what might be more important is Fredette being more assertive with his teammates. By having the ball at the point, the Kings need Fredette to be a leader.

Smart said Fredette has been doing that three days into training camp.

"Jimmer is much more vocal than he was last year," Smart said. "Again, being comfortable with some of the guys around him, being comfortable with what I want him to do. So his leadership role is starting to move in, but that is a tough thing."

Brooks jokingly said he took a unique route to get to know his new teammates.

"I checked out their Facebook and Twitter, Instagram," Brooks said. "… It's basketball. The language is universal. The guys were cool, so it wasn't that hard."

Smart believes Brooks will continue to "feel his way" with his new teammates, but expects him to contribute.

"He's been in the league for a while, so he understands that if I'm not playing at a great level yet, I can't really lead," Smart said. "But his game is going to speak for itself."

Et cetera – The Kings will not practice today. The team will have a team-building exercise instead and return to practice Saturday.

• Smart on injured forward Tyler Honeycutt, who stood and passed the ball to teammates in drills Thursday: "That's all he can do …. He's the only guy that has a role right now."

• Read more articles by Jason Jones

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