Kings' Petrie doesn't foresee trades as deadline nears

As the NBA trade deadline looms at noon PST Thursday, the Kings aren't expecting their roster to look any different.

With the franchise's ownership and home after this season yet to be determined, the Kings aren't in position to make deals.

Basketball president Geoff Petrie said it was "unlikely" any of the Kings' top players would be dealt. But he declined to comment on how the ownership situation affects what he can or cannot do with the roster.

Don't look for the Kings to move any other players, either.

"Trading role players around with 28 games in a non-playoff season probably doesn't do a lot going forward that you couldn't do in the summer," Petrie said.

Ideally, the Kings would like to add size to their backcourt and length in the frontcourt to provide shot blocking while clearing the logjam of perimeter players.

Without any deals on the horizon, Petrie will look for improvement from the current roster, which has not performed up to expectations.

"I don't think we've developed the overall type of consistency that we'd hoped for at this point," Petrie said.

The Kings (19-35) were unable to take advantage of an early schedule loaded with home games. That's made the last two months of the season tough, as the Kings are 5-23 on the road.

It's left the Kings in a familiar spot, near the bottom of the standings, coming out of the All-Star break into tonight's game against the league-leading San Antonio Spurs.

"I think part of going into our season we were looking for sustainable progress," Petrie said. "It still can happen."

Coach Keith Smart said he's not focused on what the Kings can accomplish over the next 28 games.

"I'm a day-by-day goal person because you can only reach those goals one at a time," Smart said. "What I shared with the team is, 'Can we go out (tonight) and play a really good basketball game?' That's the goal. Let's focus on the short-term goals."

When it came to his own future, Petrie was mum. He is in the last year of his contract, and the ownership uncertainty makes his future unclear.

"I think that needs to be dealt with at some future date," Petrie said.

Members of the Kings' front office are still going about business as if there will be no changes in their roles. They continue to scout players for the draft, and Petrie attended games involving Cal and Stanford over the weekend.

Injury update – Guard Marcus Thornton practiced Monday after missing Wednesday's game in Dallas because of a bruised right hand.

Thornton was injured Tuesday at Memphis when his hand hit the arm of Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.

"Sometimes when you hurt your hand, just passing the ball and catching it can do more damage than the initial injury," Smart said. "But he was OK. He was fine (Monday)."

Return from Houston – Guard Isaiah Thomas was the Kings' lone representative at All-Star Weekend, playing in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge.

Thomas' shoes at practice Monday were the special-edition color from the All-Star Game. He said his teammates were having fun with him, referring to him as "All-Star" during practice.

Thomas said he learned a lot in Houston.

"Just being around greatness," Thomas said. "Being around the real All-Stars and how they carry themselves and try to learn from them."

• Read more articles by Jason Jones

Order Reprint