CHICAGO – When Kings swingman John Salmons voiced frustrations about his offensive struggles Monday night, there was no mistaking his opinion.
Even with Kevin Martin's return from injury, Salmons said it is up to the team's coaching staff to keep him involved.
A day later, Kings coach Kenny Natt disagreed.
"I'll continue to make the decisions as long as I'm the coach of the team," Natt said before Tuesday's game. "I'll try to do whatever I can to make things better for the guys out there on the floor. But I don't shoot shots. I don't turn the ball over.
"I told him, 'Hey, I'm a man, just like all of you. I've made mistakes, and we have to learn to own up to our mistakes and our lack of effort and production."
Salmons' comments came after he had scored a season-low three points. But the issue of combining his isolation style with that of his teammates is not new. Natt has been preaching the sort of ball movement and tempo that often contradicts Salmons' tendencies, and Natt said that reality remains.
"He has to learn how to be with the other guys out there on the floor," Natt said.
In the end, they agreed on one key point: Salmons and Martin have the potential to be a dangerous duo.
"I see and envision a great opportunity for having a double punch now that we have Kevin back and doing his thing," Natt said.
Future trading partners? – There was no swapping of uniforms before tipoff, but it wouldn't have been entirely absurd if various Kings and Bulls had done just that.
The two teams, according to league sources, had trade talks earlier this season that have been tabled for now. The Bulls need frontcourt help, but they appear to have more interest in second-year center Spencer Hawes than in veteran Brad Miller or even forward Kenny Thomas.
That could change, but the question on the Bulls' side is whether they will part ways with forward Drew Gooden (who has an expiring contract) and/or a young player such as Joakim Noah or Tyrus Thomas. According to the sources, Chicago offered guard Larry Hughes in the previous discussions. The 11-year veteran has a contract nearly identical to Miller's, with approximately $25 million owed to him before it ends after next season.
Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.
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