When NBA free agency began earlier this month, Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said he would take a "wait and see" approach.
Tuesday in Las Vegas, the waiting ended as the Kings saw fourth-year forward Sean May in a workout that was also seen by Portland.
Yet while the Kings were observing what is believed to be their only free-agent workout thus far, Ike Diogu continued to wait.
Diogu, the former Kings forward whose qualifying offer of $3.9 million was declined by Sacramento this month, is now a reluctant unrestricted free agent.
Diogu had hoped impressive outings against Denver and Minnesota in the final two games of the 2008-09 season would be enough to convince the Kings to bring him back when he was a restricted free agent. Now they're merely one of 30 teams with which he could sign.
After starting center Spencer Hawes went down with a knee injury, Diogu had 32 points and 11 rebounds against Denver, and 28 points and 13 rebounds against Minnesota. Diogu, who was traded to the Kings from Portland on Feb. 18, was nonexistent under then-coach Kenny Natt. Despite consistently strong showings in practice, he played in just six of 12 games before the outburst.
"I was disappointed (the Kings declined the offer), because I felt that I handled myself extremely well in a very tough situation last year," Diogu said by phone from Phoenix. "I felt I could've helped the team a lot earlier than I was given the chance to, and I felt like they knew what they were getting."
Diogu said "about 10 teams" have shown interest in him, including Atlanta, New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Charlotte, Toronto, Denver and Washington. Depending on what transpires in the summer months on the free agency front or in terms of trades, the Kings – who have approximately $6 million in salary-cap room and are shopping for a frontcourt addition – could still be an option for Diogu. Diogu's agent, however, said he has no reason to believe his client is in the Kings' plans.
"I haven't had any conversations with them (since the offer was declined)," Thaddeus Foucher said. "With the way they finished up, I thought we could've got something done really quick, but obviously they went in a different direction and that's their prerogative. (But) if you look at the team and what they need, I think he'd be a perfect fit."
May, meanwhile, is in a similar situation. He has had three surgeries on his right knee – including microfracture – while playing in just 82 games through three seasons and has often battled his weight. The Bobcats declined the $3.6 million qualifying offer earlier this month for May.
According to Pro Basketball News' Chris Tomasson, May will work out for Cleveland today and the Clippers on Thursday. Chicago, Denver, Houston and Milwaukee are reportedly interested in him as well.
Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.