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July 24, 2008

Is this for real?

While several NBA observers are suggesting that Josh Childress' defection from the Atlanta Hawks to Olympiakos, one of the two major clubs in Athens, is a precursor of more to come - with more NBA-caliber starters splitting for bigger money overseas - I am not convinced.

After the brawl

I didn't catch the replays of the brawl involving the Detroit Shock and L.A. Sparks until late Tuesday night, but my initial reaction after watching the incident several times is that Plenette Pierson instigated the whole ugly incident, and should be punished accordingly. From the replays on ESPN, which broadcast the game, it was unclear exactly what happened between Detroit assistant Rick Mahorn and Sparks center Lisa Leslie. And while Leslie has accused the massive Mahorn of pushing her to the court, I am going to rely on the courtside viewpoints of the ESPN broadcast crew, especially Doris Burke, who says that everyone in her broadcast crew felt that Mahorn was trying to separate players and play the peacemaker. Sometimes, you just have to be there ...
As for Burke, who is one of the nicest, most knowledgeable people in the game, she is fast emerging as the best female analysts in the business. One of the things I like about her - and I feel the same way about the Monarchs' Kara Lawson, who works for ESPN and the Kings - is that she isn't intimidated by anybody. She says what she thinks, doesn't broadcast to keep everybody happy. I wish there were more women in the industry like Burke .. and Lawson.

What might have been

New Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins, who is among the many USA Basketball officials who select players for the national teams, excused himself from a conversation with me yesterday at the Team USA media session to offer a few words to Robin Lopez. The "other" Lopez brother is on the Select team, otherwise known as the scrubs and up-and-coming NBA players auditioning for future roster spots. Dawkins could be heard telling Lopez that he played well, and that he expected the former Cardinal to enjoy a long NBA career.
When the two were finished talking, I asked Dawkins if he allowed himself to wonder how much more appealing his 2008-09 roster would be if the twins had returned for a junior year. "All the time," Dawkins replied, laughing.

No more boundaries

NBA types have long assisted the Olympic efforts of other nations, most notably Donnie Nelson's long association with Lithuania's teams, dating back to the 1992 Barcelona Games. This year, of course, Chris Kaman is playing for Germany and Becky Hammon is on the roster for Russia. Yet earlier today at the Team USA practice in Las Vegas - llooking at the clock, it was yesterday) in Las Vegas - I gave Toronto Raptors assistant Jay Triano an especially hard time. One of the assistants working with P.J. Carlesimo's staff with the Select team, Jay is a Canadian, a very close friend of Steve Nash, and just happens to be the former Canadian Olympic coach (2000). Now, he's helping out the Americans?
Well, why not? Triano, who guided the Canadian national team from 1999-2004, will be working as a commentator for the CBC at the Beijing Games. Guess he'll know what he's talking about when the Americans recapture the gold. Seriously, I don't see anyone beating this time, though this team is not nearly as imposing as the 1992 Dream Team or the 2003 national team that dominated the qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. That roster would have won the gold in Athens, no question. Everyone seems to forget that, among Larry Brown's 2003 squad, only Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson stuck with the program. Everyone else bailed for various reasons, mostly fearing terrorism in Athens.

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July 23, 2008

Music, Maloofs and leaving Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS - One of the disadvantages of having lived here is that whenever I come back here for work or pleasure, I stay with close friends or relatives instead of booking a room on The Strip. Thus, I miss out on the Vegas "experience," which to be honest, never really appealed. Still, once in a while ...
While having lunch with Joe and Gavin Maloof earlier today at the poolside restaurant in the Palms Place condominium tower, Paul Stanley of KISS suddenly appeared on the deck. He was in the midst of receiving a tour of the property from the always industrious George Maloof - who might have been the only male in town wearing a long-sleeved shirt. (The temp was only about, oh, 105 degrees or so). Stanley, who recently purchased one of the condos, eventually walked over and introduced himself. He made small talk with Joe and Gavin for a few minutes, and he was very, very nice - and very normal looking. Imagine that!

Still growing
After spending about two hours listening to Joe and Gavin engage in their usual hyperbole about Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes, rookie Jason Thompson, etc. - and they still insist Quincy Douby is going to be a star - I took a short stroll around the premises. In all honesty, I wondered why I had stayed away so long. (Most of my journalism colleagues who come here to cover a variety of assignments stay at the Palms). The place is three times the size of what I remembered. The last time I was here, I don't even think the second tower was under construction. Interestingly, the Palms was pretty busy compared with what I encountered at the Wynn last night. I hooked up for dinner with some USA Basketball officials at Steve Wynn's place, and I was struck by how empty the casino floor and the restaurants appeared. By contrast, one of our dining partners had just left the Palms, and said the casino was hopping.
Wonder what their secret is ...

Eager for a vacation
Martin, who has one more practice with the Select Team that has been training with the U.S. Olympic team here at Valley High, says he's ready for a vacation. The plan is to return to Sacramento for a few days, conduct a clinic in his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, then head to Tahiti. "Then it will be six weeks of working hard and getting ready for the season," the Kings guard said after Wednesday's session.

Helping his cause
It remains to be seen, of course, whether Martin will ever get serious consideration for a roster spot on an Olympic team, but he continues to receive encouraging reviews from those inside the gym. (Practices are closed to media). Don Casey, one of P.J. Carlesimo's assistants on the Select Team, said Martin has improved with each practice. "Where did he go to school?" asked Casey, a former head coach with the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and at Temple University. "He really shot the ball well, and he has been able to get his shot off more effectively as we go along. I like him a lot. Plus, he listens. He wants to learn, and that's always a good sign."

Kings agree in principle with point guard Bobby Brown

The Kings have come to terms with point guard Bobby Brown, a point guard out of Cal State Fullerton who played with New Orleans in the recent Las Vegas summer league.

It's a guaranteed two-year deal at the league minimum ($442,114) with a player option in the second season, as confirmed by a source close to the Kings. Brown's signing should be official by tomorrow and will be a clear sign the Kings will hold an open tryout of sorts for their backup point guard position. Second-round draft pick Sean Singletary (Virginia) also hopes to land the job of relieving Beno Udrih.

A 6-foot-2, 23-year-old who went undrafted last summer and played in Berlin last season, Brown was impressive enough at summer league that there was buzz he could become the backup to Hornets point guard Chris Paul after averaging 15.2 points and 6.3 assists. ESPN's Marc Stein, a Fullerton grad himself, raved about Brown after summer league and swears it had nothing to do with their shared alma mater. Sam Amick

The Shaun Livingston predicament

10:20 a.m. update: Josh Childress took the three-year deal to play for Greek team Olympiakos. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the contract is worth "far more than the $20 million initially reported," although no exact figures are offered. The Hawks will retain Childress' NBA rights as a restricted free agent, meaning he cannot be traded without first signing in the old country, and the Stanford product reportedly can escape from the contract in Greece after each season.

This is the remaining free-agent decision that really intrigues me, although Josh Childress jumping to Greece is good also because it's such a drastic, unique twist and because it involves the Hawks, the team with his NBA rights, and the Hawks are never far from some front-office pratfall.

Shaun Livingston is the outcome worth tracking through a prism of great promise lost, severe injury, and the risk of banking on pure potential vs. the possible major payoff at the other end of the investment.

The background: Livingston was the point guard of the future for the Clippers and one of the bright prospects of the entire league. Other clubs loved him as well. The No. 4 pick in the 2004 draft out of high school, a talented ballhandler at 6-7 with defensive skills and an improving shot (41.4 percent as a rookie to 42.7 to 46.3 in his third season while 21 years old). Then came Feb. 26, 2007, against the Bobcats at Staples Center and the gruesome knee injury that changed everything.

It was horrible to watch on TV. It was the basketball version of Joe Theismann mangling his leg on camera.

Livingston hasn't played since. That's how severe the injury was and still is, even for someone considered a hard worker willing to put in the time in rehab. The Clippers, understandably, did not give him a qualifying offer at $5.8 million for 2008-09, a decision that would have been unimaginable a year and a half earlier. Instead, in the actual world neither side wanted, the Clips have been trying to fill the hole at point guard ever since and Livingston became an unrestricted free agent.

Continue reading "The Shaun Livingston predicament"

Could Ron-Ron be King of the Palace?

As I alluded to the other day here, I was told the one and only Detroit Pistons are considering a move for Ron Artest.
The one-and-only status, of course, comes because they're the one and only team you'd think would never touch the mercurial small forward in light of the context. But if Charles Barkley can beat another living, breathing human being in a foot race (even if it was just Dick Bavetta), well then impossible can happen.
Sure enough, a second source close to the Pistons has indicated that Pistons are pondering a trade for Ron-Ron. I'm not sure of the opinions of the Pistons powers-that-be - namely team president Joe Dumars and owner Bill Davidson - but it says plenty that the chatter surrounding the mere idea is spreading around them. And Dumars, for the record, may be glad this is getting out since he is reportedly tired of fans thinking he's sitting on his hands.
The piece that gets it done here is Tayshaun Prince, and the Pistons are - according to ESPN's Chris Broussard - have already considered other moves that include their stars. A Kings source tells me they have not called Sacramento, and I wouldn't be shocked if no one else had recently either. I'm told it's quiet enough that Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie is heading out for a vacation, which means we have something in common.
I'm checking out for a few days on this end as well, and will chime in upon return... - Sam Amick

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July 22, 2008

WNBA fight night

Three days after Shelden Williams accompanied his fiance Candace Parker to the ESPY Awards, it looks like she could have used an escort to The Palace in Auburn Hills. Parker was one of three players and an assistant coach ejected from Tuesday night's WNBA game featuring the Los Angeles Sparks and Detroit Shock after a brawl broke out on the floor.
While the footage I've seen doesn't rival "Malice at The Palace," the scuffle does involve a familiar face. Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn was one of the four ejected tonight. According to media reports, Mahorn tried to restrain Sparks star Lisa Leslie, causing her to fall to the court. That prompted another Sparks player, DeLisha Milton-Jones, to punch Mahorn in the back.
Mahorn became involved in the 2004 Pistons-Pacers fight while working as a Detroit broadcaster after he went into the crowd to try to pull Ron Artest away from fans.
Following the Sparks' 84-81 win tonight, Shock coach Bill Laimbeer defended Mahorn.
"Rick Mahorn is known as a peacemaker, from even the brawl we had here with Indiana," Laimbeer told media. "He went out there to get people off the pile and to get people to stop the confrontation. That's who he is, that's what he does."

Here's a shaky video I found on YouTube. There is hilarious commentary at the 3:06 mark that's worth watching.

The interesting roads traveled ...

LAS VEGAS - In the waning moments of today's media availability session with Team USA and members of the Select Team working out here this week, the conversation turned political. Sort of. Several of the numerous college and NBA types assisting the national program have spent considerable time scouting in basketball-rich Serbia, and accordingly, were more than mildly interested to learn about the capture of accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic.
The leader of the Bosnian Serb forces during the height of the Balkan conflict in the 1990s has been accused of master-minding the massacre of approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995. He is said to have eluded authorities partly because of his various disguises, but reportedly was captured near Belgrade, which means he probably wasn't apprehended far from the two hotels where the NBA types stay during their visits. (This also brought back memories for those of us who traveled to Belgrade for a pre-Olympic tournament 2004. In one of those hotels (the Intercontinental) that are within a few hundred yards of each other, the former paramilitary leader known as "Arkan" was assassinated while seated in the lobby area. The front desk employees say visitors frequently ask about the exact spot where Arkan (Zeljko Raznatovic) was ambushed, and they oblige, of course. According to what we were told, Arkan was surprised by gunmen coming down an escalator in the back and through the revolving door in the front.
Anyway, one of the more interesting recollections was offered by Detroit Pistons international scouting director Tony Ronzone. The Oakland native, who also has worked for the Dallas Mavericks and played and coached overseas, recalled how he sneaked into Serbia (flouting UN sanctions) on a scouting mission right about the time the massacre took place. "I took a little jump plane into Montengegro, and some guy met me on the runway," Ronzone related. "He walked me to the other plane, and said, 'don't say anything.' I'm not crazy. We landed and I got my bags, then they checked me into the Hyatt (in Belgrade). I paid the guy some money. They told me 'don't go anywhere.' But I'm sitting there, thinking, 'I'm not going to stay in my room the whole time.' "
As the story continues ... Ronzone managed to find his way to some of the area's gyms.

Basketball's mutual admiration society
Well, so much for that Kings-Lakers rivalry. On Monday, Kevin Martin speaks glowing of Kobe Bryant. On Tuesday, the Lakers star returns the praise. "Kevin's one of my favorite players," said Bryant, while icing his knees after the workout. Asked whether he noticed any improvement in Martin's ability to create off the dribble, the Lakers guard replied, "Um, he can get to where he needs to go. Bringing it up, he has some trouble. But from the wing, he can get to where he needs to go. He'll get better."
Jokingly, Bryant added, "Actually, I think he's horrible. Put that in the Sacramento paper. Sac should trade him to us for two second-round picks. How about that? Might as well stay on a roll. While we're at it, trade Dirk Nowitzki for a third-round pick. How about that?"

The first misstep
LeBron James became the week's first casualty when he landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage and sprained his right ankle. The injury is being listed as "mild," and though it's still early, the coaches didn't seem overly concerned. "We'll find out more tomorrow," said Mike Krzyzewski. "I don't think it's anything, but obviously, we'll look and know more tomorrow."

NBA dreaming

David Johnson's phone rang at 7 this morning. His longtime girlfriend Jessica Raumer picked up the call, squeaking out a half-awake hello.
"Is someone sleeping?" the voice inquired. "This is Larry Bird."
If only every morning began this way for Johnson, a 2001 Davis High School graduate who refuses to give up his NBA dreams. Johnson was vaulted from obscurity earlier this month after he made the Kings summer league roster, albeit a short stint. Johnson was let go after the team trimmed its roster from 18 to 14 on July 11 following two practices in Sacramento.
"A lot of doors are opening," Johnson said this afternoon. "I've gotten a call back from Don Nelson and Larry Bird woke us up this morning."
Johnson, 25, said he hears a familiar sentiment from NBA bigwigs.
"They will keep me in mind," Johnson said. "That's great. Before this, no one would keep me in mind."
A full-length feature on Johnson is in the works. In the meantime, Johnson has a Web site that should be up Wedesnday afternoon.

The training continues

LAS VEGAS - While it can be (and is) debated whether Mike Krzyzewski made a mistake by going with small lineups and playing center Brad Miller only sparingly at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, the Kings center is well thought of by USA Basketball officials. Besides the fact Miller refused to gripe about his limited playing minutes while the national team lost to Greece and only came away with the bronze medal, USAB types still appreciate the fact that Miller agreed to play for the 1998 Worlds team that finished a surprising third in Athens.
For those who might have forgotten, that was the year that Patrick Ewing led an NBA player boycott of the tournament because of the labor impasse that led to the first work stoppage in league history. The 1998-99 season was shortened and didn't begin until February.
Miller - who was not drafted and briefly flirted with playing overseas - was among the collegians and CBA players who participated. Rudy Tomjanovich somehow directed the hastily-assembled squad to the bronze medal and earned himself the head coaching job for the 2000 Sydney Games.
While waiting for Krzyzewski to open up the closed practice currently under way at Valley High, one of the USA officials asked about Miller's recent suspension, and added, "He's still one of our favorite guys."

Why play here?
As mentioned in of my previous blogs, members of the USA squad and the Select Team have been scrimmaging at one of the area's older high schools instead of, say, the more comfortable surroundings at UNLV. The problem is one of timing: four AAU tournaments are ongoing, and UNLV's facilities were booked for the annual high schools a long time ago. Valley was selected because it has a regulation 94-foot court and a separate practice court a few steps away.

A former coach weighs in
Krzyzewski, who coached Shelden Williams at Duke, said he was glad to hear reports out of UNLV indicating that the Kings power forward performed well during the NBA Summer League that recently ended. The former Atlanta Hawks first-round (and shocking No. 5) selection seemed much more receptive to doing the dirty work around the basket - scrapping for rebounds, scoring off putbacks - instead of relying so heavily on low -post moves. The muscular Williams is too slow to consistently score against NBA frontlines, especially when the defense collapses, and has a tendency to spin into crowds of defenders.
"I think he can succeed in the league," Coach K said, "if he embraces the things that he can do well."

The Jason Thompson reality check

His summer league was revealing and generated more buzz than that of many previous Kings picks, probably because few people from Sacramento had watched Rider games on TV. There was a newness to Jason Thompson that didn't exist with Spencer Hawes from Washington and the Pac-10, and certainly an interest level that didn't accompany the first glance of the 2006 pick from another New Jersey mid-major, Quincy Douby of Rutgers. All understandable -- Hawes was a known and Douby was a No. 19 pick joining a backcourt of Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin.

Thompson jumped out because he is new and because he is unique. Power forward frame with some intriguing aspects of a small forward game, the way he can take a defensive board and push the ball upcourt himself or get a power forward on the perimeter and take him off the dribble. Plus, he will score from the block. All good.

Now why you should dial down the immediate expectations.

Defense. It's a problem. That doesn't make Thompson different than most rookies, and won't make him different from a lot of players of any experience level, but it does make him a reserve. Mikki Moore is still better defensively, by a considerable gap, and so Mikki Moore is still the starting power forward, also probably by a wide margin. Maybe the distance closes in training camp, when Thompson will have the chance to go against Moore.

Rebounding. Just as executives and coaches from other teams discount Thompson as a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Metro Atlantic Conference, they dismiss 12.1 boards a game in 2007-08 as a number that will not translate to the NBA.

Continue reading "The Jason Thompson reality check"

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July 21, 2008

Glad he's here

LAS VEGAS - Before returning to Sacramento on Sunday night, Geoff Petrie said he was delighted Kevin Martin had accepted an invitation to join the Select Team that is training with the U.S. Olympic squad for the next few days, for obvious reasons. "I think he's starting to be recognized as an All-Star caliber type player, and it's an honor for him," said the Kings basketball president, "and to be able to compete against the best players in the league, and with the best players, it can only be good for him."
(Yes, Petrie has a soft spot for his young star, who was drafted with the No. 26 pick in 2004 but has emerged as one of the league's most efficient and prolific scorers.)
Martin, by the way, said he has gained 10 pounds of muscle, mostly in his upper arms. He says he weighs 190 pounds. "I lost weight during the season," he added. "I finished the year at 180, but you can't believe how much better it feels when you're out there with this added strength."

What exactly is a Select Team?
Eventually, USAB officials need to come up with a better name, but in the interim, the Select Team consists of NBA players who were not named to the Olympic team, but are willing to play the role of "scrubs" and practice against their brethren headed overseas. The roster usually consists of younger NBA players and remains fluid everyone officially convenes. Hence, the late addition of Portland Trail Blazer rookie Jerryd Bayless. This is also the group of players who, when not trying to score against Kobe Bryant and his teammates, basically audition for future USA squads.
Anyway, while catching the final minute of Monday's practice session and speaking privately with Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski, I was reminded of the original 1992 Dream Team's scrimmages in La Jolla, and how Kings rookie (and Select Team member) Bobby Hurley left Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, among others, marveling at his playmaking abilities and predicting a terrific NBA future. Because of the auto accident that almost claimed Hurley's life, we never got a chance to see whether the Hall of Famers were right.

More musings from Valley High school
* Kevin Love, another late addition to the scrubs, sat out practice with a sore Achilles. He is coming off an excellent NBA Summer League showing, though he sat out the last game with the injury.
* From what I am hearing, rookie O.J. Mayo was the most impressive of the non-Olympians, and surprise, surprise, Kobe Bryant distinguished himself among the Beijing-bound players.
* Team USA (and all-around great guy) Nate McMillan, also known as the former heart, soul and face of the Sonics franchise, never moved his family to Portland when he became Blazers head coach. Like Seattle native Spencer Hawes, McMillan is really bummed about the organization's relocation to Oklahoma City. "I am going to miss those road trips to Seattle to see my family," said McMillan. "It will be strange when winter comes and there's no basketball up there."
* USAB patriarch Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns owner/executive, spent several minutes chatting with me about his famous ex-point guard - Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson. KJ's old boss asked the date of the runoff, and said he followed the primary results closely. He also said he was among the NBA types contributing to KJ's campaign.
* Martin is a quick study, but he jokingly acknowledged that he could use a refresher course on his Olympic history. He started talking about the '92 squad that was showcased by Bird, Magic, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley, and slipped Reggie Miller's name in there. "Reggie wasn't on that team?" Martin replied, when told that the former Pacers star was on the '96 squad. "Oh, I thought he was." Barely missing a beat, he noted, "But they won all their games by 30 points or more, and they went undefeated, so they were still a Dream Team."

Final, final thoughts from summer league

A few things that I failed to mention before I go dark for a few days...

Miller regaining health

For all the talk of Brad Miller the person in his recent Q&A, there were a few revelations about Miller the player that weren't hit on.

After we discussed his five-game suspension and the reasons behind it, we talked about his health. Miller, to review, missed the last seven games of last season due to a stress fracture in his lower left leg and a bone chip in his right elbow that eventually required arthroscopic surgery.

Miller said he wasn't able to do a push-up until approximately a month ago and that he is about to gear up his training regimen. He spent the last few days of summer league working out with Kings strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro, and will continue the work in Sacramento. And while his starting center job may be in Hawes' hands for the first five games, Miller didn't talk like a player ready to give it up so soon thereafter.

"I'll just start working out with Shippy (Shapiro), then head out to Sacramento and beat Spencer's (butt) in body fat (count)," Miller said with a laugh. "With the elbow, I wasn't able to lift as much as I wanted to. That's why I wanted to come out (to Vegas)...I want to make sure I get (the elbow) right and get the strength back."

Summer League slideshow

Our esteemed photographer Jose Luis Villegas spent a few days in Vegas and didn't stop at taking shots for the paper itself. He put together quite a slideshow of the session. Enjoy...

VIEW SLIDESHOW HERE

Relive the experience

* For complete stats on the Kings players during the five games, click here.

* To find box scores and even video highlights of all of the games, click here.

- Sam Amick

Final thoughts from Vegas (sort of), and Artest update

ELK GROVE - So I'm not actually on the scene anymore, having flown home from Vegas with most of the Kings' support staff last night.

The Southwest flight included basketball president Geoff Petrie, assistant hoops prez Wayne Cooper, coach Reggie Theus and a group of some 15 other Kings folks from there. There were even super fans on board, three gents who make an annual trip out to summer league and seemed to have a phenomenal time.

All in all, the front office folks seemed very pleased with the overall play of the youngsters. As Petrie had said going in, there were "potentially six roster players" at the session. Aside from the thigh injury to Patrick Ewing Jr. that kept him out of two games and hobbling throughout, every player in that bunch drew mostly-positive reviews. And in the case of Jason Thompson, he showed much more than that.

Near the end of the fifth and final Kings game on Sunday night, my colleague Ailene Voisin asked longtime media man David Aldridge what he thought of the Kings' first round draft pick. Like so many others during the week, Aldridge said he was very impressed.

* For those keeping track, I'm told Thompson was given the full 120 percent of his rookie scale deal by the Kings.

That means he's on the books for $1,893,840 in the first of his two guaranteed seasons. And he's making his money already.

Continue reading "Final thoughts from Vegas (sort of), and Artest update"

The red-flag past and uncertain future of Beno Udrih

Beno Udrih is a huge story for the Kings this season. Huge on the court because he's the starting point guard, huge off the court because they're into him for $32.7 million over five seasons, huge because of his past and what it means for the present.

Pressure and expectations were never his thing. Let's put it that way. And now he's got pressure and expectations.

Udrih has gone from the underdog success story of 2007-08 (traded from San Antonio to Minnesota for a second-round pick in October, waived by the Timberwolves the same day, signed on the cheap by the Kings) to a guy whose positive contributions will no longer be found money, the way they were while filling in for the injured Mike Bibby and eventually replacing the traded Bibby. They're necessary.

We know Udrih's timing is perfect -- 12.8 points a game and 46.4 percent from the field, just before hitting a free-agent market that included few starting point guards as the Kings stared at a roster without any point guards. Even better for him, it was as an unrestricted free agent, so Sacramento would not be able to hang back with the comfort of knowing it could match any offer. The negotiations had to be aggressive.

What no one knows is whether Udrih is the player who needed a change of scenery to find his stride and now is ready to be a consistent, tough leader on the court or a one-hit wonder with many more bad times than good in three previous shrinking seasons with the Spurs.

Continue reading "The red-flag past and uncertain future of Beno Udrih"

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July 20, 2008

The Maloofs hear from Brad Miller

LAS VEGAS - Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said that Brad Miller "apologized profusely" for violating the league's substance abuse policy and promised to have another solid season.
"We have to believe him," said Maloof. "A year ago, he said he would come in and give us a great year, and he kept his word. Some of his comments the other day ... I think he really opened some eyes. He came clean. I expect him to be there for us again this year. With the way Spencer (Hawes) is playing, and from what it looks like Jason (Thompson) can give us, if Brad plays well, maybe we can surprise some people this year. We're young, but we're getting there.''

A little baseball history for basketball fans
The men's U.S. Olympic basketball team gathered earlier today in preparation for the week-long, final preparation before the trip to Beijing. But so much for the accommodations. While the Olympic and Select teams (other NBA players enlisted for the workouts) are housed in a five-star hotel, the practices will be held at Valley High School, one of the area's older campuses. The reason is simple: Valley is one of few schools with the regulation 94-foot court.
In terms of sports, the Vikings are best known for producing future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux and his older brother, Mike.

The grunt work
Former NBA journeyman Haywoode Workman is attempting to become only the third ex-player to join the league's officiating staff. Bernie Fryer and Leon Wood are the only two former players to make the, ah, leap.
Workman, who officiated the Kings-Rockets game, has been involved with the NBDL and the Summer League for five years.
If you can believe it, Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson flirted with the possibility of becoming a referee after his playing career ended, but wisely came to his senses. Hard to imagine Nellie running the baselines at this pace ...

Seen and heard
* Kings media relations assistant Darryl Arata approached Maloof before the Kings-Rockets game and said, "No Q (Quincy Douby) today. He's got food poisoning." Then, in another example of his terrific sense of humor, Arata added with a grin, "Don't worry. He didn't eat at the Palms."
* Hawes, who admittedly still is bummed about his hometown Seattle SuperSonics relocating to Oklahoma City, lists former Sonics owner (and struggling Starbucks mogul) Howard Schultz as the biggest villain in the matter. "Schultz, absolutely," said Hawes. "It's like my Dad said. People in Seattle won't really feel the loss until the season starts and there's no team to follow. Really, in the winter, when its's cold, and there's nothing to do. That's when it will really hit that they're gone."
* Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, the former Indiana University head coach who was released by the school because of repeated NCAA recruiting improprieties, is looking forward to teaching and coaching without concerning himself with home visits and sales jobs. "It's just basketball," said Sampson, who joins an impressive staff that includes head coach Scott Skiles and assistants Jim Boylan, Lionel Hollins - for former NBA head coaches - and longtime CBA and NBDL coach Joe Wolf. Before the scandal at IU, Sampson was among the core group of coaches consistently involved with USA Basketball's increasingly active international work.
* My Fab Five (rookies) from Vegas, in no particular order: Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, Donte Greene and Jason Thompson.
* For those familiar with the old, old, old Las Vegas entertainment scene, comedian Sammy Shore sat with Joe Maloof for the Kings-Rockets game. During one timeout, Shore, who has to be somewhere in his 80s, stood up and started dancing. He wasn't too bad, actually.

Another Nothern California(-area) coaching search

LAS VEGAS - David Kahn, the owner of Reno's expansion NBDL team, has been attending the NBA Summer League the past few days to evaluate some of his future players, but mostly, to find a new head coach. Former Charlotte Bobcats coach Sam Vincent originally accepted the job, but changed his mind after the news conference already had been scheduled. Vincent, who was fired by the Bobcats after one season, had a year remaining on his contract, so he can be a little selective.
As for the new coach ... because the Reno franchise will be affiliated with the Kings, the plan is to hire someone whose offensive and defensive schemes are compatible with those favored by Reggie Theus. "If the Kings send down Sean Singletary or Patrick Ewing Jr., for example," said Kahn, "our coach would work with them on specific things the Kings believe they need help with.
The fact that Kahn has been friends with Geoff Petrie for more than 20 years suggests the potential for a close connection between the franchises. An Oregon native, Kahn is a former sportswriter for the Portland Oregonian who earned his law degree from NYU, worked for the NBA legal firm in Manhattan before for a few years, and later became Donnie Walsh's special assistant with the Indiana Pacers.

Building a beauty
Whether or not the NBDL evolves into the type of minor-league system NBA types hope, Kahn already has made a nice name for himself within the industry. Yes, he was a decent sportswriter; he was even more creative when it came to Conseco Fieldhouse, still the jewel of NBA arenas. This was his baby, everything from the original (and unique) concept, to the financing mechanisms, to the political and promotional matters.
"It wasn't really our idea," said Kahn, laughing. "We stole it from baseball. Baseball had been building these kinds of structures (that retain unique, old style facades) for a number of years. We asked the question, 'Why not put basketball in a place where the game really matters and shows an appreciation of its history?' It was a baseball idea we made relevant to basketball."
"When I look at Sacramento, any new arena should be relevant to the local community. It has to be about their history - it doesn't have to be about basketball - but I suspect something featuring the gold rush. Just pick a concept or a theme that makes the people that live there feel that it's their place. It should be about Sacramento, about the state capital, about the region's history. It should be a place where, if you picked it up and placed it somewhere else, it wouldn't work ... Obviously it's got to have some connection to sports, and, yes, obviously the Kings will be the driving force with 41 home dates. But they truly do need a better facility for family shows, other sporting events. People sometimes forget that these facilities are shared not just by people who are basketball fans, (but those) who go to concerts, other events. I'm sure there are people who have been to Conseco who have never even been to a Pacers game.

The next season
The NBDL is targeting Thanksgiving week for its 2008-09 season opener

A very Vegas night

LAS VEGAS - Three days.

That's the average Joe's threshold for Sin City, whether you're coming here for a bachelor party or getaway or just so happen to be en route to nowhere. My count? The seventh and final day.

At least the Northern California air I left behind was a convenient primer for the endless smoke-filled casinos.

But while the city comes with its downfalls, nights like tonight are what I enjoy most about this place. In what has been a semi-annual affair during NBA summer league, I managed to break away from the hoops long enough to experience an event that is so very, very Vegas. Three years ago, it was the World Series of Poker and local card stud Aaron Kanter's surprising run. This time, it was James Irvin of Citrus Heights and his chance to shock the mixed martial arts world.

Continue reading "A very Vegas night"

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July 19, 2008

About those pre-draft musings ...

LAS VEGAS - It's always great to hear what general managers, scouts and coaches have to say about the NBA draft ... after the fact. These guys all lie. These guys had it right all along, of course. But while the Kings supposedly "surprised" the experts by selecting Jason Thompson so early (with the No.12 pick), the former Rider standout has been quietly amassing admirers.
More than a few general managers and scouts approached me today and spoke glowingly of Thompson. One Eastern Conference GM, whose office is located within the same area code as Thompson's alma mater, described the 6-foot-11 rookie as "smooth, efficient, and knows how to play." He further insisted that most of his peers projected that Thompson would be taken between 12-18.
Like I said. All these guys lie, anyway.

Only in Las Vegas ... or maybe Europe
While walking into the Thomas & Mack Center earlier today, I actually saw someone take a last drag on a cigarette, and then, without extinguishing the flame, toss it into a plastic garbage can. Being from California (OK, via New York and Las Vegas), I was dutifully appalled. And conscientious. I peered into the garbage can and made sure the cigarette had been doused by the sodas and assorted dead pizza, fast food, etc.

No sign of the mentor
Reggie Theus had hoped to get together with Jerry Tarkanian, but said his former UNLV coach was spending time in San Diego. "Tark's not crazy," quipped Theus, who was the most talented prep star successfully recruited by Tarkanian. "He knows where to go to get out of this heat."
After driving around in the 110-plus temps these past few days, I vow to never again whine about the Sacramento climate.

Summer in the (desert) city ...