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News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.
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July 31, 2008
Mid-day report
Simmer down Kings fans (and Kings themselves, for that matter). I'm told the agreed-on deal sending Ron Artest to Houston is stil in place, that Houston hasn't been scared off by their first trip to the Ron-Ron circus.
So too says the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen in this piece. As for the venom spewed my way this morning, I'll say only that it's predictable in every way. Killing the messenger is no new practice. And for the umpteenth time, writers don't write headlines in the paper (or on online stories). We do write headlines in the blog posts, though.
MILLER TO CHICAGO?
The Brad Miller-to-Chicago rumor started with a Bulls blogger here, and was subsequently written about in today's edition of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald here.
Here's what I know on this situation...
I was told yesterday by a source close to the Kings that basketball president Geoff Petrie has not spoken with Bulls GM John Paxson about Brad Miller. Now I don't think that means Paxson couldn't have called asking about Miller, but it seems the consensus is that Brad's time to be dealt is much more likely to be next summer.
Spencer Hawes has made significant strides, but they want to keep Brad around to help with the transition and knowing full well that Miller could elicit better offers next summer because of his then-expiring deal ($12.2 million). Now the disclaimer here is this: if the Kings could grab a Joakim Noah now (who Petrie has been very high on and wanted to draft last summer) and maybe even a pick, then maybe they expedite the process. Especially with the Artest watch seemingly coming near an end, mark the Bulls down as someone to watch in the Miller sweepstakes.
According to a league source, the Bulls have interest in Miller (and many others) and are shopping forward Andres Nocioni (four years, $29 million left with team option for the 2012-13 at $7.5 million) and point guard Kirk Hinrich (five seasons left for combined $44.5 million). They appear very motivated to do a deal of some kind now that the Luol Deng situation has been resolved. - Sam Amick
July 30, 2008
A late night buffet
In true Ron-Ron (or is that Bill-Bill?) fashion, he didn't take long to change his stance in the latest mini-drama.
After our conversation this afternoon in which he was clearly not thrilled with the comments made by Yao Ming, he went on with KHTK's Carmichael Dave this evening and reported that the issue has been resolved.
Among the relevant revelations...
* Artest said Yao called to clear up the matter and proclaimed himself "a Yao Ming soldier babyyyyyy!."
* He admitted that Yao's comments regarding the brawl "hit me in the soft spot when I read that."
* He said he's even considering a trip to China support Yao with Team China, then quickly made it clear that he is rooting for Team USA for the gold.
* Asked if there was anything he would change about his time in Sacramento, Artest said he would have found a way to convince the Kings to re-sign Rick Adelman.
"I wish I would have know that Rick was leaving, because I would've intercepted that phone call with a missile from Korea," he said with a laugh. "I'd be like, 'Hold on, let's work it out.'"
Continue reading "A late night buffet"
Does Houston have a problem? Artest responds to Yao comments
A seemingly hesitant and wary Yao Ming discussed the agreed-on Ron Artest trade to Houston with the Houston Chronicle's Fran Blinebury in this story. A few hours later, I caught up with the small forward by phone.
In what could be perceived as a second potential problem in this pairing, Artest - who will be a free agent after next season - says he wants to know sooner rather than later if the Rockets will commit to him long-term. I'm not sure yet if this could be enough to scare the Rockets out of the deal, but it certainly isn't the start they were looking for. Keep in mind, there is nothing legally binding about this trade yet.
Here is the Q&A in its entirety. (Questions in italics and answers below)
It's good to catch you finally. How you feeling about this?
I think being that third option I can be more effective. I think I could have the best season of my career as a third option because they can't double or triple team me anymore.
We've still got to make sure there's still a commitment. That's the main thing, is to make sure there's still a commitment. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we're going to find out how much they really want me there. We'll find out. I'm still waiting to find out if this is just a trade or if this is like a long-term commitment type thing. I haven't spoken to anybody yet. I'm still waiting.
You don't technically have any say (in the trade), but if you decided you didn't want to go there then they might think twice about this.
If they want me, I'm going. If they want me, and they're committed to Ron Artest, I'm gone. I don't have nothing to prove. I've been in the league going on 10 years. My first few years weren't as good as my last few years and my last seven years have been really consistent, so if they want me I'm gone and even if they don't want me, I still love Tracy McGrady. Every time I see him, he's always competitive, always shows love, and he always competes. I can't wait to play with Tracy McGrady, and I can't wait to play with Shane Battier and the rest of the guys like Rafer Alston. I just can't wait.
I've got to ask you - you didn't mention Yao and I'm sure you've heard of some of the stuff he said back in China. Did that catch you off guard?
This is Tracy and Yao's team, you know. I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about. Sometimes it's hard to get to know Ron Artest because I'm so down to earth to a fault. But once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about and that I'm a pretty intelligent basketball player. I know how to adapt. And all I have to do is play defense anyways, so I can't wait.
But really, he doesn't have to talk to me because to me I'm going. But if Yao Ming needs to talk to his general manager and talk to Tracy, then if they want me, I am going.
They obviously want you for this year, but what if they told you it's nothing more than this year and let's see how it goes after that.
I already made my stance on that. I don't think you have to repeat that. Everybody knows I made my stance on what type of player I am and who I think I am.
I know you're excited to play with Rick, but are leaving with any bitter feelings with the Kings or fired up to join up with him?
I'm just excited to be reunited with Rick Adelman. I don't care about anything else. If Rick Adelman has Yao Ming, they win championships without even thinking about me. I don't even want people to think that because the Houston Rockets are acquiring Ron Artest, then that's the reason they'll get over the hump. They would've been over the hump if Yao Ming hadn't gone down. They were having a great season.
I'll come off the bench, I don't care. Let Shane start, and bring me off as a sixth man or seventh man. I would love to come off the bench in Houston. It doesn't even matter.
You threw me off with your comments about Yao, and now I'm wondering if you have any plans of throwing this thing off. Are you definitely going there?
It's up to Yao Ming. It's up to Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady called me. I was playing basketball when I heard about it...This is great. This is great for me.
So what do you do now with the Yao thing? Do you just wait to talk to them and go from there?
I've got to do what I've got to do, but I'm just so happy to be in the Houston Rockets' picture frame. I can't wait to be putting on that jersey and be standing next to Yao Ming. I can't wait. I guess once Yao Ming approves it, I'll be a Houston Rocket.
I know you can't read his mind, but did you feel like he was trying to send a statement to the organization with his comments?
I'm not on his team yet, and he has a team that played well this year. Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets, they don't need a Ron Artest. I'd be a great addition, but it's not like they needed a Ron Artest. I understand where he's coming from. But like I said, whatever Yao Ming wants to do baby, whatever Yao Ming wants to do. It's up to big fella because it's not my team.
It's his team, it's him and Tracy's team. But when I come in there, I'm definitely going to play my game and play to win. I'm definitely going to play with my ghetto and my hood roots. I'm going to play hard, and I'm going to play just like my culture taught me how to play.
Is that it? Is it a cultural thing?
No, it's not a cultural thing. I think Yao Ming is a great guy. He's a great face for the NBA, him and LeBron (James). Yao Ming is a different type of person where he's not from a ghetto in America, so he doesn't understand how someone from the ghetto really acts. And I'm like one of the most ghetto-ist guys in the NBA.
He probably reads all the headlines and doesn't understand. He automatically believes all the propaganda. He probably should've called me first. But at the same time, it's Yao Ming's team. If he tells me to jump off the building, I'll jump off the building.
Whatever Yao Ming wants me to do, I'll be there. Whatever Tracy McGrady tells me to do, that's how it's going to go down. Ultimately, whatever Rick Adelman tells me to do is exactly what I'm going to do.
It's been three or four years since the brawl. You surprised he went there (with his comments)?
I understand. I guess we're the same age, but he's looked at differently and he was raised differently....Yao Ming was raised differently. But definitely he shouldn't believe in the propaganda. You've also got to understand. I totally, totally represent my culture. So if you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.
Like I said, I'm going to still stay true to myself and still stay true to my roots. Everybody knows that I'd give all the money in the world to play for Rick Adelman, so it is what it is and if they accept me on their team then I'll be on their team.
Tracy is known as an elite scorer but not so much for his defense. You going to teach him a few things?
All Tracy has to do is go score and I'm shutting (opponents) down. You score, Yao Ming in the post, I don't have to get doubled the whole game anymore in the post. When Yao Ming gets tired, I'll get on the block and give somebody some work. When they're ready to take Shane back over, I'll step back. I shot 38 percent from three last year. I don't have no problem with taking five or six threes a game. Just spotting up and playing defense.
I don't have a problem with stars not playing defense. That's great. That's right up my alley. I'm probably the only dude in the NBA who practices defense in the summer. That's right up my alley.
I'm real excited. I was a little bit thrown off by the whole Yao Ming thing. I called my dad, and my dad said, 'Ron don't worry about it.' I said, alright let's go. - Sam Amick
Greene already a King
Trades can fall through. Nothing is final until pen hits paper, which in this case won't be until Aug. 14. However, it appears Donte Greene's agency already sees him in Sacramento.
Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST), which represents Greene, updated the rookie forward's team affiliation to the Sacramento Kings.
The Ron Artest trade in reverse
We know the ending. Ron Artest to the Rockets for Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a No. 1, with minor pieces to be added for financial purposes, a deal that will become official Aug. 14 when the calendar cooperates and the holdup of a salary-cap technicality expires.
In retrospect, Houston was a very logical Artest destination. I had thought so for the last week or so, but could not nail anything down. The Rockets were one of the few teams that fit the unique set of circumstances that would prompt someone to undertake the challenge of the Tour de Ron, so no great surprise.
It makes so much sense in the end. It's like that backwards episode on "Seinfeld." Start with the outcome and fit the pieces together that led everyone to this point and it becomes easy to see the Rockets at the finish line.
One reason they would not have been an obvious fit, and it's a big one: position need. The Rockets were more than covered at small forward with Shane Battier, a much better complementary fit for the Tracy McGrady / Yao Ming foundation. Battier keeps the ball moving, does not disrupt, and last season was easily rated a better defender.
Otherwise, a match.
The standings. The team that takes on Artest has to be a team pushing to make something happen now. The risk is too great. A young club ramping up for 2010 or '11, a fringe playoff possibility, an owner content to float around No. 8 in either conference and make money -- they don't give up a first-round pick this year (Greene) and next for a guy who could bolt in 11 months as a free agent and is wildly unpredictable no matter the contract status.
Continue reading "The Ron Artest trade in reverse"
July 29, 2008
Artest (and his agent) excited to head for Houston
While Ron Artest's only known comment of the day was his comical tapdancing act on KHTK's Carmichael Dave show on Tuesday night in which he wouldn't specifically talk about the trade, his agent had no problem sharing his elation about the move.
"(The trade) helps put Ron in a situation to succeed, which is an honorable thing for the Maloofs and Geoff Petrie to do," Stevens said by phone late Tuesday night. "They will always be in our minds and our hearts. We'll never forget them for reestablishing Ron's career after the suspension and bringing him in. They could've put Ron in other situations, but they did what was best for Ron as a player."
Stevens said there's no reason to think this deal won't be finalized by Aug. 14, the first day on which Donte Greene can be traded (for specifics, click here).
"Of course you have physicals to be (completed), and you have the technicality of Donte being a draft pick," he said. "But I don't see any reason the deal shouldn't happen, that it shouldn't go through. All we can do is sit back and wait for that time to come."
On a side note, it should be fairly obvious by now that Stevens is still Artest's agent. For those who had been following this Ron Artest saga No. 221, the small forward said earlier this month that he would be his own agent and that Stevens was out. This came, of course, after Artest publicly fumed about his decision to not opt out of his contract by the June 30 deadline. The obvious conclusion was that he blamed Stevens for the perceived miscalculation. In any event, Stevens reports that he has survived yet another spin on the Artest roller coaster ride.
"In any situation, you're going to have disagreements, you're going to have misinterpretations, and you're going to have opinions," Stevens said. "But one part of this business is that you have to know the facts (regarding Artest's potential free agency), because that establishes who you are and what you bring to the circumstance."
"We have been together for years. He respects me, I respect him, and we agree to disagree. It won't be the first time and it won't be the last time. This happens in business. At the end of the day, I'm still his agent representing him and that's all matters. We're going to continue with the relationship we have." - Sam Amick
Pick the winner
When stories like the Ron Artest trade break, there's a newsroom full of stressed reporters and editors running around The Bee's sports department. However, there is one fun moment, sort of an icing on the cake for having to pull a double shift for breaking news.
And that is coming up with the main headline for the next day's paper. Here's my favorite five headline ideas that were considered for tomorrow's paper.
1. Houston, you have our problem.
2. He's a Rocket, man
3. Bye-bye Ron-Ron
4. Ron-Ron? Gone Gone.
5. Gone Artest
So, which headline won out? You'll have to wait to see.
Artest headed for Rockets
A source close to the Kings has confirmed a Houston Chronicle report that Ron Artest is headed for Houston. According to the source, the deal is well on its way to taking place and only a necessary waiting game stands in the way. A Rockets official told The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper this evening that "It feels very done to me."
The Kings will receive Bobby Jackson, a first-round draft pick next season, recent first-round draft pick/6-foot-10 small forward Donte Greene out of Syracuse and cash considerations. The trade, however, can not be finalized until Aug. 14 because that is the earliest date on which Greene can be traded.
According to a second source close to the Kings, second-round draft picks Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr. could be sent to Houston as a means to keep the Kings under the luxury tax. Both players have partially guaranteed contracts that aren't fully guaranteed until the beginning of the regular season. That element of the deal, however, could be handled with different pieces as well. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie had this to say in a statement.
"We've had some very positive discussions with Houston involving Ron, but no trade is imminent at this time," Petrie said .
Reached by phone at 6 p.m. Pacific time, Jackson said he had just been told of the likely trade.
"I got wind of it, but it's not done yet," said Jackson, the point guard who was a fan favorite with the Kings from 2000 to 2005. "It's a possibility. I don't know yet."
Greene was taken by Memphis with the 28th pick, then traded to Houston on draft night as part of a three-team deal also involving Portland. He was the second leading scorer in Las Vegas summer league earlier this month, averaging 22.6 points in five games and capping his coming out party with a 22-point outing against the Kings in a finale win on July 20.
As for the numbers, Jackson is set to earn $6.09 million in the final year of his contract and Greene will make $971,160 in the first of his two guaranteed years. Artest will earn $7.4 million in the final season of his deal. - Sam Amick
Hello? Referees' union? Anyone home?
Another bruising day for the NBA and its referees. Tim Donaghy finally got sentenced, following delay after delay as the league thought and hoped it would have been past this moment months ago, and the whole mess returned to the tip of the news cycle. Only the Green Bay Packers are happy.
Donaghy, facing the possibility of 33 months in prison, just got 15 from a judge in New York. The lawyer types will break down the tape and offer the legal analysis.
The basketball analysis:
*At least Donaghy knows his stretch. The NBA is still looking at the possibility of life in public-perception jail.
*Today is a welcome development for the league at least in that it allows another healing step. Top execs had decided to wait for sentencing to release the internal investigation by a former member of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's office, hoping that self-described "comprehensive review of the league's rules, policies, and procedures relating to gambling and its officiating program" might gather new information until the very end. This is that end, with a measure of closure on this important portion.
*And, the National Basketball Referees Assn. has been quiet through all this.
Strangely, uncomfortably, noticeably quiet.
Continue reading "Hello? Referees' union? Anyone home?"
July 25, 2008
It's official
The Kings signed Bobby Brown today after agreeing in principle with the point guard earlier this week.
"We're really excited to be able to sign Bobby Brown," said Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie. "He matured as a player in Europe last season and had an exceptional summer league in Las Vegas. It gives us some additional depth and athleticism at the point. I think he'll be a great complement to the rest of our roster as we go into training camp. We're all looking forward to watching him play."
The Kings did not release the terms of the deal, but for loyal readers of this blog, you already know the details. Sam Amick previously reported it's a 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.
Mail Bonding: the Artest trade, the new West, and more
It's been a torrential four or five weeks -- the buildup to the draft, the draft itself, free agency, speculation on the future of Ron Artest, summer league. At last, a chance to step back and get to some letters. Artest, not surprisingly, generated most of the feedback. The consensus based on my In Box is that 95-99 percent of readers just want him gone already, 80-85 want him traded with accompanying regret of losing a talented player, and 60 percent are willing to cash in an IRA to buy a couple gallons of gas and drive him to the airport if that'll get a deal done.
Long time reader, first time I'm sending an e-mail though. I've been waiting for you to weigh in on [the possibility of the Lakers pressing for Shelden Williams and Quincy Douby instead of Kenny Thomas in a Ron Artest-Lamar Odom deal] a little bit more. Can you expand at all on "this version that will undoubtedly be discussed between the teams, if it hasn't been already"? Is this from the Kings camp or is it something that you expect the Lakers to counter with since K9 isn't a desirable contract? It looks like you believe the Lakers would accept this deal -- how about the Kings? Do the pro's outweigh the cons? Also, if Josh Howard becomes available, who is more desirable ... Howard or Odom?
-- David, St. Louis
I'm sure the Lakers would prefer to avoid Thomas' contract. The Kings are the ones who would love to attach it to an Artest deal --- if you want Artest and his workable salary, you have to take Thomas at a bad salary. That sort of thing.
I can not say with certainty the Lakers would accept the deal if it's Artest, Williams and Douby because they are intrigued by the possibility of an Andrew Bynum-Pau Gasol-Odom front line. They never got to see it last season because of Bynum's knee injury, and that unit would have amazing potential. So, it's not a certainty they would accept the non-Thomas version. They are down big men and may decide against the deal no matter what.
But if the Lakers do move forward, Artest / Williams / Douby would have to be more appealing than Artest / Thomas. If the Lakers dig in their heels and say they won't do any deal that includes Thomas, the Kings would have a tough call. It's possible they have other options out there that we're not aware of. Maybe they feel like they can do Artest / Thomas with someone. But to pass on the chance to get a talented small forward in trade for Artest would be hard. It's not the perfect outcome for the Kings, but it's a positive one and possibly the best they'll get considering the number of teams that have no interest in a spin on the Artest roller-coaster.
Continue reading "Mail Bonding: the Artest trade, the new West, and more"
July 24, 2008
Is this for real?
While several NBA observers are suggesting 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 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 analyst 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 twin 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 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 - looking at the clock, it was yesterday - 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 work 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 them 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.
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 Detroit is 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 reportedly is tired of fans thinking he's sitting on his hands.
The piece that gets it done here is Tayshaun Prince, and the Pistons - 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
July 22, 2008
WNBA fight night
Three days after Shelden Williams accompanied his fiance, Candace Parker, to the ESPY Awards, it looks as if she could have used an escort to the Palace of 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 masterminding 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 Montenegro, 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 glowingly 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
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