http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14298103p-15157036c.html
New big man for Kings wants to stick around
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, '+ppn);
Story appeared in Sports section,
Page C1
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]One interesting side note about Loren Woods: His son is one perceptive young fellow.
The elder Woods is the newest King, a 7-foot-2 center who came aboard via free agency Tuesday to shore up a front line that could use some size, experience, bulk, resistance and rebounds.
The five-year veteran also is the father of a 4 1/2-year-old, Kholin, who knows the best player around when he sees one.
"He said his favorite player in the NBA is me," Woods said, grinning while at the Kings' practice facility. "He's got to say that. I'm the one paying the bills."
Woods, 28, is hoping for some financial security, with the Kings representing his fourth team, and he's not exactly conceding to a vagabond career. He signed a one-year, $950,000 deal, though it is not known how much of that is guaranteed. What Woods can say for certain is that he's ready to stick around for a bit. "It's my fourth team," he said. "I don't know how many more chances I'll get. I'm like a cat with nine lives."
He's more of a Caterpillar-brand bulldozer -- wide-bodied and sturdy. Though Woods hasn't been compared to Shaquille O'Neal since entering the league as a second-round pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves out of Arizona in 2001, he has proven to be a solid player when he gets minutes.
Woods' best season was with the Toronto Raptors in 2004-05, when he averaged 3.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 45 games. Last season, he averaged 2.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 27 games for the Raptors.
"I like his length, and he's athletic and he can block shots," said Kings vice president of basketball operations Wayne Cooper, a former NBA post himself. "He's had some moments in this league. His upside is still there."
Cooper also noted that there simply is not a surplus of 7-footers with skills bouncing around the free-agent want list. Not this summer or ever.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said "a lot of big guys develop later" in their careers. Petrie also said the Kings likely are finished with offseason upgrades, barring unforeseen trades.
Sacramento has 17 players under contract entering training camp. Teams are allowed to keep 15.
"It's pretty unlikely that we're going to sign any more players," Petrie said. "We're pretty well tapped out on our (player salary) exceptions."
Petrie said he is pleased with the summer additions, from first-round pick Quincy Douby, a guard, to free-agent signee John Salmons, a swingman, to Woods.
"I like the draft pick, I like John in absence of Bonzi (Wells), and Loren gives us depth," Petrie said. "And I was encouraged with our young guys in summer league."
Eager to impress at training camp, Woods already has met with coach Eric Musselman, and he has a friend in swingman Kevin Martin, who has the same offseason conditioning coach as Woods.
A St. Louis native, Woods was a high school McDonald's All-American. He had his growth spurt in middle school, shooting up nearly a foot in two years, and he joked that the rest of his body still is trying to catch up.
"I came into the sixth grade at 5-10, and people said, 'That kid's tall!' to leaving eighth grade at 6-8 and people saying, 'Wow.' "
Woods yearns for more wows. He thought he was earning some of that praise during his two seasons in Toronto. But he said he came away understanding it was a "learning experience" with a lot of "frustration" of losses and playing time.
"I can fit in here," the soft-spoken Woods said. "I can help this team. I can do a little bit of everything. I can rebound and run, and I can put the ball in the hole a little. I'm 7-2, and the basket is right next to me. I'm very excited about this. It's a new start."
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