[Updated at 5:30 p.m.] LOS ANGELES - The same trade winds that Geoff Petrie said had blown his team out to sea on Wednesday took a turn on Thursday morning, pushing the Kings back toward the shore just hours before the trading deadline.
And that's where they found veteran center Vitaly Potapenko and rookie small forward Sergei Monia waiting, two players who became Kings when Petrie sent center Brian Skinner to Portland.
Skinner departs as the first among those who came to Sacramento as part of the Chris Webber trade, which took place exactly one year prior to the deal that ended his Sacramento stay. But while Skinner was effective upon arrival late last season, his minutes had dwindled with the revamped the roster this season. He had played in 38 of 54 games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes.
The deal was part of a four-team, nine-player, and one draft pick transaction. The most notable player moved was point guard Earl Watson, who went from Denver to Seattle along with swingman Bryon Russell, and the future second-round pick. The Nuggets received forward Reggie Evans, Portland swingman Ruben Patterson and Trail Blazers guard Charles Smith. Along with Skinner, Portland received Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard.
The extraction of Skinner's contract - which that had two more seasons paying him more than $10 million - means the Kings will no longer be paying the league's luxury tax. The tax applies to teams whose payroll is above $61.7 million, requiring them to pay one additional dollar for each dollar spent above the threshold.
Potapenko will be paid $3 million this season and $3.3 million in the next. From the beginning of this season, the 22-year-old Monia will make just over $2 million combined through the next season, with team options in the 2007-08 and 2008-09. The Kings can also make a qualifying offer on Monia for the 2009-10 season.
"It gives us some additional flexibility this year and going forward," Petrie said by phone from Sacramento. "It doesn't impact anything up further than we already were."
Petrie, who said Wednesday that any deal beyond the blockbuster that brought Ron Artest to town last month was "unlikely," decided otherwise early Thursday morning.
"I wasn't (lying) yesterday," Petrie said. "I got to the office at 7 o' clock this morning. The phone rang at 7:30, and it was (Portland general manager) John (Nash), and he said, 'Hey, we've got this thing going. Do you have any interest in getting in, getting involved in any of these players?
"And that's exactly what happened. Up to that point, I hadn't even talked to Portland, which is why you just can't make absolute statements about these things."
A 6-foot-10, 285-pound center and 10-year veteran, Potapenko takes Skinner's place having officially belonged to three teams in one day, as he began the morning as property of Seattle before being passed to Portland and then traded to Sacramento. As Petrie noted, Potapenko - who averaged 3.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 13.4 minutes in 24 games with the SuperSonics - may not see more time than Skinner.
Monia comes with some promise, as he has only played 336 minutes in his career. The 6-8, 220-pound Russian small forward was drafted by 23rd overall by Portland in the 2004 draft. He didn't sign with the Trail Blazers until last August, and he averaged 3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 14.6 minutes per game in 23 games for Portland this season.
"There's a chance to get a look at another young player who's got some talent," Petrie said. "I'd seen him play for quite a few years over in Europe even before he got drafted. He's probably more forward than guard, fairly athletic and got a pretty decent midrange jumpshooting game."
Nash said his team had a logjam at the small forward position (Travis Outlaw, Viktor Khryapa, Darius Miles and Martell Webster) that made it easy to let go of Monia.
"He didn't get much opportunity with us," Nash said. "I don't know what lies ahead in Sacramento, but he's got a strong body, can handle the ball reasonably well. Small forward is probably his natural position, but he has the ability to shoot from the perimeter and he can put the ball on the floor as well. "We used him for a while at shooting guard. Against some of the players in this league, he could even play power forward. He's physically big enough to play three positions." While the Kings face the Lakers tonight, Potapenko and Monia are expected to arrive in Sacramento on Friday and play against Portland at Arco Arena on Monday.
