Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Kings, Raptors Preparing to Swap Centerpieces
by Barry Suntroo
3/12/12 3:04pm
The Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors franchises have struggled for years, now they are prepared to see if they can fix each others' problems.
As of Monday morning, final touches were being put on a blockbuster deal between the two NBA teams centered around their young star centers. The Raptors, looking for a harder edge under new head coach Dwayne Casey, are prepared to roll the dice on the power game of 6'11" problem child DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings, meanwhile, are one of the league's worst shooting teams and hope the 7'0" Bargnani can help change that.
The deal, under discussion for weeks, was apparently held up by the Kings demand for the inclusion of 6'7" Linas Kleiza, who they hope can fill their vacant power forward postion.
Following the long awaited announcement of a new arena deal with Sacramento, Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have been eager to build upon the momentum.
"We're very excited," said Joe. "Anytime you can trade a #5 pick for a #1 pick you have to feel like you are trading up."
Kings GM manager Geoff Petrie said the move is also a response to new head coach Keith Smart's running system.
"What we hope to get with Andrea and Linas are flexible pieces for Coach Smart to work with on the court." said Petrie.
The departure of the talented Cousins may come as a shock to some, but it has long been predicted by many outside of Sacramento after a string of publicized incidents off court and problematic behavior on it. Cousins has proven difficult to coach, insisting on rebounding and playing in the post despite attempts to correct such behavior by Kings coaches. Now Dwayne Casey will have... cont.
by Barry Suntroo
3/12/12 3:04pm
The Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors franchises have struggled for years, now they are prepared to see if they can fix each others' problems.
As of Monday morning, final touches were being put on a blockbuster deal between the two NBA teams centered around their young star centers. The Raptors, looking for a harder edge under new head coach Dwayne Casey, are prepared to roll the dice on the power game of 6'11" problem child DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings, meanwhile, are one of the league's worst shooting teams and hope the 7'0" Bargnani can help change that.
The deal, under discussion for weeks, was apparently held up by the Kings demand for the inclusion of 6'7" Linas Kleiza, who they hope can fill their vacant power forward postion.
Following the long awaited announcement of a new arena deal with Sacramento, Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have been eager to build upon the momentum.
"We're very excited," said Joe. "Anytime you can trade a #5 pick for a #1 pick you have to feel like you are trading up."
Kings GM manager Geoff Petrie said the move is also a response to new head coach Keith Smart's running system.
"What we hope to get with Andrea and Linas are flexible pieces for Coach Smart to work with on the court." said Petrie.
The departure of the talented Cousins may come as a shock to some, but it has long been predicted by many outside of Sacramento after a string of publicized incidents off court and problematic behavior on it. Cousins has proven difficult to coach, insisting on rebounding and playing in the post despite attempts to correct such behavior by Kings coaches. Now Dwayne Casey will have... cont.
