http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13132407p-13976506c.html
A history of the Kings' first-round selections
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Bee's Joe Davidson breaks down 19 years of Kings first-round draft picks:
Year: 1985 Name: Joe Kleine Selection: 6 Pos.: C Yrs with Kings: 3 1/2
Comment: Lovable lug was part of first lottery and a precursor of Kings draft luck to come. Was asked to be a star but was a plodding role player; averaged seven points for Kings.
Year: 1986 Name: Harold Pressley Selection: 17 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 4
Comment: First to admit that storied Villanova career vaulted him into first round. Only four years in NBA, all with Kings, before knees ailed him; posted decent averages of nine points, 4.5 rebounds.
Year: 1987 Name: Kenny Smith Selection: 6 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 2 1/2
Comment: The "Jet" was picked ahead of hometown product Kevin Johnson, which stung about as much as Smith's tender knees. Best statistical seasons were with Kings before titles with Houston Rockets.
Year: 1988 Name: Ricky Berry Selection: 18 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: A wound that never heals, Berry appeared headed for stardom after some breakout games late in his rookie year, then committed suicide in the Kings' darkest and most mysterious moment.
Year: 1989 Name: Pervis Ellison Selection: 1 Pos.: C Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: There's rotten luck and there's Kings draft luck, and "Never Nervous" was the poster child for all of it. He wasn't scouted in person before the draft, came in sore-footed and unmotivated, and played only 34 games; an all-time flop.
Year: 1990 Name: Lionel Simmons Selection: 7 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 7
Comment: Was the only real productive player in a record four-player, first-round haul. "Train" had the best three years of his career in his first three seasons, including 18 points per game as a rookie.
Year: 1990 Name: Travis Mays Selection: 14 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: Prolific collegiate scorer couldn't make the switch to point guard, though he averaged 14.3 points in his one Kings season. He was traded for Spud Webb, who gave the Kings immediate floor-general relief.
Year: 1990 Name: Duane Causwell Selection: 18 Pos.: C6 1/2
Comment: Could block shots and run the floor but had zilch for offensive skills or instincts, and sometimes zilch for desire. He drove then-coach Dick Motta nuts with tardiness and insubordination.
Year: 1990 Name: Anthony Bonner Selection: 23 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Feisty and effective as a grunt with the ability to score inside; averaged 8.7 points in his three Kings seasons. Played only two more full NBA seasons before he was finished.
Year: 1991 Name: Billy Owens Selection: 3 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 0
Comment: Refusing to sign, he was traded on the eve of the season to Golden State for Mitch Richmond, a steal for the Kings. Owens did wind up with the Kings for three seasons, 1995-96 to 1997-1998.
Year: 1992 Name: Walt Williams Selection: 7 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3 1/2
Comment: He showed great promise, with his best career year coming in his first season when he averaged 17 points, including a career-high 40 in one game. But Walt wasn't always a Wizard and was traded for more help.
Year: 1993 Name: Bobby Hurley Selection: 7 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 4
Comment: Best season was his first, averaging 7.1 points and 6.1 assists, then he nearly lost his life in a horrific crash near Arco Arena. He came back but wasn't the same and was out of the NBA by 26.
Year: 1994 Name: Brian Grant Selection: 8 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Tough, active, could muscle inside for points and scrap. Kings lost him via free agency, where he became a sore-backed multimillionaire with NBA's best dreads.
Year: 1995 Name: Corliss Williamson Selection: 13 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 5
Comment: Good pick proved reliable, if undersized brute down low; part of first Kings playoff team in 10 years. Has come full circle after a trade to Kings last season.
Year: 1996 Name: Peja Stojakovic Selection: 14 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 7
Comment: Pick was booed lustily by Kings fans who wanted John Wallace of Syracuse (who?); took a while to get Peja in Sacramento, though he has become one of the world's top shooters.
Year: 1997 Name: Olivier Saint-Jean Selection: 11 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 2
Comment: Athletic, top defender but was barely a King, managing 108 games. Changed his name to Tariq Abdul-Wahad and became grossly overpaid injured-list disaster in Dallas.
Year: 1998 Name: Jason Williams Selection: 7 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: A real injection of flair at just the right time, J-Will boosted Kings into the forefront, never mind the periodic turnovers; traded to Grizzlies for Mike Bibby, the real steal.
Year: 1999 No selection
Year: 2000 Name: Hedo Turkoglu Selection: 16 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: No boos on this pick initially, with fans eager to see what magic Geoff Petrie pulled. Marvelously skilled, stuck behind Peja, was part of three-team trade to land Brad Miller.
Year: 2001 Name: Gerald Wallace Selection: 25 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Incredible athlete had his moments, though work ethic wasn't always there to warrant playing time. Plucked by Charlotte in expansion draft and had solid year in 2004-05.
Year: 2002 Traded draft rights of Dan Dickau (No. 28) to Atlanta for future pick.
Year: 2003 No selection Year: 2004 Name: Kevin Martin Selection: 26 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: Thin as a telephone pole, quick as a cat, drives fast on occasion, Martin is still very much an encouraging work in progress. Wasn't on playoff roster, meaning he needs to improve.
A history of the Kings' first-round selections
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Bee's Joe Davidson breaks down 19 years of Kings first-round draft picks:
Year: 1985 Name: Joe Kleine Selection: 6 Pos.: C Yrs with Kings: 3 1/2
Comment: Lovable lug was part of first lottery and a precursor of Kings draft luck to come. Was asked to be a star but was a plodding role player; averaged seven points for Kings.
Year: 1986 Name: Harold Pressley Selection: 17 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 4
Comment: First to admit that storied Villanova career vaulted him into first round. Only four years in NBA, all with Kings, before knees ailed him; posted decent averages of nine points, 4.5 rebounds.
Year: 1987 Name: Kenny Smith Selection: 6 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 2 1/2
Comment: The "Jet" was picked ahead of hometown product Kevin Johnson, which stung about as much as Smith's tender knees. Best statistical seasons were with Kings before titles with Houston Rockets.
Year: 1988 Name: Ricky Berry Selection: 18 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: A wound that never heals, Berry appeared headed for stardom after some breakout games late in his rookie year, then committed suicide in the Kings' darkest and most mysterious moment.
Year: 1989 Name: Pervis Ellison Selection: 1 Pos.: C Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: There's rotten luck and there's Kings draft luck, and "Never Nervous" was the poster child for all of it. He wasn't scouted in person before the draft, came in sore-footed and unmotivated, and played only 34 games; an all-time flop.
Year: 1990 Name: Lionel Simmons Selection: 7 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 7
Comment: Was the only real productive player in a record four-player, first-round haul. "Train" had the best three years of his career in his first three seasons, including 18 points per game as a rookie.
Year: 1990 Name: Travis Mays Selection: 14 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: Prolific collegiate scorer couldn't make the switch to point guard, though he averaged 14.3 points in his one Kings season. He was traded for Spud Webb, who gave the Kings immediate floor-general relief.
Year: 1990 Name: Duane Causwell Selection: 18 Pos.: C6 1/2
Comment: Could block shots and run the floor but had zilch for offensive skills or instincts, and sometimes zilch for desire. He drove then-coach Dick Motta nuts with tardiness and insubordination.
Year: 1990 Name: Anthony Bonner Selection: 23 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Feisty and effective as a grunt with the ability to score inside; averaged 8.7 points in his three Kings seasons. Played only two more full NBA seasons before he was finished.
Year: 1991 Name: Billy Owens Selection: 3 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 0
Comment: Refusing to sign, he was traded on the eve of the season to Golden State for Mitch Richmond, a steal for the Kings. Owens did wind up with the Kings for three seasons, 1995-96 to 1997-1998.
Year: 1992 Name: Walt Williams Selection: 7 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3 1/2
Comment: He showed great promise, with his best career year coming in his first season when he averaged 17 points, including a career-high 40 in one game. But Walt wasn't always a Wizard and was traded for more help.
Year: 1993 Name: Bobby Hurley Selection: 7 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 4
Comment: Best season was his first, averaging 7.1 points and 6.1 assists, then he nearly lost his life in a horrific crash near Arco Arena. He came back but wasn't the same and was out of the NBA by 26.
Year: 1994 Name: Brian Grant Selection: 8 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Tough, active, could muscle inside for points and scrap. Kings lost him via free agency, where he became a sore-backed multimillionaire with NBA's best dreads.
Year: 1995 Name: Corliss Williamson Selection: 13 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 5
Comment: Good pick proved reliable, if undersized brute down low; part of first Kings playoff team in 10 years. Has come full circle after a trade to Kings last season.
Year: 1996 Name: Peja Stojakovic Selection: 14 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 7
Comment: Pick was booed lustily by Kings fans who wanted John Wallace of Syracuse (who?); took a while to get Peja in Sacramento, though he has become one of the world's top shooters.
Year: 1997 Name: Olivier Saint-Jean Selection: 11 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 2
Comment: Athletic, top defender but was barely a King, managing 108 games. Changed his name to Tariq Abdul-Wahad and became grossly overpaid injured-list disaster in Dallas.
Year: 1998 Name: Jason Williams Selection: 7 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: A real injection of flair at just the right time, J-Will boosted Kings into the forefront, never mind the periodic turnovers; traded to Grizzlies for Mike Bibby, the real steal.
Year: 1999 No selection
Year: 2000 Name: Hedo Turkoglu Selection: 16 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: No boos on this pick initially, with fans eager to see what magic Geoff Petrie pulled. Marvelously skilled, stuck behind Peja, was part of three-team trade to land Brad Miller.
Year: 2001 Name: Gerald Wallace Selection: 25 Pos.: F Yrs with Kings: 3
Comment: Incredible athlete had his moments, though work ethic wasn't always there to warrant playing time. Plucked by Charlotte in expansion draft and had solid year in 2004-05.
Year: 2002 Traded draft rights of Dan Dickau (No. 28) to Atlanta for future pick.
Year: 2003 No selection Year: 2004 Name: Kevin Martin Selection: 26 Pos.: G Yrs with Kings: 1
Comment: Thin as a telephone pole, quick as a cat, drives fast on occasion, Martin is still very much an encouraging work in progress. Wasn't on playoff roster, meaning he needs to improve.
