Bee: Hart expects to join Clippers

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/131537.html

Kings waive guard Hart
He expects to join the Clippers, who lost Shaun Livingston to a knee injury.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:10 am PST Friday, March 2, 2007

Jason Hart never wanted to become part of a saga.

He simply wanted to know his status, to know why he wasn't playing or whether he would have a chance for a better opportunity. So when he received the news Wednesday night that he would be released from the Kings and, if all went as planned, eventually join the Clippers, it was the joyful conclusion to a bad situation.

"It's an opportunity, and you have to take advantage of the opportunity because they don't come around often," Hart said by telephone Thursday night. "I can't wait. I'm very, very excited. It's going to be exciting, a fresh start."

Hart was released Thursday afternoon. He flew with the Kings to Los Angeles, where Sacramento plays the Lakers tonight, only because it coincided with his next destination, as Hart expects to sign Tuesday with the Clippers. He must clear waivers first and would be free to sign Monday.

The need arose Monday, when Clippers point guard Shaun Livingston dislocated his left knee in a gruesome, season-ending injury. Hart's agent, Bill Neff, called the Clippers on Tuesday. Hart was let go on the final day when players must be released to qualify for a playoff roster should their team reach the postseason.

The deal was a buyout, with Hart forfeiting part of his salary to the Kings but expecting to make all of his money back with the Clippers. Although he wouldn't comment on the specific amounts that each team would pay, he said he would finish the season having made the same $1.6 million he was owed.

"One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity," Neff said. "I wish it didn't happen that way. I wish (Livingston) were playing because I hate to see that happen."

But Neff said he hated nothing more than the way he felt Hart was treated with the Kings and, specifically, by coach Eric Musselman. In mid-January, Neff went public with his complaints when he told The Bee of perceived mistreatment.

"The only thing I was disappointed by was the callous disregard that the coach had for Jason, the lack of respect he demonstrated towards Jason," Neff said. "In the end, as always, (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie) helped rescue the situation and did the right thing. It's over. We move on. I just wish it didn't go that way."

Musselman said he had much respect for Hart, who played in just 13 games this season.

"Jason was very professional during his time in Sacramento," Musselman said by phone. "I wish him the best, and hope that he lands on another roster for the remainder of the season."

Hart, who was traded from Charlotte to the Kings for a second-round pick in August 2005, has played in parts of six seasons. He came to the Kings after the 2004-05 season, during which he posted career highs in points (9.5 per game) and assists (5.0) in 74 games for the Bobcats. He is a Los Angeles native who, ironically, works out with the Clippers at their practice facility during the offseason.

"I'd like to thank God first, but myself, too, for keeping myself sane," Hart said. "It was hard, but I'm glad it looks like it'll work out."

About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.

 

[SacTownKid]

Good luck to Jason!

This is really a situation that I don't understand. I am surprised they even came into the season with him knowing that they didn't have use for him, and knowing they weren't looking to trade him.

 

[sidney]

I've never seen a 9-11th man on the bench make so much noise about disrespect, complaining, demanding a trade or buyout, etc. Especially when he had a player option last summer.

At least it's over. He gets out and the Kings save a little $$. Better for everyone.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is basically his career we are talking about -- of course he was going to squirm. I can only assume we kept him as long as we did just for the trade deadline in case he was needd to balance a deal, and the holdup of the last week post-deadline was just the buyout negotiations.

 

[SacDoug]

I never understood what Geoff Petrie was doing when he signed Jason Hart. Remember that same summer Geoff did not resign Mo Evans, Eddie House and Darius Songila. All three of them were known commodities and contributors to the King's success. Eddie House signed for the veteran minimum. Darius did not sign for much and neither did Mo Evans. The Kings could have kept Eddie House and either Mo or Darius for the same salary that they paid Jason Hart.

How would the Kings be right now if they had Eddie House on the roster instead of Jason Hart? How many of those close games would they Kings have won if they had Eddie's proven 3 pt shot and instant offense coming off the bench?

 

[Miles and Miles]

I've never seen a 9-11th man on the bench make so much noise about disrespect, complaining, demanding a trade or buyout, etc. Especially when he had a player option last summer.

At least it's over. He gets out and the Kings save a little $$. Better for everyone.

Next Potapenko is going to be grumbling for more playing time and demanding a trade. This his agent will come in and call everyone a liar.

 

[Miles and Miles]

"Jason was very professional during his time in Sacramento," Musselman said by phone.

More sarcasm?

 

[Packt]

I never understood what Geoff Petrie was doing when he signed Jason Hart. Remember that same summer Geoff did not resign Mo Evans, Eddie House and Darius Songila. All three of them were known commodities and contributors to the King's success. Eddie House signed for the veteran minimum. Darius did not sign for much and neither did Mo Evans. The Kings could have kept Eddie House and either Mo or Darius for the same salary that they paid Jason Hart.

How would the Kings be right now if they had Eddie House on the roster instead of Jason Hart? How many of those close games would they Kings have won if they had Eddie's proven 3 pt shot and instant offense coming off the bench?

House wanted money but languished in FA and ended up having to take a smaller deal. Darius was a duplicate of Kenny. Mo could've stayed but also wanted money, and we brought in Bonzi that summer.

Hart was acquired with two second round picks. He was supposed to replace Bobby's defense at the 1. He's been a disappointment but I'm certain Geoff wanted him to pick-up the option anyhow. New “defensive” coach coming in and still in need of back-up PG. He was cheap, a possible trade asset, it just didn't work out.

 

[sidney]

This is basically his career we are talking about -- of course he was going to squirm.

What was the last near vet minimum player of Hart's caliber that put up a stink like this 3 months before his contract was up? Guys down there at the end of the bench usually are happy to be on a roster and don't want to get a rep as a malcontent. Regardless...he's gone. I'm glad.

 

[BJax24]

good for jason i hope he can get some playing time in la if he signs

 

[91sickness]

im just glad he is gone, we didnt use him at all the trade deadline is behind us and we save some $$. we was worthless, im glad he is gone. Next we gotta get potapenko and his what like 3 million outta here.

 

[kingsfan101]

I think many of us are overreacting, just like Hart's agent (in fact, the way he is praising Geoff and berating Muss indicates that people outside the org also have started tuning out Muss). Here's the way I see things

• Waiving him was the decent thing to do, even if we hadn't saved much money. He gets another chance to revive his career, at no cost to us.
• Pot shall not demand a waiver. Quite likely, he shall retire at the end of this year. If he weren't, he too would have likely requested one, and we should have obliged.
• Could Hart and his agent been more professional. Obviously. They came into the season knowing that Hart was not in our plans, and picked the option anyway, since it was financially beneficial for them. If they wanted a trade/waiver, they should have spoken with Petrie in private, rather than create a stink.

Regarding Darius, House and Mo, hope I have the facts right, but I think the situations were different

• Darius was not a free agent, since we had extended him the qualifying offer. Once we signed Reef, he was redundant. We could have kept him for a low price, and traded him for future considerations. Petrie did the decent thing by rescinding the offer, and enabling him to become a FA and try the market. As I mentioned in another thread, this approach can be argued, but I feel it was the right thing to do.
• Per my understanding, we could not sign Mo, since we had used our MLE on Reef (CBA gurus, please help me out). Also, the front office, and Rick felt that Martin could replace him (read a statement from Rick to this effect, though, they obviously weren't very confident. Else, they might not have brought in Bonzi. Martin's performance at the beginning of last season also didn't generate much confidence).
• House, not sure. Maybe, as Packt mentioned, he wanted more money than we were ready to give him.

Bottomline, we needed a cheap, backup PG. Hart had championship experience, was coming off a good season, and came at the low price of a second round pick. Low price, even for someone as ineffective as him.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm not much of a revisionist, and I recall thinkng Hart was a decent enoguh signing at the time. defensive minded etc. Some were even excited over him, althguh I thin that was going considerably too far -- "big" numbers (if 9 and 5 be big) on a bad team guy.

In any case, it was not an illogical signing at the time. But obviously a minor mistake in hindsight. As he was with the Spurs, on a serious team Jason Hart is sub-10 min scrub in the NBA.

 

[Entity]

I never understood what Geoff Petrie was doing when he signed Jason Hart. Remember that same summer Geoff did not resign Mo Evans, Eddie House and Darius Songila. All three of them were known commodities and contributors to the King's success. Eddie House signed for the veteran minimum. Darius did not sign for much and neither did Mo Evans. The Kings could have kept Eddie House and either Mo or Darius for the same salary that they paid Jason Hart.

How would the Kings be right now if they had Eddie House on the roster instead of Jason Hart? How many of those close games would they Kings have won if they had Eddie's proven 3 pt shot and instant offense coming off the bench?

Take a look at Harts stats the year before we got him. He looked like the perfect backup for Bibby plus he was thought of as a defensive minded pg which we needed. in case you don't want to look it up He averaged almost 10ppg 5ast 2.7reb and 1.3stls shooting 44% from the field in only 25min per game. He looked solid. This is also going to be a problem with replacing Bibby in the future. Unless the frontcourt personnell changes a prototypical pg is useless with this lineup.

 

[Packt]

[*]Could Hart and his agent been more professional. Obviously. They came into the season knowing that Hart was not in our plans, and picked the option anyway, since it was financially beneficial for them. If they wanted a trade/waiver, they should have spoken with Petrie in private, rather than create a stink.

That misconception is the reason why some people seem to dislike him. Geoff traded for him knowing his contract status. A "player's option" is guaranteed unless the player rescinds it, so Petrie's plans should've included Hart. Hart had to make the decision early in the summer whether he would opt out. Adelman was let go and the team had no back-up PG at the time. With a new coach and system coming in, he had every right to assume that he could get minutes here. The controversy is not because others were outplaying him and he wasn't getting minutes, he was upset because he was told he wasn't playing because of politics. Whether that's true or not is up for debate. I believe it because there was still a need for a back-up PG even up to that point and yet Hart received little playing time.

For Hart to have succeeded here, he needed to be a better offensive player. The team needed a dynamic punch off the bench and that just wasn't him.

 

[cfechter]

Take a look at Harts stats the year before we got him. He looked like the perfect backup for Bibby plus he was thought of as a defensive minded pg which we needed. in case you don't want to look it up He averaged almost 10ppg 5ast 2.7reb and 1.3stls shooting 44% from the field in only 25min per game. He looked solid. This is also going to be a problem with replacing Bibby in the future. Unless the frontcourt personnell changes a prototypical pg is useless with this lineup.

Nice post, entity - it's easy to question the trade now, but at the time, he had just come off of a pretty darn solid season in Charlotte and we needed a back-up point guard. AND we got him cheap (two second rounders).

I won't say I was EXCITED but I'll say that I thought we had solved one of our problems after getting him. I was wrong though...dead wrong.

Stupid, stupid agent, if you ask me. Jason's play last year just destroyed any hope of him really getting time this year. Instead of blaming his lack of PT on Musselmen or anyone else, he or his agent should have first looked in the mirror.