http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14274057p-15083981c.html
Douby arrives as Wells enters free agency
By Sam Amick
Quincy Douby's contract is not negotiable.
As the 19th pick in the NBA draft, the Kings' newest player will make $1.03 million to start once he is signed, which will lock him up for two seasons with options and a qualifying offer that will, in effect, give the Kings his rights for five seasons. But when the sharpshooter out of Rutgers addressed the media for the first time Friday afternoon at the Kings' practice facility, he said there will be some negotiating -- over what number he wears. In college he wore No. 5, but the Kings gave him a purple and white No. 8.
"I heard somebody already had (No. 5), so I'll probably make some phone calls and see what numbers people have got in mind," he said.
That someone is Jason Hart, the incumbent Kings backup point guard. And while Douby, who led the Big East Conference last season in scoring, is known as a shooting guard with nearly unlimited range, he will join the unorthodox approach to the point guard position, according to Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and coach Eric Musselman.
With Francisco García, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin, Douby has the ability to occasionally handle the ball for starter Mike Bibby.
"We're going to play him at some point guard, make him a primary ballhandler (during this month's summer league), and there will be times when we'll run him off screens and give guys like Francisco an opportunity to handle the ball," Musselman said.
"We'll evaluate, post-summer league, what we want to do with him, going forward before we get into training camp."
Whether Bonzi Wells is part of that training camp remains to be seen. The 6-foot-5 "power two-guard," as Petrie recently called Wells, officially entered the free-agent market as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern time today, when negotiations could begin. Players cannot be signed until July 12.
His Detroit-based agent, William Phillips, flew in to visit Wells in Sacramento on Thursday and left Friday afternoon.
"It was a very good visit," Phillips said. "We're looking forward to seeing what e-mails, faxes and calls we get at 12:01. (We're) very optimistic."
With Wells about to turn 30 on Sept. 20, he seeks the security of a five- or six-year deal, according to Phillips. The Kings are the only team able to offer six years, along with 10.5 percent annual increases. Other teams can offer five years and 8 percent increases.
While Phillips would not comment on any desired salary range, the latest applicable precedent was set by former Kings shooting guard Cuttino Mobley, who left Sacramento for a $42 million, five-year contract with the Clippers last offseason. Mobley, though, was seen as the fourth-best free-agent shooting guard available at the time.
This offseason, Wells is the top shooting guard in a weak free-agent market. In Phillips' mind, re-signing Wells should be a priority for the Kings if they have true championship aspirations.
"Since 1980, no team has won a title that has had seven or eight guys that they could say should go out and start for them," he said. "So at the end of the day, if you're talking about winning a championship, you've got to go out and make sure that you have those guys. Bottom line. ... So then the determination is, What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to win a championship, or are you just trying to be good?"
Reportedly, Wells' early suitors are Detroit and Denver. The Pistons offer a viable chance for a championship and a reunion with former Portland teammate Rasheed Wallace, but it likely would be only for the midlevel exception (approximately $5 million).
The Nuggets can offer reunions with former Portland staffers Mark Warkentien (director of player of personnel) and Tim Grgurich (assistant coach), but their interest may only be mild. Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago have the most money to spend on free agents.
A league source said the Kings "will make a run at him, but they're not going to break the bank." Said Phillips: "At the end of the day, we're going to look at everybody."
Douby arrives as Wells enters free agency
By Sam Amick
Quincy Douby's contract is not negotiable.
As the 19th pick in the NBA draft, the Kings' newest player will make $1.03 million to start once he is signed, which will lock him up for two seasons with options and a qualifying offer that will, in effect, give the Kings his rights for five seasons. But when the sharpshooter out of Rutgers addressed the media for the first time Friday afternoon at the Kings' practice facility, he said there will be some negotiating -- over what number he wears. In college he wore No. 5, but the Kings gave him a purple and white No. 8.
"I heard somebody already had (No. 5), so I'll probably make some phone calls and see what numbers people have got in mind," he said.
That someone is Jason Hart, the incumbent Kings backup point guard. And while Douby, who led the Big East Conference last season in scoring, is known as a shooting guard with nearly unlimited range, he will join the unorthodox approach to the point guard position, according to Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and coach Eric Musselman.
With Francisco García, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin, Douby has the ability to occasionally handle the ball for starter Mike Bibby.
"We're going to play him at some point guard, make him a primary ballhandler (during this month's summer league), and there will be times when we'll run him off screens and give guys like Francisco an opportunity to handle the ball," Musselman said.
"We'll evaluate, post-summer league, what we want to do with him, going forward before we get into training camp."
Whether Bonzi Wells is part of that training camp remains to be seen. The 6-foot-5 "power two-guard," as Petrie recently called Wells, officially entered the free-agent market as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern time today, when negotiations could begin. Players cannot be signed until July 12.
His Detroit-based agent, William Phillips, flew in to visit Wells in Sacramento on Thursday and left Friday afternoon.
"It was a very good visit," Phillips said. "We're looking forward to seeing what e-mails, faxes and calls we get at 12:01. (We're) very optimistic."
With Wells about to turn 30 on Sept. 20, he seeks the security of a five- or six-year deal, according to Phillips. The Kings are the only team able to offer six years, along with 10.5 percent annual increases. Other teams can offer five years and 8 percent increases.
While Phillips would not comment on any desired salary range, the latest applicable precedent was set by former Kings shooting guard Cuttino Mobley, who left Sacramento for a $42 million, five-year contract with the Clippers last offseason. Mobley, though, was seen as the fourth-best free-agent shooting guard available at the time.
This offseason, Wells is the top shooting guard in a weak free-agent market. In Phillips' mind, re-signing Wells should be a priority for the Kings if they have true championship aspirations.
"Since 1980, no team has won a title that has had seven or eight guys that they could say should go out and start for them," he said. "So at the end of the day, if you're talking about winning a championship, you've got to go out and make sure that you have those guys. Bottom line. ... So then the determination is, What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to win a championship, or are you just trying to be good?"
Reportedly, Wells' early suitors are Detroit and Denver. The Pistons offer a viable chance for a championship and a reunion with former Portland teammate Rasheed Wallace, but it likely would be only for the midlevel exception (approximately $5 million).
The Nuggets can offer reunions with former Portland staffers Mark Warkentien (director of player of personnel) and Tim Grgurich (assistant coach), but their interest may only be mild. Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago have the most money to spend on free agents.
A league source said the Kings "will make a run at him, but they're not going to break the bank." Said Phillips: "At the end of the day, we're going to look at everybody."
