http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/246021.html
It's decision day for Kings
Theus knows to expect the unexpected
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:08 am PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
When Reggie Theus entered the NBA draft in 1978, the prognosticators said the UNLV star would go no later than No. 7 to Portland.
But chaos came first, as unforeseen trades dropped Theus lower than he'd ever imagined. Alas, it was all the way down to No. 9, where Chicago called Theus' name and a career began with a team he had no previous interviews with nor worked out for.
"You can project all you want," Theus said. "But when it comes right down to it, and those things start to unfold, anything can happen."
Today the Kings have the No. 10 pick and hopes of maybe even more on what could be dubbed the symbolic beginning of the rebuilding age. Youth is already on the rise, with the likes of Kevin Martin and Francisco García securing their spots in the new picture and others close behind. The question now is who comes next?
Yet the nature of the Kings' position makes their approach simple. With a relatively short list of names, they wait to see if a big name -- such as Chinese talent Yi Jianlian or Florida's Joakim Noah or Washington's Spencer Hawes -- falls their way. If not, there's comfort in the fact that the likes of Florida State's Al Thornton could be there and might provide real punch next season.
The larger question is whether the Kings can make an even bigger splash, either securing more picks or perhaps shuffling the roster by trading Mike Bibby or Ron Artest in the sort of draft-day deal that dropped Theus' standing nearly 30 years ago.
Landing the likes of Noah might require moving up in the draft, and it seems telling that Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie went to such great lengths to see Noah. After Noah backed out of a Sacramento workout because of a minor injury, Petrie eventually traveled to Atlanta to get an up-close look, then went to Phoenix on Tuesday to see him again.
They dined, and Noah impressed in every way. Hawes left a good impression in a different way, although his Sacramento workout came against ghost defenders in one-on-none fashion. And Thornton, who was seen by the Kings in Orlando, Fla., kept the Kings intrigued despite a less-than-stellar workout performance with Florida guard Corey Brewer. Let the choices, and the surprises, begin.
"It'll be interesting to see how it unfolds," said Theus, who joined Petrie in Phoenix on Tuesday. "There are potentially some (good) choices (at No. 10), and that's a good thing."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
It's decision day for Kings
Theus knows to expect the unexpected
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:08 am PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
When Reggie Theus entered the NBA draft in 1978, the prognosticators said the UNLV star would go no later than No. 7 to Portland.
But chaos came first, as unforeseen trades dropped Theus lower than he'd ever imagined. Alas, it was all the way down to No. 9, where Chicago called Theus' name and a career began with a team he had no previous interviews with nor worked out for.
"You can project all you want," Theus said. "But when it comes right down to it, and those things start to unfold, anything can happen."
Today the Kings have the No. 10 pick and hopes of maybe even more on what could be dubbed the symbolic beginning of the rebuilding age. Youth is already on the rise, with the likes of Kevin Martin and Francisco García securing their spots in the new picture and others close behind. The question now is who comes next?
Yet the nature of the Kings' position makes their approach simple. With a relatively short list of names, they wait to see if a big name -- such as Chinese talent Yi Jianlian or Florida's Joakim Noah or Washington's Spencer Hawes -- falls their way. If not, there's comfort in the fact that the likes of Florida State's Al Thornton could be there and might provide real punch next season.
The larger question is whether the Kings can make an even bigger splash, either securing more picks or perhaps shuffling the roster by trading Mike Bibby or Ron Artest in the sort of draft-day deal that dropped Theus' standing nearly 30 years ago.
Landing the likes of Noah might require moving up in the draft, and it seems telling that Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie went to such great lengths to see Noah. After Noah backed out of a Sacramento workout because of a minor injury, Petrie eventually traveled to Atlanta to get an up-close look, then went to Phoenix on Tuesday to see him again.
They dined, and Noah impressed in every way. Hawes left a good impression in a different way, although his Sacramento workout came against ghost defenders in one-on-none fashion. And Thornton, who was seen by the Kings in Orlando, Fla., kept the Kings intrigued despite a less-than-stellar workout performance with Florida guard Corey Brewer. Let the choices, and the surprises, begin.
"It'll be interesting to see how it unfolds," said Theus, who joined Petrie in Phoenix on Tuesday. "There are potentially some (good) choices (at No. 10), and that's a good thing."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
