Bee: Kings bolster youth movement

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/237777.html

Kings bolster youth movement
Last Updated 12:01 am PDT Saturday, June 23, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7

When the Kings began their head-coaching search in late April, there was an immediate focus on the importance of grooming young talent.

True to form, the Kings moved to retain their younger core two days after the official announcement of Reggie Theus as coach. Sacramento exercised contract options for third-year swingman Francisco García and second-year guard Quincy Douby on Friday. The options are for the 2008-09 campaign, with García to be paid $1.9 million and Douby $1.4 million.

The Kings also made qualifying offers to soon-to-be restricted free agents Ronnie Price and Justin Williams. Should Price or Williams receive offer sheets from other teams when the free-agent signing period begins July 11, the Kings will have seven days to match the offer as part of their first right of refusal or lose the player's services.

Price, a guard, was signed in 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of Utah Valley State and has played sparingly the past two seasons with the Kings.

Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2006 to play on the Kings' summer-league team, but the 6-foot-11 big man was cut before the regular season. He was re-signed in early January after playing in the NBA Development League.

Renowned as a shotblocker, Williams also brought much-needed impact on the boards to a woeful rebounding team in his stint with the Kings.

-- Sam Amick

 

[whozit]

That is good news. I didn't think that they would be restricted, I was assuming they both would be unrestricted FAs. However, if I understand it correctly, with the Kings only having the MLE and LLE money slots (other than minimum salary deals) available that distinction could easily become a mute point. But that minor detail is better than them just being able to sign with any another team and the Kings not having any recourse at all.

 

[91sickness]

J Will n Ronnie must be resigned. J will more so than Ronnie but both would do wonders for our youth movement n rebuild process

 

[1kingzfan]

One more summer move left to lock in the youth, ie, a long-term offer for KMart like the Kings did with Peja prior to the final year of his rookie contract.

 

[AriesMar27]

i didnt know that jwill was 6'11.... i thought he was like 6'9.

whatever.... if we could trade douby for a 2nd rounder id be happy... i like price more than douby eventhough he didnt play much.... good shooter but a useless player on this team with bibby and price...

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I wonder who we might offer, if anyone, our MLE/LLE to?

 

[Bricklayer]

i didnt know that jwill was 6'11.... i thought he was like 6'9.

You are correct sir. In fact not even quite 6'9" as I recall. 6'11" = a laughable exaggeration, even by NBA standards. No idea who wrote that blurb, but jeesh. Goes well with our massive frontline of 7'3" Brad, 7'0" Reef, 6'10" Kenny and 6'10" Ron however.

Whatever.... if we could trade douby for a 2nd rounder id be happy... i like price more than douby eventhough he didnt play much.... good shooter but a useless player on this team with bibby and price...

Not much point to that I think unless you had a very particular 2nd round target. Douby is obviously still young and cheap, and you have no idea how our lineup is going to play out in the next couple of years.

 

[VF21]

You are correct sir. In fact not even quite 6'9" as I recall. 6'11" = a laughable exaggeration, even by NBA standards.

Maybe he was having a tall hair day? Or was just standing really, really, really straight?

 

[fnordius]

Maybe he was having a tall hair day?

You see, he IS turning into the next Ben Wallace!

 

[Gary]

whatever.... if we could trade douby for a 2nd rounder id be happy... i like price more than douby eventhough he didnt play much.... good shooter but a useless player on this team with bibby and price...

Seems like every team is going after the 6'2-6'3 combo guard nowadays. Douby can be as good as any of them.

 

[Bricklayer]

Seems like every team is going after the 6'2-6'3 combo guard nowadays. Douby can be as good as any of them.

Uh...what???


That beast has always existed -- when peopel talk about college "tweeners" that's often exactly what they are referring to. Unfortunately there are a lot of them -- getting people with true NBA size is never easy. But there being a lot of them is not the same thing as people going after them. Even the run n gun teams have use for maybe 1 on their roster, and only if he is really really good. Most other teams, no use at all.