http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13674476p-14517011c.html
By Joe Davidson
Any NBA coach or executive will tell you.
You never can be short on 7-footers at this time of year, or ever. With that, the Kings claimed center Luke Schenscher off waivers from the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday to fill out the camp roster to 20 players.
Schenscher fills the void left by Lonnie Jones, a 7-foot rookie from Ball State who couldn't report due to a broken foot.
Schenscher, a rookie from Georgia Tech, can block shots and rebound and has shown promise with his offensive game, including a hook shot. He's plenty big at 7-foot-1 and 255 pounds but not powerful or brutish, and he surely will be introduced to the Kings' weight room.
The first high school student to make the Australian national team, Schenscher played four years at Georgia Tech, helping the Yellow Jackets reach the 2004 NCAA championship game.
"(President of basketball operations Geoff Petrie) and I talked about it and felt it was worth picking him up," coach Rick Adelman said. "It's a minimum contact; let's see what the guy can do. Big guys are sometimes hard to find, and you never know how they're going to develop. It was definitely worth the gamble."
Schenscher will have his first practice today.
Martin impresses Miller - Center Brad Miller said he was pleased to see Kevin Martin looking better and stronger in camp. The second-year guard tirelessly worked on his game this summer.
"I was glad to see the way (Martin) worked," Miller said. "As much as I go home now, the first couple years (in the league) I stayed around most of the summer, and that's pretty much what you've got to do. Work out with the coaches, do what they want and work on what they want you to work on.
"It's a lot easier the second year. You know what the (heck) is going on and feel a lot more comfortable."
Love those guards - Two days in, Adelman likes what he sees at point guard, and he said the talent, depth and competition are the talk of camp.
Besides starter Mike Bibby, the Kings have Jason Hart, Ronnie Price and Luis Flores. Hart is the biggest of the three at 6-3, and Price and Flores are blurs with the dribble or on drives.
"I didn't realize (how good) they all were," Adelman said. "Our point guards are very good. Flores is really good. They all competed really well."
The thankless challenge, Adelman said, is getting all of them on the floor, or any of the reserves and long shots, for that matter.
"It's hard to get them all into the scrimmages," he said. "We need to have the main guys on the floor a lot. When they're out, they sit and get stiff. It is the hardest thing. It's hard because they don't get a chance like the other guys to stay on the floor for a lengthy time."
Rebound, good man - Jamal Sampson knows exactly how he'll make the Kings' roster: snag every rebound as if you're the next Ben Wallace.
"Without a doubt, what I can bring this team is rebounding," the fourth-year veteran from Cal said. "Every team needs a rebounder, especially a team like this with so many shooters."
Barnes lands in Big Apple - Former King Matt Barnes finally has found a home. The Del Campo High School graduate signed a one-year deal with the New York Knicks for the veteran's minimum of $745,000. The swingman started nine games with the Kings last season before heading to Philadelphia in the Chris Webber mega-deal.
By Joe Davidson
Any NBA coach or executive will tell you.
You never can be short on 7-footers at this time of year, or ever. With that, the Kings claimed center Luke Schenscher off waivers from the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday to fill out the camp roster to 20 players.
Schenscher fills the void left by Lonnie Jones, a 7-foot rookie from Ball State who couldn't report due to a broken foot.
Schenscher, a rookie from Georgia Tech, can block shots and rebound and has shown promise with his offensive game, including a hook shot. He's plenty big at 7-foot-1 and 255 pounds but not powerful or brutish, and he surely will be introduced to the Kings' weight room.
The first high school student to make the Australian national team, Schenscher played four years at Georgia Tech, helping the Yellow Jackets reach the 2004 NCAA championship game.
"(President of basketball operations Geoff Petrie) and I talked about it and felt it was worth picking him up," coach Rick Adelman said. "It's a minimum contact; let's see what the guy can do. Big guys are sometimes hard to find, and you never know how they're going to develop. It was definitely worth the gamble."
Schenscher will have his first practice today.
Martin impresses Miller - Center Brad Miller said he was pleased to see Kevin Martin looking better and stronger in camp. The second-year guard tirelessly worked on his game this summer.
"I was glad to see the way (Martin) worked," Miller said. "As much as I go home now, the first couple years (in the league) I stayed around most of the summer, and that's pretty much what you've got to do. Work out with the coaches, do what they want and work on what they want you to work on.
"It's a lot easier the second year. You know what the (heck) is going on and feel a lot more comfortable."
Love those guards - Two days in, Adelman likes what he sees at point guard, and he said the talent, depth and competition are the talk of camp.
Besides starter Mike Bibby, the Kings have Jason Hart, Ronnie Price and Luis Flores. Hart is the biggest of the three at 6-3, and Price and Flores are blurs with the dribble or on drives.
"I didn't realize (how good) they all were," Adelman said. "Our point guards are very good. Flores is really good. They all competed really well."
The thankless challenge, Adelman said, is getting all of them on the floor, or any of the reserves and long shots, for that matter.
"It's hard to get them all into the scrimmages," he said. "We need to have the main guys on the floor a lot. When they're out, they sit and get stiff. It is the hardest thing. It's hard because they don't get a chance like the other guys to stay on the floor for a lengthy time."
Rebound, good man - Jamal Sampson knows exactly how he'll make the Kings' roster: snag every rebound as if you're the next Ben Wallace.
"Without a doubt, what I can bring this team is rebounding," the fourth-year veteran from Cal said. "Every team needs a rebounder, especially a team like this with so many shooters."
Barnes lands in Big Apple - Former King Matt Barnes finally has found a home. The Del Campo High School graduate signed a one-year deal with the New York Knicks for the veteran's minimum of $745,000. The swingman started nine games with the Kings last season before heading to Philadelphia in the Chris Webber mega-deal.
