http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13209258p-14052224c.html
Kings notes: Flurry of free-agent moves boosts Mobley
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, July 10, 2005
LAS VEGAS - The dominoes have begun to fall, and two Kings from last season may be next.
With the flurry of free-agent guard signings this week comes the likelihood that Cuttino Mobley and Maurice Evans are edging closer to settling their own futures. Since July 5, Ray Allen (Seattle), Michael Redd (Milwaukee), Larry Hughes (Cleveland) and Bobby Simmons (Milwaukee) have agreed to contracts that will be signed July 22, each landing bigger deals than thought possible a few weeks ago. Phoenix's restricted free agent, Joe Johnson, likely is next. And while the Suns have said they plan to match any offer put his way, it is believed that Atlanta has offered a contract near the maximum that could make him a Hawk. The ripple effect moves Mobley near the top of the guard list and might raise Evans' stock.
Evans, a restricted free agent who made $620,046 last season, began the free-agency period looking for $1 million-plus annually. But now he is said to be seeking a multiyear deal - preferably at least four years - with a target salary in the range of the Kings' entire mid-level exception, which isn't set but should be approximately $5 million.
Meanwhile, the notion of a Mobley sign-and-trade deal with Denver involving Nene became less likely last week, when Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he has no plans of losing his young power forward. Still, Mobley - who opted out of the final year of his contract that would have paid him $6.7 million - may well get the raise he was looking for with the inflated market. His agent, Andy Miller, spoke to Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and Vandeweghe separately on Saturday.
"No news to report," Miller said. "We just hadn't talked. You guys are treating this like (the Kings) are $20 million under the (salary) cap. There's nothing right now."
Evans' agent, Roger Montgomery, said discussions with the Kings have gone smoothly this week during the summer league.
"They've told me that they want 'Mo' to be a part of what they're doing in the future, but that they're not really going to make a decision today," Montgomery said. "It's the waiting game of free agency."
Is the Price right? - The early leader in the most-likely-to-earn-an-invite-to-training-camp sweepstakes is Ronnie Price, the undrafted point guard from Utah Valley State who is impressing Kings coaches with his quickness and shooting touch.
Price scored 13 points in the Kings' 71-60 win over New Jersey on Saturday, hitting 6 of 12 from the field. With two days between their summer-league debut (a loss against Phoenix on Wednesday) and Game No. 2, the Kings looked re-energized in the win. Rookie swingman Francisco García improved everything but his shot from his debut, chalking up seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. He was just 2 of 10 from the field. There was no such trouble scoring for the 6-foot-2 Price, who averaged 24.3 points per game in his final collegiate season to rank third in the country in Division I.
Kings notes: Flurry of free-agent moves boosts Mobley
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, July 10, 2005
LAS VEGAS - The dominoes have begun to fall, and two Kings from last season may be next.
With the flurry of free-agent guard signings this week comes the likelihood that Cuttino Mobley and Maurice Evans are edging closer to settling their own futures. Since July 5, Ray Allen (Seattle), Michael Redd (Milwaukee), Larry Hughes (Cleveland) and Bobby Simmons (Milwaukee) have agreed to contracts that will be signed July 22, each landing bigger deals than thought possible a few weeks ago. Phoenix's restricted free agent, Joe Johnson, likely is next. And while the Suns have said they plan to match any offer put his way, it is believed that Atlanta has offered a contract near the maximum that could make him a Hawk. The ripple effect moves Mobley near the top of the guard list and might raise Evans' stock.
Evans, a restricted free agent who made $620,046 last season, began the free-agency period looking for $1 million-plus annually. But now he is said to be seeking a multiyear deal - preferably at least four years - with a target salary in the range of the Kings' entire mid-level exception, which isn't set but should be approximately $5 million.
Meanwhile, the notion of a Mobley sign-and-trade deal with Denver involving Nene became less likely last week, when Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he has no plans of losing his young power forward. Still, Mobley - who opted out of the final year of his contract that would have paid him $6.7 million - may well get the raise he was looking for with the inflated market. His agent, Andy Miller, spoke to Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and Vandeweghe separately on Saturday.
"No news to report," Miller said. "We just hadn't talked. You guys are treating this like (the Kings) are $20 million under the (salary) cap. There's nothing right now."
Evans' agent, Roger Montgomery, said discussions with the Kings have gone smoothly this week during the summer league.
"They've told me that they want 'Mo' to be a part of what they're doing in the future, but that they're not really going to make a decision today," Montgomery said. "It's the waiting game of free agency."
Is the Price right? - The early leader in the most-likely-to-earn-an-invite-to-training-camp sweepstakes is Ronnie Price, the undrafted point guard from Utah Valley State who is impressing Kings coaches with his quickness and shooting touch.
Price scored 13 points in the Kings' 71-60 win over New Jersey on Saturday, hitting 6 of 12 from the field. With two days between their summer-league debut (a loss against Phoenix on Wednesday) and Game No. 2, the Kings looked re-energized in the win. Rookie swingman Francisco García improved everything but his shot from his debut, chalking up seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. He was just 2 of 10 from the field. There was no such trouble scoring for the 6-foot-2 Price, who averaged 24.3 points per game in his final collegiate season to rank third in the country in Division I.
