Team executive Petrie struggles to whittle down prospects
By Sam Amick
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14272555p-15082866c.html
After nearly two months of evaluating talent for today's NBA draft, the Kings held their final workout Tuesday afternoon. When the final NBA prospects made their way out of the team's practice facility, their midday departure left even more work for Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
The team's draft point man dubbed his No. 19 pick in today's affair a "work in progress," with all indications showing that the possibilities are wide in terms of who the pick may be.
Thursday, Petrie had said he hoped to have a better sense of how the 18 teams in front of the Kings would be picking on draft day, but unpredictability seems to be the standard this year. "It's going to be different again (today), so we'll just wait and see," he said. "We'll have a list, for sure. And all told, you want to pick somebody who's going to have a reasonable chance to succeed. The nature of the draft is that things happen in front of you -- in spite of all the conversations you have -- that you don't expect."
The good news for Alexander Johnson is that the latest rumor surrounding him wasn't true. The Florida State power forward, who appears to be on the Kings' short list, worked out in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, facing off against Cal forward Leon Powe. By afternoon, rumors circulated that Johnson broke his leg in the session when, in fact, he had sprained his ankle. The Kings, according to Johnson's agent, Jason Levien, were concerned enough to call. Johnson first worked out for the Kings on Saturday, when he went against Connecticut center Josh Boone.
"I think they have interest," Levien said. "They really liked (Johnson's) athleticism. I think they're looking for someone who can, athletically, score in the post and contribute. So they were pretty positive (about him)."
After the Kings lacked interior defense much of last season, it seems they also have gone hunting for big men, from Connecticut's Hilton Armstrong to Boone and others. They have looked at point guards, too, namely UCLA's Jordan Farmar and Spaniard Sergio Rodríguez, but are said to have questions about their defense.
Rutgers shooting guard Quincy Douby also could wind up being the pick, bringing a famed outside shot that could add scoring depth if the Kings lose free-agent-to-be Bonzi Wells.
If Petrie opts for the smaller bigs -- perhaps picking Johnson, Memphis' Shawne Williams or Powe -- the Kings will have a glut of forwards. The team is paying a combined $19 million to Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and small/power forward Corliss Williamson.
Petrie, who attempted to trade Thomas to Milwaukee in October for Desmond Mason, was mum on whether today's pick will be a sign of moves that could follow, saying, "You're the prognosticator, and I'm the facilitator."
One who is willing to do just that at the moment.
"We're willing to trade," Petrie said of both the draft pick and his current roster. "It doesn't have to be today, tomorrow or next week. It's when things come around and they make sense for you."
Coincidentally, Thomas' agent, Mark McNeil, is expected to talk soon to Kings coach Eric Musselman about how he plans to use his client next season.
"I'll see what his plans are for Kenny and then go from there," McNeil said. "If we can work it out, we'll stay there. If not, we'll look at our other options. Until I talk to the head coach, I'd just be speculating."
A pressing question about Johnson and every other candidate was defensive ability, as the Kings plan to continue the defensive surge that began with last season's acquisition of Ron Artest. If Johnson is taken at No. 19, ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said he'll work out just fine.
"Johnson is a very good athlete," Bilas said. "He's 23 years old, so he's a mature man. What you see now is what you're going to get. I think he's more of a face-up (power forward), not really a deep-post guy. He can hit the 17-foot jumper, and that's what he likes to do."
Kings Tryouts
• Florida State junior forward Alexander Johnson (6-foot-10, 240 pounds).
• Connecticut junior center Josh Boone (6-10, 237).
• Rutgers junior guard Quincy Douby (6-3, 175).
• Connecticut senior center Hilton Armstrong (6-10, 240).
• UCLA sophomore guard Jordan Farmar (6-2, 180).
• Cal sophomore forward Leon Powe (6-8, 245).
• Gonzaga senior forward J.P. Batista (6-8, 240).
• Louisville senior guard Taquan Dean (6-3, 185).
• Illinois senior guard Dee Brown (5-10, 170).
• Texas junior forward P.J. Tucker (6-5, 225).
• Cal State Fullerton junior guard Bobby Brown (6-1, 170).
• Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas (6-11, 230).
• Stanford senior forward Matt Haryasz (6-10, 230).
• Notre Dame senior guard Chris Quinn (6-1, 190).
• Denver senior center Yemi Nicholson (6-10, 240).
• Tennessee senior guard C.J. Watson (6-2, 176).
• Oklahoma senior forward Taj Gray (6-9, 240).
• UCLA senior center Ryan Hollins (7-0, 225).
• Stanford senior guard Chris Hernandez (6-2, 190).
• Pacific senior guard Johnny Gray (6-1, 180).
• Sacramento State senior guard DaShawn Freeman (5-11, 175).
• Missouri junior guard Thomas Gardner (6-5, 213).
• Pacific senior forward Christian Maraker (6-9, 235).
• Cal senior forward Rod Benson (6-10, 220).
• USBL forward Jameel Watkins (6-10, 270, formerly Georgetown).
• Sacramento State senior swingman Jason Harris (6-4, 220).
By Sam Amick
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14272555p-15082866c.html
After nearly two months of evaluating talent for today's NBA draft, the Kings held their final workout Tuesday afternoon. When the final NBA prospects made their way out of the team's practice facility, their midday departure left even more work for Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
The team's draft point man dubbed his No. 19 pick in today's affair a "work in progress," with all indications showing that the possibilities are wide in terms of who the pick may be.
Thursday, Petrie had said he hoped to have a better sense of how the 18 teams in front of the Kings would be picking on draft day, but unpredictability seems to be the standard this year. "It's going to be different again (today), so we'll just wait and see," he said. "We'll have a list, for sure. And all told, you want to pick somebody who's going to have a reasonable chance to succeed. The nature of the draft is that things happen in front of you -- in spite of all the conversations you have -- that you don't expect."
The good news for Alexander Johnson is that the latest rumor surrounding him wasn't true. The Florida State power forward, who appears to be on the Kings' short list, worked out in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, facing off against Cal forward Leon Powe. By afternoon, rumors circulated that Johnson broke his leg in the session when, in fact, he had sprained his ankle. The Kings, according to Johnson's agent, Jason Levien, were concerned enough to call. Johnson first worked out for the Kings on Saturday, when he went against Connecticut center Josh Boone.
"I think they have interest," Levien said. "They really liked (Johnson's) athleticism. I think they're looking for someone who can, athletically, score in the post and contribute. So they were pretty positive (about him)."
After the Kings lacked interior defense much of last season, it seems they also have gone hunting for big men, from Connecticut's Hilton Armstrong to Boone and others. They have looked at point guards, too, namely UCLA's Jordan Farmar and Spaniard Sergio Rodríguez, but are said to have questions about their defense.
Rutgers shooting guard Quincy Douby also could wind up being the pick, bringing a famed outside shot that could add scoring depth if the Kings lose free-agent-to-be Bonzi Wells.
If Petrie opts for the smaller bigs -- perhaps picking Johnson, Memphis' Shawne Williams or Powe -- the Kings will have a glut of forwards. The team is paying a combined $19 million to Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and small/power forward Corliss Williamson.
Petrie, who attempted to trade Thomas to Milwaukee in October for Desmond Mason, was mum on whether today's pick will be a sign of moves that could follow, saying, "You're the prognosticator, and I'm the facilitator."
One who is willing to do just that at the moment.
"We're willing to trade," Petrie said of both the draft pick and his current roster. "It doesn't have to be today, tomorrow or next week. It's when things come around and they make sense for you."
Coincidentally, Thomas' agent, Mark McNeil, is expected to talk soon to Kings coach Eric Musselman about how he plans to use his client next season.
"I'll see what his plans are for Kenny and then go from there," McNeil said. "If we can work it out, we'll stay there. If not, we'll look at our other options. Until I talk to the head coach, I'd just be speculating."
A pressing question about Johnson and every other candidate was defensive ability, as the Kings plan to continue the defensive surge that began with last season's acquisition of Ron Artest. If Johnson is taken at No. 19, ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said he'll work out just fine.
"Johnson is a very good athlete," Bilas said. "He's 23 years old, so he's a mature man. What you see now is what you're going to get. I think he's more of a face-up (power forward), not really a deep-post guy. He can hit the 17-foot jumper, and that's what he likes to do."
Kings Tryouts
• Florida State junior forward Alexander Johnson (6-foot-10, 240 pounds).
• Connecticut junior center Josh Boone (6-10, 237).
• Rutgers junior guard Quincy Douby (6-3, 175).
• Connecticut senior center Hilton Armstrong (6-10, 240).
• UCLA sophomore guard Jordan Farmar (6-2, 180).
• Cal sophomore forward Leon Powe (6-8, 245).
• Gonzaga senior forward J.P. Batista (6-8, 240).
• Louisville senior guard Taquan Dean (6-3, 185).
• Illinois senior guard Dee Brown (5-10, 170).
• Texas junior forward P.J. Tucker (6-5, 225).
• Cal State Fullerton junior guard Bobby Brown (6-1, 170).
• Nevada junior forward Nick Fazekas (6-11, 230).
• Stanford senior forward Matt Haryasz (6-10, 230).
• Notre Dame senior guard Chris Quinn (6-1, 190).
• Denver senior center Yemi Nicholson (6-10, 240).
• Tennessee senior guard C.J. Watson (6-2, 176).
• Oklahoma senior forward Taj Gray (6-9, 240).
• UCLA senior center Ryan Hollins (7-0, 225).
• Stanford senior guard Chris Hernandez (6-2, 190).
• Pacific senior guard Johnny Gray (6-1, 180).
• Sacramento State senior guard DaShawn Freeman (5-11, 175).
• Missouri junior guard Thomas Gardner (6-5, 213).
• Pacific senior forward Christian Maraker (6-9, 235).
• Cal senior forward Rod Benson (6-10, 220).
• USBL forward Jameel Watkins (6-10, 270, formerly Georgetown).
• Sacramento State senior swingman Jason Harris (6-4, 220).
