Bee: Kings plan to name assistants soon

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14269165p-15080322c.html

Kings plan to name assistants soon
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, June 18, 2006

Apparently, new Kings coach Eric Musselman plans to bring a lot of help with him.

Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said the team planned to announce Musselman's staff as a group this week.

"Hopefully, early (this) week we'll have the whole staff in place," Petrie said Friday. "There still are a couple of guys in the pipeline who are not quite through. I think we're closing in on it."

The Kings have not commented on possible candidates, but information has filtered from other organizations that suggests Musselman will bring Memphis' Jason Hamm with him, hire Scott Brooks (Denver), Brendan O'Connor (New York Knicks) and possibly retain T.R. Dunn from Rick Adelman's coaching staff.

Musselman could not be reached for comment, but Petrie said his new coach's staff will have more depth.

"Eric is going to have a slightly larger staff, and we may do some things intended to accommodate that," Petrie said. "In all, it will be pretty much the same in function."

The Kings are preparing for the June 28 NBA draft with the 19th pick their lone chance to acquire talent. Petrie said there have been 10 to 15 players whom they have been unable to get into Sacramento for private workouts for various reasons.

"We've been able to look at guys who'll probably go in the top 10," he said.

"As usual, there are about 20 guys who think they are going in the top 10 … . But I think we'll have a clearer idea of what's going on when the withdrawals from the draft are announced."

Early entrants who have not hired an agent can withdraw from the draft until today.

Musselman -- with Matt Barnes, a Del Campo High School graduate and former King; Kings guard Kevin Martin; and Duke's DeMarcus Nelson, a Sheldon High grad -- is expected to speak this week at former Kings and Grizzlies' guard Bobby Jackson's camp at Basketball Town.

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

About the writer: Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.

 

[*JW*]

that sucks about the KG trade rumor. Everything else is cool with me

 

[VF21]

What I'm interested in is the continuing comments about Bobby Jackson. Now Musselman is going to speak at Bobby's camp? Getting Bobby back into a Kings uniform would sure go a LONG way towards alleviating our problems at the backup point position. And, from what's been said by a few people (civilians, not Kings people) who have actually talked to Bobby, it seems he's willing to come back. The fact he didn't have an outstanding season last year at Memphis might just make him amenable to a reasonable offer from Petrie.

As far as the KG thing goes, we have a lot of discussion about that going on. Bottom line has always been that this is the hottest rumor of TDOS but without any real basis in fact.

 

[DocHolliday]

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

And the day before Webber got traded, there was absolutely NOTHING in the works.

 

[nbrans]

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

Boy do I love me some fiction.

 

[kingsfan916]

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

And the day before Webber got traded, there was absolutely NOTHING in the works.

exactly! i think its ectually a pretty good rumor but like always geoff dosent want us to know

 

[Sac.Kings]

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

And the day before Webber got traded, there was absolutely NOTHING in the works.

Yeah, i remember that....The days before Kingfans.com. I went on NBA.com at like 12 in the morning and it said Webber was traded---I nearly had a heart attack. I sat in my chair without moving for about 25 minutes..

 

[Kings113]

I'd be happy to see B-Jax back. He, with some others, would def. bring the needs at back-up PG.

 

[HndsmCelt]

I'd be happy to see B-Jax back. He, with some others, would def. bring the needs at back-up PG.

Bringing Bobby back could acomplish a few things. 1. It would help build support for Muss having a guy from Memphis come with him. This would be good for the palyers AND would build fan support as well. 2. Bobby has always been a fan favorite, so bringing him back would help buy god will with the fan base that is still disgruntled over the Adelman firing. 3. Most importantly the lack of depth at the PG and the need for more energy from the bench get solved.

At his age it is not likely any team will be looking at Bobby as a starting PG and if he is going to play back up somewhere I would guess Sacramento would have the best shot at getting him.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Brevin Knight is another considerstion at the backup PG. Dude loves to pass and is a great complement to Bibby.

 

[Viking]

Petrie laughed off the recent rumor that had the Kings acquiring Minnesota star forward Kevin Garnett in a deal that would have included Brad Miller and free-agent Bonzi Wells, saying a fiction lover must have started it.

I'm probably the only person on this site that is happy to hear this (and I really don't care) but I am.

 

[SDKing]

What I'm interested in is the continuing comments about Bobby Jackson. Now Musselman is going to speak at Bobby's camp? Getting Bobby back into a Kings uniform would sure go a LONG way towards alleviating our problems at the backup point position. And, from what's been said by a few people (civilians, not Kings people) who have actually talked to Bobby, it seems he's willing to come back. The fact he didn't have an outstanding season last year at Memphis might just make him amenable to a reasonable offer from Petrie.

As far as the KG thing goes, we have a lot of discussion about that going on. Bottom line has always been that this is the hottest rumor of TDOS but without any real basis in fact.

I'm sure there are some reasons, but why wouldn't he? He still lives in Sac too. Hopefully it's just an Ostertag one year away type of thing.

 

[VF21]

I'm sure there are some reasons, but why wouldn't he? He still lives in Sac too. Hopefully it's just an Ostertag one year away type of thing.

He doesn't technically live in Sacramento. He owns a home in Sacramento and spends summers here.

Why wouldn't he come back? If he gets a better offer from another team - and there are reportedly a handful of teams interested in him - then he has to decide if he wants the money more than returning to the Kings.

I think it's safe to assume if the offers are fairly close to each other, the nod would go to the Kings but it's not a done deal by any means.

My personal opinion? I'm thinking there's a fair to good chance he might be back...

 

[SDKing]

I hope so. If Bobby were to come back we could hopefully trade Hart and still have Price as the third string. If not, Price could always play D-leaugue for a stretch. I don't know how many other teams are too interested in him. Maybe, but it doesn't seem likely.

 

[SacTownKid]

That would be great if Bobby is back and all but that may take us out of the running for a FA big man. Still I wouldn't be disappointed if Bobby was back on the team.

 

[Kings113]

MLE? Nah, I can't see Bobby getting the MLE. That'd be overdoing it. Part of it or the LLE? Yes - and that's what I'd expect.

Plenty of suitable bigs to be had for what we can use.

 

[SacTownKid]

MLE? Nah, I can't see Bobby getting the MLE. That'd be overdoing it. Part of it or the LLE? Yes - and that's what I'd expect.

Plenty of suitable bigs to be had for what we can use.

Part of the MLE would most likely be half and that would take us out of the running of many FA big men looking at MLE money. I am sure we have enough trade assets to get the big man we need, but you can't always count on that.

 

[Kings113]

Like Nazr and Pryzbilla? Unless Brad's moved, I highly doubt those guys are looking to be back-ups. Especially with Nazr turning down a 4-year extension from Spurs to become an FA.

A big like LoWright I'm not sure we'd go after, who would likely command the MLE. He's decent. Melvin Ely? He's not bad, not really sure what he's gonna want though. Probably the MLE. However, bigs like Elson/Cato/Kandi would be solid signings with the LLE and would bring what we need at back-up C.

I really think the more quality big would be had through trade. Much, much more options and scenarios there. While we possibly/should get a back-up for cheap.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect us to pay a lot for B-Jax. A 2-3 year contract at like 2-3 million.

 

[ParniValjak]

Like Nazr and Pryzbilla? Unless Brad's moved, I highly doubt those guys are looking to be back-ups. Especially with Nazr turning down a 4-year extension from Spurs to become an FA.

A big like LoWright I'm not sure we'd go after, who would likely command the MLE. He's decent. Melvin Ely? He's not bad, not really sure what he's gonna want though. Probably the MLE. However, bigs like Elson/Cato/Kandi would be solid signings with the LLE and would bring what we need at back-up C.

I really think the more quality big would be had through trade. Much, much more options and scenarios there. While we possibly/should get a back-up for cheap.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect us to pay a lot for B-Jax. A 2-3 year contract at like 2-3 million.

I think you are seriously undervaluing those players.

For starters there is no way Bobby will be available for the MLE. I am sure he will sign up for more per year that what he was getting this season ($3.375Million). He is still one of the best sparks off the bench in the league and if anyone thinks they can have Bobby for the LLE, they are kidding themselves. He will get at least half of someone's MLE.

While Elston could be had for LLE (emphasis on could), players like Cato and Kandi will most certainly be getting more than LLE. Just take a look around the league, many average centers are overpaid. Hell Potapenko is on $3 million and both Kandi and Cato are twice the players Vitaly is.

If Jerome James could get MLE, I am sure there would be a team out there that will offer Cato and Kandi at least double the LLE.

 

[Kings113]

Cato's older now and isn't going to start for most teams, along with having injury troubles the last two seasons. But that ankle, he'll be rehabbing it. Also, meant part of the MLE for those guys as well (Cato/Kandi/Elson), as I've said recently. Just forgot to include that, as that is a fair prediction.

James got the MLE because of 4 out of 5 games against us, then went back to medicore/average/nothing much vs. Spurs. Then complete garbage in 05-06. Plus it was Isiah and the Knicks giving it to him. So, with no previous things to go on in a quiet/average season of 05-06 for Kandi/Cato, I'd be very surprised if either got anything more than part of the MLE. With Elson, he had the best showing of them all, and think he might get the MLE from someone which I think would be overdoing it. But ultimately would think the LLE/part of MLE.

I'd be surprised if Bobby gets more than 3 million. Maybe 4. I said the LLE as a second possibility for top/elite teams.