http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13485083p-14325744c.html
NBA beat: Unfolding saga shows ex-Kings all over the map
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
You need a scorecard these days to track the routes of all of these former - or soon-to-be former - Kings.
Since early last season, the Kings have ushered talent in and out of Arco Arena, from the front-line performers to the end-of-the-bench guys, with the poor folks in the jersey department stitching on new names every 10 days or so.
Catch your breath - here goes: Doug Christie went to Orlando for Cuttino Mobley, who played the rest of the season, then jumped at the chance to be the "missing piece" for the Los Angeles Clippers this summer. Christie is now with Dallas, which opens its preseason schedule at Arco on Oct. 11 in the latest ex-Kings return ovation of note (it was Vlade Divac early last season, Chris Webber later).
Christie surely will boost Dallas' new defensive makeover - and he can run the floor with the pups in Big D - as long as he can cut and sprint without foot pain.
Webber, Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley were shipped to Philadelphia for Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson, all of whom remain on the Kings. Webber is still a Sixer eager for another chance to make things work with Allen Iverson. Barnes and Bradley are free agents, with Barnes hopeful of a Kings return that may not happen since the roster appears full.
Bobby Jackson and Greg Ostertag hardly factored in with the Kings last season and were traded this summer, with Jackson landing in Memphis for Bonzi Wells and 'Tag returning to set up shop in his first doghouse in Utah. Jackson may finally become a full-time starter with the Grizzlies as he sets out to prove that there's plenty left in his tank. Wells, meanwhile, becomes a first-time starter with the Kings, ready to prove his fuse isn't all that short.
Maurice Evans came into his own last season as a Kings reserve who actually began the season as a starter in place of the hobbled Christie. Evans is close to joining the Detroit Pistons as a much-needed backup to Richard Hamilton.
Darius Songaila, effective off the bench or as a starter when Webber or another front-court man was out, reportedly is close to signing a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bulls.
The Pistons and Bulls will gain considerably from these additions: young, active players who work on their games and bodies. The Kings are still coming away with these projected losses deeper and stronger than at this time last year (particularly with Shareef Abdur-Rahim on board).
Erik Daniels, he of the promising game and the playoff gag hairdo courtesy of his teammates, is a free agent who got lost in the forward glut. It's anyone's guess where he'll open camp.
And there's Eddie House, the poster boy for the solid NBA vagabond.
House was instant points off the bench behind Mike Bibby last season, and he is a free agent who has said he hopes to land in Miami (may not happen if Michael Finley goes there) or Cleveland (which could change if Damon Jones signs there). House told The Bee he'd love a Kings return but understands that's not going to happen with Kings newcomers Jason Hart and Ronnie Price in the guard mix.
And in Dallas
Anytime you lose in the playoffs earlier than expected, change is in order.
Dallas owner Mark Cuban has retooled and revamped his roster in recent seasons, always scrambling to find the right mix, be it Antawn Jamison or Antoine Walker or any other dozen or so possibilities.
It also means cutting ties with popular favorites such as Finley (and replacing him with the more affordable Christie).
In a blog, Cuban wrote, "The NBA is never just a business. It's always a business. It's always personal. All good businesses are personal. The best businesses are very personal."
And on Finley, "It's my fault that we got to this point. I was guilty of being overly optimistic. I wanted to believe that the next deal was the one that was the difference maker. ... I was wrong. ... Waiving Mike gave us the opportunity to reclaim financial flexibility. It never should have gotten to this point. My mistake let it. Which makes it all the more painful. It's a business, but it really is personal."
Baseline jumpers
* Detroit will quietly have a B-plus offseason if it lands Maurice Evans, who would join Dale Davis as some pretty good muscled depth to a team that nearly won another NBA title.
* Newcomer Sam Cassell said he's convinced the Clippers can be a factor after talking with coach Mike Dunleavy. Now if the coach can figure out how to get Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to share the ball.
* Emeka Okafor has been working out with the ageless Hakeem Olajuwon this summer, with Hakeem not looking 20 years older at 42. A generation earlier, Olajuwon learned some good tricks from summer mentor Moses Malone.
* Dennis Rodman has played some pro games in Mexico and China and is scheduled to do so in Finland. At 44, with some sagging tattoos, he doesn't know the word "retire." * Although none has been compared to an All-Star in recent seasons, free agents Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson and returning Jon Barry make the Houston Rockets better than last season.
NBA beat: Unfolding saga shows ex-Kings all over the map
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
You need a scorecard these days to track the routes of all of these former - or soon-to-be former - Kings.
Since early last season, the Kings have ushered talent in and out of Arco Arena, from the front-line performers to the end-of-the-bench guys, with the poor folks in the jersey department stitching on new names every 10 days or so.
Catch your breath - here goes: Doug Christie went to Orlando for Cuttino Mobley, who played the rest of the season, then jumped at the chance to be the "missing piece" for the Los Angeles Clippers this summer. Christie is now with Dallas, which opens its preseason schedule at Arco on Oct. 11 in the latest ex-Kings return ovation of note (it was Vlade Divac early last season, Chris Webber later).
Christie surely will boost Dallas' new defensive makeover - and he can run the floor with the pups in Big D - as long as he can cut and sprint without foot pain.
Webber, Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley were shipped to Philadelphia for Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson, all of whom remain on the Kings. Webber is still a Sixer eager for another chance to make things work with Allen Iverson. Barnes and Bradley are free agents, with Barnes hopeful of a Kings return that may not happen since the roster appears full.
Bobby Jackson and Greg Ostertag hardly factored in with the Kings last season and were traded this summer, with Jackson landing in Memphis for Bonzi Wells and 'Tag returning to set up shop in his first doghouse in Utah. Jackson may finally become a full-time starter with the Grizzlies as he sets out to prove that there's plenty left in his tank. Wells, meanwhile, becomes a first-time starter with the Kings, ready to prove his fuse isn't all that short.
Maurice Evans came into his own last season as a Kings reserve who actually began the season as a starter in place of the hobbled Christie. Evans is close to joining the Detroit Pistons as a much-needed backup to Richard Hamilton.
Darius Songaila, effective off the bench or as a starter when Webber or another front-court man was out, reportedly is close to signing a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bulls.
The Pistons and Bulls will gain considerably from these additions: young, active players who work on their games and bodies. The Kings are still coming away with these projected losses deeper and stronger than at this time last year (particularly with Shareef Abdur-Rahim on board).
Erik Daniels, he of the promising game and the playoff gag hairdo courtesy of his teammates, is a free agent who got lost in the forward glut. It's anyone's guess where he'll open camp.
And there's Eddie House, the poster boy for the solid NBA vagabond.
House was instant points off the bench behind Mike Bibby last season, and he is a free agent who has said he hopes to land in Miami (may not happen if Michael Finley goes there) or Cleveland (which could change if Damon Jones signs there). House told The Bee he'd love a Kings return but understands that's not going to happen with Kings newcomers Jason Hart and Ronnie Price in the guard mix.
And in Dallas
Anytime you lose in the playoffs earlier than expected, change is in order.
Dallas owner Mark Cuban has retooled and revamped his roster in recent seasons, always scrambling to find the right mix, be it Antawn Jamison or Antoine Walker or any other dozen or so possibilities.
It also means cutting ties with popular favorites such as Finley (and replacing him with the more affordable Christie).
In a blog, Cuban wrote, "The NBA is never just a business. It's always a business. It's always personal. All good businesses are personal. The best businesses are very personal."
And on Finley, "It's my fault that we got to this point. I was guilty of being overly optimistic. I wanted to believe that the next deal was the one that was the difference maker. ... I was wrong. ... Waiving Mike gave us the opportunity to reclaim financial flexibility. It never should have gotten to this point. My mistake let it. Which makes it all the more painful. It's a business, but it really is personal."
Baseline jumpers
* Detroit will quietly have a B-plus offseason if it lands Maurice Evans, who would join Dale Davis as some pretty good muscled depth to a team that nearly won another NBA title.
* Newcomer Sam Cassell said he's convinced the Clippers can be a factor after talking with coach Mike Dunleavy. Now if the coach can figure out how to get Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to share the ball.
* Emeka Okafor has been working out with the ageless Hakeem Olajuwon this summer, with Hakeem not looking 20 years older at 42. A generation earlier, Olajuwon learned some good tricks from summer mentor Moses Malone.
* Dennis Rodman has played some pro games in Mexico and China and is scheduled to do so in Finland. At 44, with some sagging tattoos, he doesn't know the word "retire." * Although none has been compared to an All-Star in recent seasons, free agents Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson and returning Jon Barry make the Houston Rockets better than last season.
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