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Kings Notes: Theus can relate to top pick Hawes
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:23 am PDT Sunday, July 1, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C11
Phil Jackson and Stacey King. Red Auerbach and Dick O'Keefe. Phil Johnson and Ron Behagen.
Every new coach has his first draft pick. For Kings coach Reggie Theus, former Washington center Spencer Hawes is that player. But as Theus pointed out, he should have little trouble relating to the 19-year-old. Theus entered the league at age 20, drafted out of UNLV with the No. 9 pick by Chicago in 1978.
"He'll always be my first draft pick, and that makes it special for me," Theus said.
Theus spoke repeatedly of Hawes' "fire," insisting he has plenty of competitive edge to speed up the learning curve in making the jump to the NBA. And should he be starstruck in the early part of his career, Theus said, it won't last long.
"I know what it feels like," Theus said. "I remember in the middle of a game I stole the ball from Julius Erving, and I was bringing the ball up and looking at him and watching him as he was on defense on me, and he stole the ball back. That's irritated me my whole life, because Julius Erving didn't play defense.
"That's the great thing about being 19 years old and playing in the NBA. It is a dream come true, but you get over it quick. Usually with that first elbow in the chest you take."
Making the jump -- Theus and Hawes also will be getting comfortable with the jump from college to the NBA. Theus, who as an assistant coach at Louisville recruited Hawes at Seattle Prep High School, said the reality of his new job is slowly sinking in.
"Every once in a while, I have a flash of getting a real feel for it," said Theus, who spent his past two seasons as New Mexico State's head coach. "I like it, but I haven't really gotten my fingers and my hands dirty yet."
He did, however, start interviewing candidates for his lead assistant coach position last week and expects to have his first hire this week. Former King Randy Brown -- a New Mexico State alumnus who won three NBA titles with Chicago -- is in the mix to join Theus' staff. Atlanta assistant Larry Drew, a former Kings teammate of Theus' who played for 10 seasons and has been an assistant coach for 14 years, is also a candidate.
"There are some intangibles that will be necessary from a personality standpoint, and also someone that you just get a feel for," Theus said. "There's just something about when you talk to a guy that you know he's somebody you can spend a lot of time with, because you spend a lot of time with your assistant coaches."
Theus also said he planned to speak to the team's current coaching staff about whether anyone will be retained. T.R. Dunn, who spent the past three seasons as a Kings assistant, already has joined former Kings coach Rick Adelman in Houston.
Kings assistant Scott Brooks interviewed for Seattle's head-coaching position but reportedly is out of the mix.
Summer league -- Theus said he likely will have his lead assistant coach the Kings' Las Vegas summer-league team, but Theus will run practices.
The Kings' first game is July 7 against the Chinese National Team, and the fifth and final game at UNLV is against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 15.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, former Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur will be on the team.
Former Syracuse center Daryl Watkins also will be one of many trying to earn a spot as an undrafted free agent.
Free agency begins -- Today marks the first day of the free-agency period.
For the Kings, that means forward Corliss Williamson is on the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Second-year big man Justin Williams and third-year guard Ronnie Price became restricted free agents June 22, when the Kings issued qualifying offers. Though the Kings have first right of refusal -- meaning seven days to match another team's offer sheet -- they can rescind the qualifying offer if they choose not to retain the players. Center Vitaly Potapenko also becomes a free agent. All told, the Kings' payroll is -- for the moment -- trimmed to about $54 million.
Though free agency has officially begun, there is a moratorium until July 11 in which most free agents can't be signed and trades can't be made.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings Notes: Theus can relate to top pick Hawes
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:23 am PDT Sunday, July 1, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C11
Phil Jackson and Stacey King. Red Auerbach and Dick O'Keefe. Phil Johnson and Ron Behagen.
Every new coach has his first draft pick. For Kings coach Reggie Theus, former Washington center Spencer Hawes is that player. But as Theus pointed out, he should have little trouble relating to the 19-year-old. Theus entered the league at age 20, drafted out of UNLV with the No. 9 pick by Chicago in 1978.
"He'll always be my first draft pick, and that makes it special for me," Theus said.
Theus spoke repeatedly of Hawes' "fire," insisting he has plenty of competitive edge to speed up the learning curve in making the jump to the NBA. And should he be starstruck in the early part of his career, Theus said, it won't last long.
"I know what it feels like," Theus said. "I remember in the middle of a game I stole the ball from Julius Erving, and I was bringing the ball up and looking at him and watching him as he was on defense on me, and he stole the ball back. That's irritated me my whole life, because Julius Erving didn't play defense.
"That's the great thing about being 19 years old and playing in the NBA. It is a dream come true, but you get over it quick. Usually with that first elbow in the chest you take."
Making the jump -- Theus and Hawes also will be getting comfortable with the jump from college to the NBA. Theus, who as an assistant coach at Louisville recruited Hawes at Seattle Prep High School, said the reality of his new job is slowly sinking in.
"Every once in a while, I have a flash of getting a real feel for it," said Theus, who spent his past two seasons as New Mexico State's head coach. "I like it, but I haven't really gotten my fingers and my hands dirty yet."
He did, however, start interviewing candidates for his lead assistant coach position last week and expects to have his first hire this week. Former King Randy Brown -- a New Mexico State alumnus who won three NBA titles with Chicago -- is in the mix to join Theus' staff. Atlanta assistant Larry Drew, a former Kings teammate of Theus' who played for 10 seasons and has been an assistant coach for 14 years, is also a candidate.
"There are some intangibles that will be necessary from a personality standpoint, and also someone that you just get a feel for," Theus said. "There's just something about when you talk to a guy that you know he's somebody you can spend a lot of time with, because you spend a lot of time with your assistant coaches."
Theus also said he planned to speak to the team's current coaching staff about whether anyone will be retained. T.R. Dunn, who spent the past three seasons as a Kings assistant, already has joined former Kings coach Rick Adelman in Houston.
Kings assistant Scott Brooks interviewed for Seattle's head-coaching position but reportedly is out of the mix.
Summer league -- Theus said he likely will have his lead assistant coach the Kings' Las Vegas summer-league team, but Theus will run practices.
The Kings' first game is July 7 against the Chinese National Team, and the fifth and final game at UNLV is against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 15.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, former Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur will be on the team.
Former Syracuse center Daryl Watkins also will be one of many trying to earn a spot as an undrafted free agent.
Free agency begins -- Today marks the first day of the free-agency period.
For the Kings, that means forward Corliss Williamson is on the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Second-year big man Justin Williams and third-year guard Ronnie Price became restricted free agents June 22, when the Kings issued qualifying offers. Though the Kings have first right of refusal -- meaning seven days to match another team's offer sheet -- they can rescind the qualifying offer if they choose not to retain the players. Center Vitaly Potapenko also becomes a free agent. All told, the Kings' payroll is -- for the moment -- trimmed to about $54 million.
Though free agency has officially begun, there is a moratorium until July 11 in which most free agents can't be signed and trades can't be made.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
