http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/159373.html
Too often they were drama Kings
Distractions were plentiful, players say
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:24 am PDT Sunday, April 22, 2007
Want the best gauge on how disappointing and drama-filled this Kings season actually was? Don't listen to fans or the media. Listen to the people who really know.
Corliss Williamson put it at the top of his personal list in terms of dysfunction, this from a 12-year veteran whose Kings teams were a combined 100-146 in his first three seasons. John Salmons sometimes marveled at how there was always some distraction in the works, and he hails from the NBA soap opera capital of Philadelphia. Don't believe us yet? Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- who came to town in 2005 having played on nine previous losing teams -- said he can't remember so many players being unhappy with how they were used.
Defense attorneys made more noise than the Kings' defense. The sales job that landed coach Eric Musselman the job was an aberration, with his team unable to close so many deals when it came to close games. And when all seemed lost, they even failed at failing, losing 49 games instead of 50 when just one more defeat would have brought much more promise for a top-tier draft pick.
"When it's a tough year like this, everything gets involved," Kings center Brad Miller said. "A lot of things never get shown on the court or come out."
You mean there was more? Oh, good gracious, let's get the grades over with.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
9.9 ppg • 5.0 rpg • 1.4 apg
C-
He's a low-post scorer who doesn't rebound the way he used to because of Father Time, except that his inconsistent offensive role meant he was often no more than the guy watching everyone else shoot. He very well might be gone by next season, as the Kings are looking to get younger and more athletic all around.
Ron Artest
18.8 ppg • 6.5 rpg • 3.4 apg
C+
The reality that Artest played his best basketball in the second half did little to affect the record, but it was significant as a much-needed precursor to his possible exit. Basketball president Geoff Petrie can now flaunt the career-high numbers to potential suitors as a counter to the off-the-court concerns.
Mike Bibby
17.1 ppg • 3.2 rpg • 4.7 apg
D+
Once every couple of weeks, the Bibby of old would return to his sharpshooting, duck-dance ways. As former coach Eric Musselman said early on, Bibby missing shots was like Dennis Rodman not rebounding. Bibby will surely be on the trading block, but Petrie showed in February that he'll be stubborn about receiving both quality and quantity in return.
Quincy Douby
2.8 ppg • 0.9 rpg • 0.4 apg
C
The flashes of potency and the playing time were minimal, as Douby was never able to pass second-year point guard Ronnie Price on the depth chart.
Francisco García
6.0 ppg • 2.6 rpg • 1.1 apg
B-
What García did in the final weeks was no small development, as the 2005 draft pick reminded the organization that he can be a legitimate part of the future. And, of course, it showed management that he should've been used more by Musselman earlier.
Kevin Martin
20.2 ppg • 4.3 rpg • 2.2 apg
B+
The lesser-discussed aspect of his breakout season was the surroundings in which it took place. Playing with many veterans who were either known as lifelong scorers or wanted to add that aspect to their repertoire, Martin still led the team in scoring. He maintained his production after opponents keyed in but admits he must spend the offseason focusing on becoming more well-rounded.
Brad Miller
9.0 ppg • 6.4 rpg • 3.6 apg
D+
Like it or not, a player such as Miller -- especially at this point in his career -- requires special handling. He can be special and very complementary if put in the right positions. Or, as was the case this season, he can be a relative non-factor and defensive liability. Already slow afoot, Miller struggled with a foot injury.
Vitaly Potapenko
0.0 ppg • 0.7 rpg • 0.0 apg
INCOMPLETE.
The most significant contribution from the "Ukraine Train" will come in July, when his $3.6 million salary comes off the books.
Ronnie Price
3.3 ppg • 1.2 rpg • 0.8 apg
B-
Those who know say Price has shown he has a spot in the league, although defining that role might take more court time. He is not a true point guard and undersized for a shooting guard. But the free-agent-to-be has scoring punch and athleticism, work ethic and defensive instincts that are valuable.
John Salmons
8.5 ppg • 3.3 rpg • 3.2 apg
C+
The versatility was a constant and most valuable on defense, where Salmons was able to guard everyone from speedy point guards to athletic forwards. But the idea of him running the point never worked as well as the higher-ups hoped, and Salmons' one-on-one play and tendency to pound the ball were part of the overall lack of ball movement.
Kenny Thomas
5.3 ppg • 6.1 rpg • 1.2 apg
D+
Herein lies the most ironic of situations this season. Thomas was told early to focus on rebounding and defending, the sort of role-defining other players would later say needed to happen more. But in limiting Thomas' game, he had little impact for someone who had spent his career providing some offense down low and with a mid-range jumper. It should be a reminder that he can provide easy baskets when the defense is focused elsewhere.
Justin Williams
5.0 ppg • 4.4 rpg • 0.1 apg
B+
If there was one team in the league that should have experimented more with a wild-card rookie such as this, it was the Kings. They couldn't rebound or defend, both of which are Williams' specialties. He will be a free agent they'd like to keep, if only because he finished with an average of 16.5 rebounds per 48 minutes.
Corliss Williamson
9.1 ppg • 3.3 rpg • 0.6 apg
B
The "Big Nasty" was the feel-good story of the season, the Kings fans' favorite reviving his career by producing off the bench. His impact in the second half slipped, but he surely has earned a multiyear deal somewhere as he nears free agency.
Coaching
D
The Xs and Os weren't good enough, and Eric Musselman's handling of everyone -- players and beyond -- left much to be desired and hardly qualified as leadership. Throw in public relations disasters like the DUI incident and subsequent skipping of community service, and it becomes quite clear why team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof paid more than $5 million for him to go away. Musselman wowed the Maloofs to earn the job, but he fell out of favor with Petrie, which led to his firing.
Front office
D
First things first. Let's get some teamwork going in those ivory towers. The hiring of Musselman was the wrong kind of collaborative effort, with the Maloofs pushing for then-Monarchs coach John Whisenant and Petrie suddenly endorsing Musselman in what might have been a rushed attempt to knock Whisenant out of the running. However, no one bothered to call Musselman's former boss, Chris Mullin, to ask the Golden State executive about the coach whose tenure there certainly didn't lack controversy. I-told-you-sos would be in order, but Mullin never had a chance to tell them.
Too often they were drama Kings
Distractions were plentiful, players say
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:24 am PDT Sunday, April 22, 2007
Want the best gauge on how disappointing and drama-filled this Kings season actually was? Don't listen to fans or the media. Listen to the people who really know.
Corliss Williamson put it at the top of his personal list in terms of dysfunction, this from a 12-year veteran whose Kings teams were a combined 100-146 in his first three seasons. John Salmons sometimes marveled at how there was always some distraction in the works, and he hails from the NBA soap opera capital of Philadelphia. Don't believe us yet? Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- who came to town in 2005 having played on nine previous losing teams -- said he can't remember so many players being unhappy with how they were used.
Defense attorneys made more noise than the Kings' defense. The sales job that landed coach Eric Musselman the job was an aberration, with his team unable to close so many deals when it came to close games. And when all seemed lost, they even failed at failing, losing 49 games instead of 50 when just one more defeat would have brought much more promise for a top-tier draft pick.
"When it's a tough year like this, everything gets involved," Kings center Brad Miller said. "A lot of things never get shown on the court or come out."
You mean there was more? Oh, good gracious, let's get the grades over with.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
9.9 ppg • 5.0 rpg • 1.4 apg
C-
He's a low-post scorer who doesn't rebound the way he used to because of Father Time, except that his inconsistent offensive role meant he was often no more than the guy watching everyone else shoot. He very well might be gone by next season, as the Kings are looking to get younger and more athletic all around.
Ron Artest
18.8 ppg • 6.5 rpg • 3.4 apg
C+
The reality that Artest played his best basketball in the second half did little to affect the record, but it was significant as a much-needed precursor to his possible exit. Basketball president Geoff Petrie can now flaunt the career-high numbers to potential suitors as a counter to the off-the-court concerns.
Mike Bibby
17.1 ppg • 3.2 rpg • 4.7 apg
D+
Once every couple of weeks, the Bibby of old would return to his sharpshooting, duck-dance ways. As former coach Eric Musselman said early on, Bibby missing shots was like Dennis Rodman not rebounding. Bibby will surely be on the trading block, but Petrie showed in February that he'll be stubborn about receiving both quality and quantity in return.
Quincy Douby
2.8 ppg • 0.9 rpg • 0.4 apg
C
The flashes of potency and the playing time were minimal, as Douby was never able to pass second-year point guard Ronnie Price on the depth chart.
Francisco García
6.0 ppg • 2.6 rpg • 1.1 apg
B-
What García did in the final weeks was no small development, as the 2005 draft pick reminded the organization that he can be a legitimate part of the future. And, of course, it showed management that he should've been used more by Musselman earlier.
Kevin Martin
20.2 ppg • 4.3 rpg • 2.2 apg
B+
The lesser-discussed aspect of his breakout season was the surroundings in which it took place. Playing with many veterans who were either known as lifelong scorers or wanted to add that aspect to their repertoire, Martin still led the team in scoring. He maintained his production after opponents keyed in but admits he must spend the offseason focusing on becoming more well-rounded.
Brad Miller
9.0 ppg • 6.4 rpg • 3.6 apg
D+
Like it or not, a player such as Miller -- especially at this point in his career -- requires special handling. He can be special and very complementary if put in the right positions. Or, as was the case this season, he can be a relative non-factor and defensive liability. Already slow afoot, Miller struggled with a foot injury.
Vitaly Potapenko
0.0 ppg • 0.7 rpg • 0.0 apg
INCOMPLETE.
The most significant contribution from the "Ukraine Train" will come in July, when his $3.6 million salary comes off the books.
Ronnie Price
3.3 ppg • 1.2 rpg • 0.8 apg
B-
Those who know say Price has shown he has a spot in the league, although defining that role might take more court time. He is not a true point guard and undersized for a shooting guard. But the free-agent-to-be has scoring punch and athleticism, work ethic and defensive instincts that are valuable.
John Salmons
8.5 ppg • 3.3 rpg • 3.2 apg
C+
The versatility was a constant and most valuable on defense, where Salmons was able to guard everyone from speedy point guards to athletic forwards. But the idea of him running the point never worked as well as the higher-ups hoped, and Salmons' one-on-one play and tendency to pound the ball were part of the overall lack of ball movement.
Kenny Thomas
5.3 ppg • 6.1 rpg • 1.2 apg
D+
Herein lies the most ironic of situations this season. Thomas was told early to focus on rebounding and defending, the sort of role-defining other players would later say needed to happen more. But in limiting Thomas' game, he had little impact for someone who had spent his career providing some offense down low and with a mid-range jumper. It should be a reminder that he can provide easy baskets when the defense is focused elsewhere.
Justin Williams
5.0 ppg • 4.4 rpg • 0.1 apg
B+
If there was one team in the league that should have experimented more with a wild-card rookie such as this, it was the Kings. They couldn't rebound or defend, both of which are Williams' specialties. He will be a free agent they'd like to keep, if only because he finished with an average of 16.5 rebounds per 48 minutes.
Corliss Williamson
9.1 ppg • 3.3 rpg • 0.6 apg
B
The "Big Nasty" was the feel-good story of the season, the Kings fans' favorite reviving his career by producing off the bench. His impact in the second half slipped, but he surely has earned a multiyear deal somewhere as he nears free agency.
Coaching
D
The Xs and Os weren't good enough, and Eric Musselman's handling of everyone -- players and beyond -- left much to be desired and hardly qualified as leadership. Throw in public relations disasters like the DUI incident and subsequent skipping of community service, and it becomes quite clear why team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof paid more than $5 million for him to go away. Musselman wowed the Maloofs to earn the job, but he fell out of favor with Petrie, which led to his firing.
Front office
D
First things first. Let's get some teamwork going in those ivory towers. The hiring of Musselman was the wrong kind of collaborative effort, with the Maloofs pushing for then-Monarchs coach John Whisenant and Petrie suddenly endorsing Musselman in what might have been a rushed attempt to knock Whisenant out of the running. However, no one bothered to call Musselman's former boss, Chris Mullin, to ask the Golden State executive about the coach whose tenure there certainly didn't lack controversy. I-told-you-sos would be in order, but Mullin never had a chance to tell them.
