House admits deal with Kings looks unlikely

House admits deal with Kings looks unlikely



Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, July 28, 2005

http://www.sacbee.com/static/live/newsletters/kingsalert_signup.html
Eddie House looked the part for two hours Wednesday morning at Basketball Town in Rancho Cordova.

He grinned and high-fived every living soul. He launched three-pointers. He ran the floor, his baggy Kings shorts the only things offering wind resistance.

But that Kings garb appears to be last season's material now, not to mention the man wearing them.


A reliable backcourt reserve for the Kings during the 2004-05 campaign and now an unrestricted free agent, House said he soon expects to sign with his sixth team in as many seasons. By trading for guard Jason Hart of the Charlotte Bobcats this week, the Kings seemingly have secured the backup guard they need in place of the recently shipped Bobby Jackson.

"I want to go somewhere where I can get some minutes, to help a team," House said. "I know I can't be too picky and beat around that bush. And I know Jason Hart. We played together last season in Charlotte. He's a good player."

House said his preference would be to remain with the Kings, though he conceded that prospect looks like a real long shot now. The former Arizona State standout was signed by the Kings in January after Jackson went on the injured list. House's brother-in-law happens to be Mike Bibby, who has said he'd love to have House back.

"It would've been great to come back to the Kings, and maybe that'll still happen," said House, a Bay Area native. "It was perfect here for me, close to home, good teammates. It was a blessed situation."

House said his agent, Mark Bartelstein, has been in contact with other possible suitors, including Seattle, Cleveland and Miami, which drafted him in the second round in 2000 and employed him for three seasons.

"There are a number of teams interested in Eddie," Bartelstein said. "We're still talking to the Kings. That door certainly is not closed. On one hand, Eddie would love to stay with Sacramento. On the other hand, he'd love to be on another team to contribute."

House, like any NBA veteran, also would love to start. He's most likely going to sign as a reserve, one who can provide instant points and capable ballhandling. "I don't have a problem backing anyone up," House said. "I'll do anything. This is all a business. The Kings are trying to make their team better, and I'm trying to make my life better."

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13310441p-14152597c.html
 
House not coming back doesn't really kill me. Hart gives us something that Eddie, BJax, Delk, etc... couldn't do, and that is actually run an offense off the bench. House was basically a pure scorer, a 2 in a 1's body, and the same with Delk. BJax was aggressive, and got players involved, but he was never a pure point running an offense.

It is nice to have a change of pace off the bench, and I think Hart still will provide that "push it" mentality, but it is nice to know that offense can still be run with the second unit. I think it will only benefit buys like Martin, Cisco, Corliss, and Darius (if he stays) to have a true point setting up shots for them rather than them having to create their own oppostunities. Time will tell.

PS- I would love to see House stay as a third point guard, but I think he is looking for more PT, and that is one thing we can't offer him now. I think the most interesting scenario for him is to end up with Miami, ala Damon Jones, and play 15-20 minutes a night scorching the nets from all of the wide open threes he gets. That would be his ideal situation I think...
 
this headline shoudl've been named "bringing down the house".

HAHAHAHAHA. get it? bringing down the house.
 
I didn't and don't really see him returning... he was quite good for us after January-the end of the playoffs. Great scorer, I bet he goes to Miami or Cleveland.
 
all i know is wherever he ends up hes gonna be more than great off the bench! i hope he can get his 20-25 minutes somewhere.....
 
Never thought id say this, but I'll miss Eddie. His long range shots were really exciting at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
 
Man i dont see why sacramento doesn't just resign him if he wants to stay. Unless he wants too much money which it doesn't sound like that. I mean theres a chance someone will get hurt and if not he can be put with someone else in a trade later in the season.
 
He's looking for PT as well.


Miami and cleveland both could be good situations for him where his shooting would be helpful, and Miami already knows him form his years there.
 
tyrant said:
this headline shoudl've been named "bringing down the house".

HAHAHAHAHA. get it? bringing down the house.

Yeah I get it...I was actually laughing at Aries (no pun intended) "poor house" line...lol

T[Mac] love the sig...lmao
 
I really applaud his attitude about this whole thing. I liked Eddie before, and I like him even more now.
 
As Eddie said, he needs to be in a place where he gets playing time. Seattle could seem like a likely destination. He is the kind of player that needs time to get into the flow, and once he does he is pretty dangerous.
 
He'd fit better in Cleveland as they need a back-up PG, and all the offense off the bench they can get with last years weak bench.
 
There's still a chance House could return as the team's 3rd PG, but it would depend on what kind of offers he gets from other teams. He may not see many. Miami is an option, but they'd much prefer to keep Damon Jones. If they can't, I hear Damon Stoudamire is next on their list (or perhaps first), so House will have to wait and see how that plays out. Perhaps they will nab one of those two and then call on Eddie as a backup, but who knows?

Cleveland has Sarunas Jack, and they also appear to be looking at Stoudamire and Marko Jaric meaning they wouldn't have a backup role for House.

Keep in mind, this is a guy that was cut by an expansion team this last season, primarily because the Bobcats liked their other two PGs, Brevin Knight and Jason Hart. And even though they were missing their PG of the future (Ford) and were forced to start a guy who is clearly better suited to be a backup (Mo Williams), the Bucks let House go as well.

I don't know how many suitors House will have at this point. A 3rd PG role with the Kings may be the best offer he gets. . . if he even gets it.
 
Sarunas actually ended up changing his mind and heading to Indiana apparently, so Cleveland still has a need.

In any case I take it as self evident that House i's not going to start for anyone, so its just a question of whether he gets to be a primary backup/rotation player, or an end of the bencher.

Cleveland could use his shooting, but might call him more OG than PG if they sing someone since they already have Snow as a backup PG. Miami knows him and could easily bring him in to repalce Dooling. Still seems best fi/tmost likely.
 
I think Cleveland will be a good place for Eddie to at least get some PT. And, LeBron would love having an outside shooter who can get hot and score several pts for you quickly.

House came in and did exactly what we needed him to do. I wish him well, but I don't think it will be with the Kings.
 
McInnis agreeing to a 2-year $7 million deal w/Nets, ups the possibility of Eddie going to Cavs... He'd be a really good fit there like I said before, he's got range and accuracy they need.
 
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