From the Bee:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13304934p-14147186c.html
Kings acquire point guard from Charlotte
Trying to retain Darius Songaila is the next order of business.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
The Kings will have at least a couple of announcements whenever the NBA gets around to finalizing its collective bargaining agreement and removing the gag order from front-office personnel.
Sacramento added a backup point guard Tuesday by acquiring Jason Hart from the Charlotte Bobcats for a future second-round draft choice.
The league's moratorium is expected to be lifted early next week after players, agents and front-office personnel have a chance to become familiar with the new labor contract.
"Too bad there is a moratorium," Geoff Petrie, the Kings president of basketball operations, said Tuesday when asked about the trade, "or I'd be able to talk to you about that."
Sacramento could learn about whether or not it can retain restricted free-agent forward Darius Songaila in the next few days, said agent Mark Bartelstein.
"I think things have been heating up with Darius," Bartelstein said. "I've been talking to Geoff and we've agreed to keep talking and find out where we are. Darius has to make a decision in a day or two because it's important to some of the teams we're talking to.
"It's not a situation where you have a restricted free agent who is looking to get out of a bad situation. Darius loves it in Sacramento, and Geoff has made it clear the Kings would like to have him back. It's going to come down to budget issues for the Kings."
Petrie said he hoped conversations lead to Songaila's return.
"Our preference is to keep him," Petrie said of Songaila, who started 21 of the 81 games in which he played, "and we're trying to get that done. I think it's a good possibility."
The Kings can match an offer up to the league's average salary (approximately $5 million) to retain Songaila.
The acquisition of Hart likely means Eddie House will not return to the Kings.
At 6-foot-3, Hart is considered a solid defender who will provide more size than Sacramento has had at the point guard position in recent years.
Hart is a natural point guard who has played with Milwaukee and San Antonio before spending the past season with Charlotte, where he had the league's third-best assist/turnover ratio at 3.6/1. He played in 74 games for the Bobcats and started 27 while averaging 25.5 minutes, 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and five assists.
The 27-year-old Los Angeles native, who played collegiately at Syracuse, shot 44.9 percent from the field last season, including 36.8 percent from three-point range.
Hart brings speed and athleticism and is expected to push the ball up the court when subbing for Kings starting point guard Mike Bibby.