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Kings notes: Money doesn't matter - Kings cut Woods
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 24, 2006
There might well be a price tag on the promise of youth, with the Kings setting the market standard Monday with the decision to cut center Loren Woods.
According to Kings coach Eric Musselman, the free-agent signee was released so they could take a longer look at rookie big men Louis Amundson and Justin Williams. But cutting Woods didn't come cheap, with the Kings having to pay him $300,000 of guaranteed money and a $100,000 advance for a sum of $400,000. The five-year veteran didn't play in the last three exhibition games.
"Everybody liked Justin and Louis and (wanted) to look at them a little longer," Musselman said. "We considered everything, and we just felt that if we have to go a little smaller (at the backup center position), we'll have to be a little more physical."
Which is really what the decision came down to. Woods' appeal came in his height (7-foot-2) and his athleticism, but he acknowledged before being cut that his perceived lack of aggressiveness during practice was hurting his standing. Woods did not agree with the perception.
"I've always tried to figure out exactly what that means," Woods said last week. "People are always saying, 'You don't have to be aggressive on offense. It's not about scoring.' So it's like, 'OK, should I get more fouls?' But if you do that, you're not playing defense. I don't know exactly what that means, per se, but you've just got to go out there and play hard."
The smaller options at backup center include 6-9 forwards Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Maurice Taylor. Williams (6-10) is the only shot blocker -- he averaged 5.4 blocks in his senior season at Wyoming. Musselman, who must cut at least one more player by Oct. 30, said the next release could take a few days. He also said the Kings could cut two more players.
Hope for Hart? -- If Mike Bibby's injury was good news for anyone, it was Jason Hart.
Bibby's thumb injury Sunday against the New Orleans Hornets in Reno will keep him out at least two weeks, meaning Hart -- who has played 14 minutes in the exhibition season -- might be needed.
The veteran is owed $1.6 million on his contract, typically a safety net from being cut. But the Kings' interest in Williams and Amundson has left some seemingly unthinkable scenarios plausible.
"He's a nice safety valve back there, because he is a guy who has games under his belt," Musselman said. "He's a veteran and a composed man when he's out there on the floor."
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 24, 2006
There might well be a price tag on the promise of youth, with the Kings setting the market standard Monday with the decision to cut center Loren Woods.
According to Kings coach Eric Musselman, the free-agent signee was released so they could take a longer look at rookie big men Louis Amundson and Justin Williams. But cutting Woods didn't come cheap, with the Kings having to pay him $300,000 of guaranteed money and a $100,000 advance for a sum of $400,000. The five-year veteran didn't play in the last three exhibition games.
"Everybody liked Justin and Louis and (wanted) to look at them a little longer," Musselman said. "We considered everything, and we just felt that if we have to go a little smaller (at the backup center position), we'll have to be a little more physical."
Which is really what the decision came down to. Woods' appeal came in his height (7-foot-2) and his athleticism, but he acknowledged before being cut that his perceived lack of aggressiveness during practice was hurting his standing. Woods did not agree with the perception.
"I've always tried to figure out exactly what that means," Woods said last week. "People are always saying, 'You don't have to be aggressive on offense. It's not about scoring.' So it's like, 'OK, should I get more fouls?' But if you do that, you're not playing defense. I don't know exactly what that means, per se, but you've just got to go out there and play hard."
The smaller options at backup center include 6-9 forwards Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Maurice Taylor. Williams (6-10) is the only shot blocker -- he averaged 5.4 blocks in his senior season at Wyoming. Musselman, who must cut at least one more player by Oct. 30, said the next release could take a few days. He also said the Kings could cut two more players.
Hope for Hart? -- If Mike Bibby's injury was good news for anyone, it was Jason Hart.
Bibby's thumb injury Sunday against the New Orleans Hornets in Reno will keep him out at least two weeks, meaning Hart -- who has played 14 minutes in the exhibition season -- might be needed.
The veteran is owed $1.6 million on his contract, typically a safety net from being cut. But the Kings' interest in Williams and Amundson has left some seemingly unthinkable scenarios plausible.
"He's a nice safety valve back there, because he is a guy who has games under his belt," Musselman said. "He's a veteran and a composed man when he's out there on the floor."
