Kings Notes: Price, Williams face the unknown

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/149938.html

Kings Notes: Price, Williams face the unknown
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:04 am PDT Thursday, April 5, 2007

DENVER -- Corliss Williamson is a known commodity, and his resurgence this season all but guarantees that his future will include guaranteed money in some NBA city come October.

Vitaly Potapenko is still just 32, with a 6-foot-10, 285-pound frame that some team surely will want as, if nothing else, a big-man insurance policy.

But not all of the Kings' free agents-to-be have résumés that speak for themselves. Second-year point guard Ronnie Price and rookie forward Justin Williams are within weeks of not knowing where their next hoops paycheck will come from.

Price, who was signed to a two-year deal as an undrafted free agent, said the uncertainty has yet to enter his mind.

"It's crazy, because a lot of people have been asking me ... and I tell them the same thing, that I don't think about it," Price said. "I haven't even really talked about it with my agent or even thought about it. I'm pretty sure that as the days get closer, it's going to be something that's talked about."

Price became the first NBA player from tiny Utah Valley State. His playing time this season has been sporadic at best, but the Kings' fade from the playoff race could change matters.

Meanwhile, Williams recorded season highs in minutes (23), points (eight) and rebounds (13) Wednesday against Denver.

Williams, who was undrafted out of Wyoming and bounced from the Kings' training camp to the NBA Development League and back, said he plans to play for the Kings' Las Vegas summer-league team and hopes to stay in Sacramento.

"I'm just going to wait until the season finishes out and see how everything goes depending on summer league and how things go out there," Williams said.

By George -- Nuggets coach George Karl was back on the sideline after a one-game absence, doing what he loves and relieved his loved one is doing well.

Karl's son, Coby, 23, underwent surgery to remove his thyroid 13 months ago after he was diagnosed with cancer, and he had a second procedure Monday.

The operation lasted approximately seven hours in Boise, Idaho, where Coby was the leading scorer for Boise State last season. He still hopes to make an NBA roster next season.

"I didn't know it was going to be that long," said Karl, who left the team to be with his son and family. "You just worry about him being under anesthesia that long and all the nightmares about surgeries. But he's doing great ... . He's ready to put this behind him and start the recovery."

About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.

 

[VF21]

IMHO we need to keep both Ronnie Price and Justin Williams. They're cheap, they have hustle and heart and did I mention they'll be cheap?

 

[BMiller52]

IMHO we need to keep both Ronnie Price and Justin Williams. They're cheap, they have hustle and heart and did I mention they'll be cheap?

Exactly, I think our first priority should be re-signing them with the MLE/what little cap space we may have. They're young, have potential, hustle, and like you said they're cheap.

 

[SacKings384]

Kings lately have been letting young talent and athletes go for free for a while now... It would be nice to see them keep some of these guys to try and pan out.

 

[VF21]

Kings lately have been letting young talent and athletes go for free for a while now... It would be nice to see them keep some of these guys to try and pan out.

???

Which ones are you referring to?

 

[Sluggah]

i'd be really disappointed if we let these guys slip away. scrappy, affordable, and seemingly good kids.

 

[SacTownKid]

If Justin even has to come and play in summer league to earn a spot at this point something is very wrong. Somebody will want him for sure. Whether here or overseas.

Re-sign them both!

 

[gunks]

Seriously!!!

But with Petrie as the GM you never know. Justin cant shoot and is over 6'7, thats two knocks against him in the book of Geoff...Never mind his rebounding and shotblocking skills.

I'm reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallly hoping he's a King next season!

 

[fnordius]

I'm reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallly hoping he's a King next season!

email: kings@arcoarena.com
subject: Fan Mail From Kings.com

The rest you can figure out for yourself.

 

[Bricklayer]

Exactly, I think our first priority should be re-signing them with the MLE/what little cap space we may have. They're young, have potential, hustle, and like you said they're cheap.

No, you simply cannot waste any of your MLE on guys like Williams and Price. Not this year. You need every asset you can get.

Fortunately it will not take that. It would be a borderline shock if anybody else offers either of them more than a training camp invite, and even if its guaranteed money, it will be minimum stuff. Unless they just want to go elsewhere looking for better opportunities, you would think we could have them back if we wanted them -- finances should not be a problem. Of course, not the first time we've said that in recent years, and we apparently haven't wanted guys back very often.

 

[BMiller52]

No, you simply cannot waste any of your MLE on guys like Williams and Price. Not this year. You need every asset you can get.

Fortunately it will not take that. It would be a borderline shock if anybody else offers either of them more than a training camp invite, and even if its guaranteed money, it will be minimum stuff. Unless they just want to go elsewhere looking for better opportunities, you would think we could have them back if we wanted them -- finances should not be a problem. Of course, not the first time we've said that in recent years, and we apparently haven't wanted guys back very often.

Why?


If you're young and rebuilding why do you need any of that. MLE talents don't make a team, so if you've found 2 players who might be keepers than why not re-sign them? MLE talents won't help us rebuild any better, so I don't even know why we should use it. Gotta get under the cap for 08 IMO.

 

[Bricklayer]

Why?


If you're young and rebuilding why do you need any of that. MLE talents don't make a team, so if you've found 2 players who might be keepers than why not re-sign them? MLE talents won't help us rebuild any better, so I don't even know why we should use it. Gotta get under the cap for 08 IMO.

If either one of those guys ever even gets to the point of being an MLE level talent, he will have had a successful career.

The MLE is an asset. You don't blow it on scrubs, or on guys other teams are going to treat like scrubs. We need every asset we can get going into this offseason, including the ability to patch holes opened by trades with an MLE guy if necessary. Wasting any part of the MLE on undrafted guys averaging 3ppg would just be a waste of an asset, and put us at a competitive disadvantage vis a vis other teams with their full MLEs to spend.

 

[BLNINJA #81]

Those two I'd keep for minimum contracts. They'd make great 11th/12th men, and who knows, perhaps they play well enough to move up the rotation. I'm definitely for keeping them.

 

[SacTownKid]

If either one of those guys ever even gets to the point of being an MLE level talent, he will have had a successful career.

The MLE is an asset. You don't blow it on scrubs, or on guys other teams are going to treat like scrubs. We need every asset we can get going into this offseason, including the ability to patch holes opened by trades with an MLE guy if necessary. Wasting any part of the MLE on undrafted guys averaging 3ppg would just be a waste of an asset, and put us at a competitive disadvantage vis a vis other teams with their full MLEs to spend.

The one thing that would make it far less scary is that this is a pretty bone dry free agent market this summer. That MLE isn't going to bring us much of anything this year anyhow.

I do agree however that it probably won't take the MLE to sign either player back but if it came down to it I don't see it as much of a problem to use part of it on Ronnie and Justin. The only guys I could see us going after in the MLE range would be Chris Mihm, Jarvis Hayes, or Desmond Mason.

 

[kingsfan916]

we need to resign them ASAP

 

[BMiller52]

If either one of those guys ever even gets to the point of being an MLE level talent, he will have had a successful career.

The MLE is an asset. You don't blow it on scrubs, or on guys other teams are going to treat like scrubs. We need every asset we can get going into this offseason, including the ability to patch holes opened by trades with an MLE guy if necessary. Wasting any part of the MLE on undrafted guys averaging 3ppg would just be a waste of an asset, and put us at a competitive disadvantage vis a vis other teams with their full MLEs to spend.

In his first real PT Justin was able to grab 13 rebounds against a front line of Camby and Nene. I think he has a great shot at turning into an MLE talent atleast. Right now I see him as an offensively retarded Keon Clark(someone else made this comparison also). Don't see why he's not worth 2 million dollars.

 

[SacBlaze]

???

Which ones are you referring to?

1 i can think of is Mo Evans, Being in Socal now and them showing the Laker games all the time i get to see more of his Play, and i wish we still had him on the time, cus He fast, plays hard, and seems to be hiting shots from all over the court.

 

[Packt]

I think Justin deserves a look, but I'm not sure about Price. He's shown nothing and looks every bit like the dime-a-dozen guards you see every year that go undrafted. That's harsh, but I've yet to see anything that would explain why Geoff gave him a contract. He looks like a potential bundle of energy/scoring/defense, but he lacks the intensity. I think it's time to wish him the best and move on.

 

[Bricklayer]

In his first real PT Justin was able to grab 13 rebounds against a front line of Camby and Nene. I think he has a great shot at turning into an MLE talent atleast. Right now I see him as an offensively retarded Keon Clark(someone else made this comparison also). Don't see why he's not worth 2 million dollars.

Off of one game.

People really have to quit doing that with our guys. Price had a big game back in December. Douby had one. Hart has been having a whole series of them. Basically anybody who has ever put on an NBA uniform has at least one, normally against us. Its enough that I sincerely hope we take a long look at these guys in summer league or whatnot. Not remotely enough to throw millions of guaranteed dollars at them and cost yourself potential shots at proven players. And most of all, because there is absolutely nobody else who is going to do that with these guys either, there is simply no reason for us to waste our exceptions on them. Part of their very attraction as potential bench fodder next year is their expected cheapness.

I like Justin's style of game, but he is raw, skinny and sloppy as can be at this point. Would like to see him back, but there is a lot of Yogi Stewart potential there.

 

[VF21]

Off of one game.

People really have to quit doing that with our guys. Price had a big game back in December. Douby had one. Hart has been having a whole series of them. Basically anybody who has ever put on an NBA uniform has at least one, normally against us. Its enough that I sincerely hope we take a long look at these guys in summer league or whatnot. Not remotely enough to throw millions of guaranteed dollars at them and cost yourself potential shots at proven players. And most of all, because there is absolutely nobody else who is going to do that with these guys either, there is simply no reason for us to waste our exceptions on them. Part of their very attraction as potential bench fodder next year is their expected cheapness.

Spot on!

If they aren't cheap, let them go. The last thing a rebuilding team does is throw good money at end of the bench players who have very little on their resume.

If they're CHEAP, fine. If not, let someone else overpay them.

 

[BMiller52]

Off of one game.

People really have to quit doing that with our guys. Price had a big game back in December. Douby had one. Hart has been having a whole series of them. Basically anybody who has ever put on an NBA uniform has at least one, normally against us. Its enough that I sincerely hope we take a long look at these guys in summer league or whatnot. Not remotely enough to throw millions of guaranteed dollars at them and cost yourself potential shots at proven players. And most of all, because there is absolutely nobody else who is going to do that with these guys either, there is simply no reason for us to waste our exceptions on them. Part of their very attraction as potential bench fodder next year is their expected cheapness.

IMO this is why we should be playing them NOW so we know if they are any good or not. And if they're not, it's not like a 2 year contract worth 3 million overall is holding your team back. It's the MLE contracts for MLE talents that are holding you back. The Kennys, the Millers(who actually was a bit more than the MLE, I believe he started out making like 7 million), the Reefs. We have like 21 million dollars wrapped up in our pathetic frontcourt. But you know what's so great about that? They're all MLE talent!

So I don't see why we shouldn't take a chance on one or two of these young guys. Chris Mihm or Jarvis Hayes are MLE talents but it's not like they really help you. You give them the majority of your MLE and you're just holding your team back. Small contracts for Justin and Ronnie that nearly add up to the MLE don't hold you back. And if you suck for 1 more year, well you're rebuilding anyway. You're not a team like PHX who might get that 7th or 8th guy that might put them over the top with the MLE. You're a rebuilding team that needs the ping pongs anyway.

 

[Troy]

IMHO we need to keep both Ronnie Price and Justin Williams. They're cheap, they have hustle and heart and did I mention they'll be cheap?

It says on Hoop Hype which very well could be wrong that Williams makes $285K this year, compared to Nene at $10M, I think we got our $s worth against the Nuggest. Williams had a great game and some nice D on Nene who is a force in the paint.

 

[vytzka]

It says on Hoop Hype which very well could be wrong that Williams makes $285K this year, compared to Nene at $10M, I think we got our $s worth against the Nuggest. Williams had a great game and some nice D on Nene who is a force in the paint.

Well it's probably minimum (4 something something grand) times whatever percentage of season he's signed.

And yes, paying even a million or two for Justin Williams wouldn't set us back very badly - compared to our current situation anyway (so I guess I should say 'even further back'). We don't even need comparisons to Nene, he's good, if overpaid. Folks like Kenny Tomato do nicely too.

 

[SacTownKid]

I would say Justin Williams has done enough to earn a deal a little over the minimum if need be.

For cripes sake, rookies selected in the 1st round get a long term deal off the bat and they technically haven't done anything either.