KingKong
Starter
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 4, 2006
All in all, not a bad few days for Maurice Taylor.
The veteran power forward with the grit and skill to play center gleefully accepted a lucrative buyout to escape the mess that was the New York Knicks, then weighed a number of free-agent offers. He decided on Sacramento, flew into town Tuesday afternoon, passed a physical, signed a one-year contract, gulped down a sandwich and returned for a night practice with a refreshed outlook.
"It's been a whirlwind," said the 6-foot-9, 260-pound veteran entering his 10th season. "As far as tradition and winning, this was the best fit."
Taylor provides the Kings with instant depth on the front line, though he has been a very capable starter in posting a career average of 11.2 points by scoring inside or hitting jumpers.
His best seasons were in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 when he led the Los Angeles Clippers in scoring at 16.8 and 17.1 points, respectively.
Taylor said he has no problem backing up Brad Miller at center and Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim at power forward.
"This is my 10th year, and I'll do whatever they need me to do," he said. "I'm here to help. I've played some of my best ball coming off the bench."
Taylor said he's in decent shape, though he quickly reminded everyone he's not to be confused with a high flyer.
"I'm not built like a Jaguar," he said. "I'm more of a Winnebago."
Taylor said he was pleased to see so many smiling faces, from coach Eric Musselman to Ron Artest, the first King to greet him with a bearhug.
In other words, it's a far cry from the constant drama in New York, where the Knicks underachieved and the media pounced.
"I need to plead the fifth about New York," he said with a laugh. "The basketball environment there was crazy. Everything here is positive. Everyone is upbeat. I'm not used to it."
The Kings' roster now has 18 players. The NBA allows teams to carry 15. Before Tuesday's transaction, Petrie said he didn't anticipate more additions, but he also didn't anticipate Taylor being available.
And now?
"There's always the potential for (more player movement)," he said. "But nothing's imminent."
Bonzi's bite -- Bonzi Wells had an interesting take in Tuesday's editions of the Houston Chronicle regarding his two-year, $5 million free-agent deal with the Rockets.
And for math majors, that's nearly $35 million less than what the Kings offered for five seasons.
"It was there," Wells said of the offer. "I just decided to come here. It was all me. I could have gotten a whole lot of money anywhere. You might have read the wrong stuff, but the money was always out there."
Artest said he has healed from the Wells loss.
"Everyone knows I love Bonzi," he said. "He got a couple million, though. It wasn't $30 million or whatever, but it wasn't bad."
Salmons settles in -- He's still living in a hotel, and his bride is living back East for the time being, but John Salmons says he's right at home in Sacramento. He's pushing for the starting two-guard spot vacated by Wells and he talked of having a "great summer" -- from signing a $25 million deal to marrying a lawyer, whom he joked was sure to pick through his contract.
Salmons also has a fan in Artest.
"John's very good; I played against in him in the Eastern Conference," Artest said. "John's a very good ballhandler, a legit point guard, a legit two-guard. He's a great addition."
Key dates
Thursday: Start of NBA exhibition schedule.
Sunday: Kings Fandemonium event at Arco Arena, 6 p.m.
Oct. 12: Kings exhibition game at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: Kings exhibition game vs. L.A. Lakers at Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19: Kings exhibition game at Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Kings exhibition game vs. Utah at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22: Kings exhibition game vs. New Orleans in Reno, 5 p.m.
Oct. 24: Kings exhibition game vs. New Orleans at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25: Kings exhibition game at Seattle, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: Kings exhibition game vs. Portland at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30: Rosters set for opening day.
Oct. 31: Start of 2006-07 regular season.
Nov. 1: Kings season opener at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
Nov. 6: Kings home opener vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/33773.html
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 4, 2006
All in all, not a bad few days for Maurice Taylor.
The veteran power forward with the grit and skill to play center gleefully accepted a lucrative buyout to escape the mess that was the New York Knicks, then weighed a number of free-agent offers. He decided on Sacramento, flew into town Tuesday afternoon, passed a physical, signed a one-year contract, gulped down a sandwich and returned for a night practice with a refreshed outlook.
"It's been a whirlwind," said the 6-foot-9, 260-pound veteran entering his 10th season. "As far as tradition and winning, this was the best fit."
Taylor provides the Kings with instant depth on the front line, though he has been a very capable starter in posting a career average of 11.2 points by scoring inside or hitting jumpers.
His best seasons were in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 when he led the Los Angeles Clippers in scoring at 16.8 and 17.1 points, respectively.
Taylor said he has no problem backing up Brad Miller at center and Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim at power forward.
"This is my 10th year, and I'll do whatever they need me to do," he said. "I'm here to help. I've played some of my best ball coming off the bench."
Taylor said he's in decent shape, though he quickly reminded everyone he's not to be confused with a high flyer.
"I'm not built like a Jaguar," he said. "I'm more of a Winnebago."
Taylor said he was pleased to see so many smiling faces, from coach Eric Musselman to Ron Artest, the first King to greet him with a bearhug.
In other words, it's a far cry from the constant drama in New York, where the Knicks underachieved and the media pounced.
"I need to plead the fifth about New York," he said with a laugh. "The basketball environment there was crazy. Everything here is positive. Everyone is upbeat. I'm not used to it."
The Kings' roster now has 18 players. The NBA allows teams to carry 15. Before Tuesday's transaction, Petrie said he didn't anticipate more additions, but he also didn't anticipate Taylor being available.
And now?
"There's always the potential for (more player movement)," he said. "But nothing's imminent."
Bonzi's bite -- Bonzi Wells had an interesting take in Tuesday's editions of the Houston Chronicle regarding his two-year, $5 million free-agent deal with the Rockets.
And for math majors, that's nearly $35 million less than what the Kings offered for five seasons.
"It was there," Wells said of the offer. "I just decided to come here. It was all me. I could have gotten a whole lot of money anywhere. You might have read the wrong stuff, but the money was always out there."
Artest said he has healed from the Wells loss.
"Everyone knows I love Bonzi," he said. "He got a couple million, though. It wasn't $30 million or whatever, but it wasn't bad."
Salmons settles in -- He's still living in a hotel, and his bride is living back East for the time being, but John Salmons says he's right at home in Sacramento. He's pushing for the starting two-guard spot vacated by Wells and he talked of having a "great summer" -- from signing a $25 million deal to marrying a lawyer, whom he joked was sure to pick through his contract.
Salmons also has a fan in Artest.
"John's very good; I played against in him in the Eastern Conference," Artest said. "John's a very good ballhandler, a legit point guard, a legit two-guard. He's a great addition."
Key dates
Thursday: Start of NBA exhibition schedule.
Sunday: Kings Fandemonium event at Arco Arena, 6 p.m.
Oct. 12: Kings exhibition game at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: Kings exhibition game vs. L.A. Lakers at Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19: Kings exhibition game at Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Kings exhibition game vs. Utah at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22: Kings exhibition game vs. New Orleans in Reno, 5 p.m.
Oct. 24: Kings exhibition game vs. New Orleans at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25: Kings exhibition game at Seattle, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: Kings exhibition game vs. Portland at Arco, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30: Rosters set for opening day.
Oct. 31: Start of 2006-07 regular season.
Nov. 1: Kings season opener at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
Nov. 6: Kings home opener vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/33773.html
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