Kings talking to Juan Dixon.

[CaminoChaos]

These are 2 articals confirming the Kings takling to Dixon
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002402098_sonics26.html','571'
Sonics go after free agent Dixon

By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter

Juan Dixon is being pursued by several teams.
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The Sonics entertained free agent Juan Dixon, who left town over the weekend without receiving a formal offer. The former Washington Wizard, however, has a clearer understanding of where he'll play next season.

Chances of Dixon returning to his old team are slim, but Seattle is high on a list of suitors that includes Sacramento, Portland, Cleveland and Miami. The winning team likely will have to pony up a three- to five-year deal with an average salary of $3 million.

"We're not so much concerned with the years and financial package as much as the situation," said Calvin Andrews, Dixon's agent. "Is it a good fit and a good role? We want to know that he's going to have a contributing role and be able to make a significant contribution to a winning squad."

Dixon, a 6-foot-3 guard taken No. 17 in the 2002 draft by Washington, has averaged 8.2 points and 1.6 assists during his three-year career. The 26-year-old has played primarily as a backup but has started 23 games.

The Sonics are seeking an understudy to Luke Ridnour and are considering Dixon, as well as restricted free agent Ronald Murray and unrestricted free agent Mateen Cleaves.

Seattle also is interested in re-signing restricted free agent Vladimir Radmanovic to a long-term deal, but the team extended him a qualifying offer and would not be opposed to having him return with just a one-year deal.

The same holds true for Murray and forwards Reggie Evans and Damien Wilkins, who were extended qualifying offers.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/25/AR2005072501410.html','181'

Pro Basketball
Ruffin, Wizards Come to Terms on New Deal

Tuesday, July 26, 2005; Page E02

The Washington Wizards and free agent forward Michael Ruffin have agreed to contract terms, according to agent Andy Miller .

Terms of the agreement were not available, and Ruffin cannot sign it until the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. The 6-foot-8, 248-pound Ruffin averaged 1.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 16 minutes per game last season with the Wizards.


Ruffin, who is entering his sixth NBA season, will shore up a Washington front court that will be without Kwame Brown , who will be sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for swingman Caron Butler and point guard Chucky Atkins once the CBA goes into effect.

Unrestricted free agent guard Juan Dixon visited Seattle this weekend and has also spoken with Cleveland, Indiana, Miami, Minnesota and Sacramento, according to agent Calvin Andrews .

A source close to restricted free agent guard Steve Blake said that he has been contacted by teams, but likely won't receive a contract offer until after the CBA is ratified. Teams with reported interest include Miami, Minnesota and Cleveland.


-- Ivan Carter

 

[outsider62]

I don't know much about him, but based on his assist average I don't see how he fits in our plans.

 

[PFFFT!!]

I would rather resign House than Dixon. IMHO. There are better backup PGs out there.

 

[funkykingston]

I would rather resign House than Dixon. IMHO. There are better backup PGs out there.

I'd also rather have his teammate Steve Blake. Dixon was the star at Maryland, but I like Blake better as a pro. He's still a poor shooter, but as a defender and playmaker I like him a lot better.

That said, Juan Dixon and a re-signed House wouldn't be the end of the world. However, if he came for the LLE I'm also on board with the idea of giving Jay Williams a shot.

By the way, here's an article I found when looking for info on whether Blake was a restricted free agent or not (it appears he isn't). It ranks the free agent PGs for this offseason. I don't agree with a lot of the author's rankings, but it is an interesting read.

Top free agent point guards

Interestingly enough, on his top free agent PF page, he has Shareef as #1, Darius as #11 and Eddie Griffin is nowhere to be found among the top 40, which even includes our old friend Lawrence Funderburke.

Edit: I just found Eddie Griffin. He's #8 on the small forward list.

 

[Kings113]

Griffin is 6'10", 240 lbs.

I wouldn't mind having Dixon on this team at all, he'd be our instant offense guy.

 

[VF21]

Pass...

If we were going to extend an offer to anyone on the Sonics, I'd much rather see us talking to Reggie Evan's agent.

 

[Kings113]

Pass...

If we were going to extend an offer to anyone on the Sonics, I'd much rather see us talking to Reggie Evan's agent.

Hell yes.

 

[PFFFT!!]

Reggie Evans is a no-brainer IMHO

 

[funkykingston]

Pass...

If we were going to extend an offer to anyone on the Sonics, I'd much rather see us talking to Reggie Evan's agent.

Who else on the Sonics are the Kings rumored to be considering?

 

[Kings113]

I haven't actually read the Kings have been interested in R. Evans, but I bet they definitely have interest, and are keeping quiet.

I don't think we'd be interested in anyone else on/other FA on the Sonics aside from Evans...

 

[HndsmCelt]

doubt if there is much truth in the list of suitors. Prety standard for agents to leak a "list of suitors" when talks start. Such an old trick the only team that seems to fall for it is the Knicks.

 

[PFFFT!!]

Personally, I think Petrie is really standing put on how to spend the MLE until some players are released from their respective teams(using the one time exception) to see the available talent pool widen. He would be dumb to go out and spend it quickly on someone. As far as trades go, I think hes working on that more so than anything.

KHTK people like Grant and Mike are higher on Song getting resigned, rather than Mo. I even heard it from the riseguys too. Song does have more trade power than Mo, even though Mo is athletic and better jumper, Song is a better all around player with better b-ball skills.

Last night I heard Coz say "we basically got Bonzi for BJ, Ostertag, AND Cuttino" since we didn't get anything back for Cuttino and let him go. I kinda disagree with that comment. We ended up getting rid of two people that werent playing much and got hurt and a guy who didn't work in our system for another more athletic guy who can shoot and is coming into a contract year AND we freed ourselves of Cuttino's contract. No harm done.

 

[Bricklayer]

Last night I heard Coz say "we basically got Bonzi for BJ, Ostertag, AND Cuttino" since we didn't get anything back for Cuttino and let him go. I kinda disagree with that comment. We ended up getting rid of two people that werent playing much and got hurt and a guy who didn't work in our system for another more athletic guy who can shoot and is coming into a contract year AND we freed ourselves of Cuttino's contract. No harm done.

Uh...rather serious harm down actually. Cutino was a major trade piece. An established starter in the league. Lost him for nothing. The Bonzi trade on its own looks good, but the overall offseason is still tilted toward bad -- we have gotten a better style OG for us, but a similar talent, and in the process lost our 6th man and only true defensive center. Not being able to cash in the Cutino chip put us behind the eight ball and is stretching the resources we have to improve ourselves very thin.

 

[nbrans]

Uh...rather serious harm down actually. Cutino was a major trade piece. An established starter in the league. Lost him for nothing. The Bonzi trade on its own looks good, but the overall offseason is still tilted toward bad -- we have gotten a better style OG for us, but a similar talent, and in the process lost our 6th man and only true defensive center. Not being able to cash in the Cutino chip put us behind the eight ball and is stretching the resources we have to improve ourselves very thin.

An accurate, and depressing, assessment of the offseason up to this point. The only silver lining I can see is the fact that we don't have Cuttino's salary on the books, which might mean that the Maloofs will be more willing to shell out the MLE (not that there's really anyone worth shelling it out for).

I'm also nagged by the fact that the most likely way of recovering from the Webber trade was by packaging one of the Philly 3 with BJax to get some real talent for that $10 million in salary. Instead Petrie had to use Ostertag and BJax, leaving the Philly 3 intact and converting that $8 million in expiring contracts into... $8 million in an expiring contract. Now that the Kings' most obvious need is an upgrade at the PF, we basically have 3 overpaid PFs that no one really wants by themselves. Teams just don't give away talented 4's for two mediocre 4's.

Honestly, I think that after the Kings couldn't get Nene with Mobley and couldn't get Shareef Abdur-Rahim in a S&T or the MLE, Bonzi Wells was just a stopgap measure to keep the Kings respectable. I'll be hopeful and optimistic, but I just can't see the Kings contending next year with this roster.

This actually makes me more inclined to root for blowing up the team by trading some or all of the core.

Oh, and since this is a Juan Dixon thread, I'll add that I think he's a solid backup guard, tough and a winner. Just don't overpay him.

 

[Fillmoe]

we already have a juan dixon.... his name is eddie house..... their game is extremely similar.... i would rather keep house and he would be cheaper to attain..... if we get rid of house we are losing a great backup.... i said it GREAT! this next year hes gonna have no trouble filling in bobby jay's spot

 

[Kings113]

we already have a juan dixon.... his name is eddie house..... their game is extremely similar.... i would rather keep house and he would be cheaper to attain..... if we get rid of house we are losing a great backup.... i said it GREAT! this next year hes gonna have no trouble filling in bobby jay's spot

We don't have House, and he hasn't been talked about much at all this off-season, just mentioned in the list of FAs that were Kings. As he is an unrestricted one.

 

[PFFFT!!]

Uh...rather serious harm down actually. Cutino was a major trade piece. An established starter in the league. Lost him for nothing. The Bonzi trade on its own looks good, but the overall offseason is still tilted toward bad -- we have gotten a better style OG for us, but a similar talent, and in the process lost our 6th man and only true defensive center. Not being able to cash in the Cutino chip put us behind the eight ball and is stretching the resources we have to improve ourselves very thin.

Well, that tells me one thing. We are reconstructing this team and to do so Petrie wants to start with a clean slate around his 2 or 3 base players. Nothing wrong with taking contracts off your books. I believe that Petrie's last trade is yet to be done. That trade might involve taking more contracts off the books (Thomas and Corliss).

 

[SacTownKid]

Uh...rather serious harm down actually. Cutino was a major trade piece. An established starter in the league. Lost him for nothing. The Bonzi trade on its own looks good, but the overall offseason is still tilted toward bad -- we have gotten a better style OG for us, but a similar talent, and in the process lost our 6th man and only true defensive center. Not being able to cash in the Cutino chip put us behind the eight ball and is stretching the resources we have to improve ourselves very thin.

I look at it as whether or not the team looks better than it did before. My vote is yes. Of course, there are still some pretty major holes to be filled.

 

[captain bill]

I look at it as whether or not the team looks better than it did before. My vote is yes. Of course, there are still some pretty major holes to be filled.

The only difference is Wells instead of Mobley, no Jackson, no Tag, and added Garcia, also probably no Evans or Songaila. I don't think either Garcia or Wells are good enough to make this team look that much better. I think the Wells trade makes us look a lot better the day before, but losing Cuttino for nothing hurts us a lot. That is something that makes this offseason look a lot worse- that we could have gotten something but didn't. I don't think we can blame the Kings though, Cuttino got exactly what he wanted- to play in LA. The Clippers didn't want to give anything up, and Cat was perfectly happy not asking for more. Just an unfortunate situation for us.

 

[VF21]

I look at it as whether or not the team looks better than it did before. My vote is yes. Of course, there are still some pretty major holes to be filled.

You think the Kings look better than they did before?



At this point, I sure wouldn't be willing to climb out on that limb.

 

[ONEZERO]

so much for juan dixon. welcome jason hart.

 

[SacTownKid]

You think the Kings look better than they did before?



At this point, I sure wouldn't be willing to climb out on that limb.

Better then than the team that ended last season? Of course we're better! Probably even better than the one that started last season too.

 

[sidney]

You think the Kings look better than they did before?



At this point, I sure wouldn't be willing to climb out on that limb.

Our biggest weakness is defense. We just added a very talented and tough starter at the 2 and a better defensive backup point guard. Both will see significant minutes. We have lost two older backups that hardly saw the floor last year.

IMHO, I would say we are clearly better and the changes aren't even done yet.

 

[ONEZERO]

I would say were better as well..... Like sydney said, our biggest weakness was defence and we just added a couple defensive type players..... I don't think our team will stay like this, but if it does, granted a training camp together, I would say they are better than last years team. We've only made two moves, but both of them were for the better and both accomodated positions we needed to fill.... Now petrie has a plan for a big man(hopefully a center to move brad to the 4) and our team will be better than it is right now, and way better than last years team.