Sacramento Kings Player Previews

With the roster with 14 guaranteed player contracts, unless there's a trade or signing this will be the Sacramento Kings next year.

MEET THE ROOKIES


#34 Jason Thompson, 6'11, 250 lbs. F/C
Rookie from Rider
Drafted #12 by Kings 2008

JT brought the thunder in the Las Vegas Summer League, hitting 2 game-winners against the Blazers in OT and Warriors, 2 of the top summer league teams. He averaged 16.2 PPG on 49% shooting and 8.6 RPG coming off the bench 3 out of 5 games. He finished his senior year at Rider with 20.4 PPG on 56% shooting and 12.1 RPG, both #2 in the nation behind Michael Beasley, along with 2.7 BPG. Not only that, he shut down Beasley for 13 points in their only meeting. Not bad for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Check out his story the NBA wrote about him called Against the Odds.

#20 Donté Greene, 6'11, 226 lbs. F
Rookie from Syracuse
Drafted #28 by Grizzlies 2008, Traded to Sacramento via Houston

When you look at Greene's game and physique, the first player that comes to mind is Rashard Lewis. Right now, he's closer to Kevin Durant. He averaged 17.7 PPG. 7.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG and 1.6 BPG at Syracuse. Coming out as a freshman, Greene had a 40 point game at this year's summer league, finishing second in scoring with 22.6 PPG, along with 1.6 SPG and 1 BPG. At an athletic 6'11 he can post-up, dunk, catch alley-oops, shoot with range and defend. Looks like it was a good idea to trade Artest for him, it's al about how he develops.

#5 Bobby Brown, 6'2, 175 lbs. PG
Rookie from Cal State-Fullerton
Undrafted 2007, Signed With Kings 2008

An undrafted senior out of Cal State Fullerton, who spent a year overseas playing for Alba Berlin in Gemany, Brown stunned scouts when he outplayed point guards Mike Conley and D.J. Augustin in the summer league. He helped lead Alba Berlin to a German Championship this year before heading to the summer league with New Orleans Hornets, where he averaged 15.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 6.3 APG in summer league and hit a game-winner. His senior year, he dropped 47 points including 11 three pointers. He also scored 44 points in a 5OT game overseas. Hopefully, he's the point guard they're looking for.

BACK FROM LAST YEAR

#23 Kevin Martin, 6'7, 185 lbs. Guard/Forward
5th Year from Western Carolina
Drafted #26 by Kings
Specialty: Offense

With Ron Artest out of the way, K-Mart can have an all-star season, possibly averaging 26 PPG, only 2 more points than last year. In fact, Martin can ramp up his the rest of his stats in Artest's absence. After being selected to the USA Select Team, playing with the league's elite leaders, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to be more specific, Martin was inspired to become the star and the leader he's supposed to be. He's making sure of that too, working out with personal trainer David Thorpe along with the Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas. Speaking of Chicago, he just signed a shoe deal with Jordan.

#15 John Salmons, 6'6, 207 lbs. Guard/Forward
7th Year from Miami
Drafted #26 by San Antonio Spurs, traded to Philadelphia, Signed with Kings in 2006
Specialty: Slasher

In Philly, Allen Iverson was in his way when he was on the court and Salmons, coming off the bench, couldn't get a shot. When he came to the Kings, Artest was in his way coming off the bench. In 41 starts, he averaged 17.5 PPG on 49.7% shooting, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG and 1.6 SPG. Put that into a full 82 game season, the results are nothing but good. When he started, there was no doubt that he played like one of the best swingmen in the NBA. Here's a brand new video showing it.

#52 Brad Miller, 7'0, 261 lbs Center
11th Year from Purdue, C
Undrafted, Signed-and-traded to Kings from Indiana Pacers in 2003

Specialty: High-Post Player

Miller had a re-emergent season with 13.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG compared to the unmotivating 9 PPG and 6.4 RPG the season before. Serving as a mentor to Spencer Hawes, "the next Brad Miller," Miller got slapped with a 5-game suspension for his 3rd offense for marijuana. Still, he had a great comeback last year including his first two 20 point 20 rebound games. He might have a few more years left in him. Although he's not a true center mostly shooting mid-range shots instead of staying in the low post, he still is the best passing big man in the game with a league leading 3.6 APG among centers and power forwards, running much of the Kings' high post offense. He's still got it.

#19 Beno Udrih (pronounced Bayno Oodrick), 6'3, 205 lbs. Guard
5th Year from Slovenia
Drafted #28 by Spurs 2004, Traded to and waived by Minnesota Timberwolves, Signed with Kings 2007

Specialty: Slasher, Floor Leader

Signed after the season started with a broken left hand, his shooting hand, the "Tasmanian Slovenian" averaged 14.4 PPG on 47.4% shooting, 3.5 RPG and 5 APG in 51 starts. Second year coach Reggie Theus plans to better his assist to turnover ratio along with getting him to average 7-8 APG. He proved that he is a worthy starting point guard in the NBA after getting traded from the Spurs and cut but the Timberwolves. Lucky, he doesn't have to wear that new jersey the T'Wolves got.

#32 Francisco Garcia, 6'7, 195 lbs. Forward/Guard
4th Year from Louisville
Drafted #23 by Kings 2005

Specialty: Clutch Shooter

Sum up Cisco in one word. Clutch. He hit not one, not two, but three game winning shots last season. All three pointers. He plays better on the road than at home. In 20 games as a starter, he averaged 16.4 PPG on 44.9% shooting, 4.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.7 SPG and 0.7 BPG. He's vocal, a better 6th man than Salmons, a swingman who can also run the point and is developing a solid defensive game and decision making skills. Just in, Cisco just signed a 5-year $30 million contract extension, so he'll be staying with the team for a long time.

#31 Spencer Hawes, Center/Forward
Sophomore from Washington
Drafted #10 by Kings 2007

Specialty: Post Player

Even though he's supposed to be the next Brad Miller, he's going to be better than him. In 8 games started, he had 12.3 PPG on 48.9% shooting, 7.3 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.6 BPG. In his first start, he posted 19 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. He also had a career high 4 blocks, with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists against the Lakers off the bench. He added some weight for summer league and showed more athleticism as well. With his footwork in the post, he's got the chance to become a very good center in the NBA, and he's only 20. He just got to improve his rebounding and he'll be good. He'll have plenty of time to improve, starting with filling in for Brad Miller's 5-game suspension.

#33 Mikki Moore, 7'0, 225 lbs. F/C
11th Year from Nebraska
Undrafted, Signed with Kings 2007

Specialty: Dirty Work, Energy

His stats aren't that impressive, but the energy and athleticism he brings is much needed to the team. He's the only King to play all 82 games. He had 8.5 PPG on 57.7% shooting and 6 RPG. Extremely athletic for a 33-year old, he has the ability to hit mid-range shots up to the top of the key and put back dunks. He might even have the potential to step behind the arc.

#24 Bobby Jackson, 6'1, 185 lbs. G
12th Year from Minnesota
Signed with Kings 2000-05, Traded to Memphis Grizzlies 2005, Signed with New Orleans Hornets 2006, Traded to Houston Rockets 2008, Re-acquired by Kings 2008

Specialty: Leadership

One of the members of the 2002 Kings team that reached the Western Conference Finals, the 2003 6th Man of the Year is now the last remaining King from the 2002 team after Mike Bibby was traded in February. He averaged 8.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 2.4 APG after being traded to the Rockets from the Hornets. Now in the twilight of his career, he adds veteran wisdom, experience and leadership to the team and is looking to become a coach in a couple of years.

#22 Shelden Williams 6'9, 250 lbs. F/C,
3rd Year from Duke
Drafted #5 by Atlanta Hawks, Traded to Kings 2008
Specialty: Inside Presence

So far, he's been deemed a bust. He did have a good summer league though with 14.3 PPG on 57.6% shooting and 8.8 RPG. He averaged 5.2 PPG on 49.1 % shooting and got his only double double with a 12 point, 11 rebound game against the Lakers, including turning Ronny Turiaf into a poster (above). With his size and strentgh, if used in the right way, he has the potential to be good down low. He used to be a dunker his rookie year, but lost some athleticism. If he can find that fire he had the last month of his rookie year, maybe he can get better than he's playing right now.

#8 Quincy Douby, 6'3, 175 lbs. SG
3rd Year from Rutgers
Drafted #19 by Kings

Specialty: Slasher

In a disappointing season for him, Q had bright spots here and there. The most encouraging sign of all was his 32 point performance with his slashing to the basket carving up the Lakers' defense. Making no comparisons, but watching him that night was like watching a slower version of Iverson. After numerous failed attempts to convert him into a point guard, he's been permenantly branded as an undersized shooting guard. After an impressive summer league, scoring 36 points against Golden State and finishing 3rd in scoring with 22 PPG behind Greene, this might be Q's last chance to prove that he belongs with the team and in the NBA.

#3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim, 6'9, 245 lbs. F/C
RETIRED 12 Seasons with Vancouver Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Kings
Drafted #3 by Vancouver Grizzlies, Signed with Kings in 2005

Expected to stay within organization

Reef is done. He just announced his retirement. His knee just couldn't hold up to play at the NBA level anymore. He is expected, however, to stay with the organization, maybe as a big man coach. Kings GM Geoff Petrie said in a statement, "It is our intention to find a new role for Shareef with the organization as he begins the next phase of his professional life." A look back at his career from an earlier post.

#9 Kenny Thomas, 6'7, 245 lbs. PF
10th Year from New Mexico
Drafted #22 by Houston Rockets, Traded to Kings from Philadelphia 76ers in 2005

Specialty: Rebounding

Don't expect him to play. He just wants to get paid his $16 mil over the next 2 years. Can we get a buyout please?

There you have it. The roster for the 2008-2009 Sacramento Kings. Now, they might not look like the most impressive bunch in the league, but Kings GM Geoff Petrie has a track record of drafting and trading for good players.

Draft Picks: Peja Stojakovic, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau (traded on draft night, great move), Hedo Turkoglu (2008 MIP), Gerald Wallace and Kevin Martin.

Trades: Mike Bibby for Jason Williams, Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond, Ron Artest for Peja Stojakovic, Bonzi Wells for Bobby Jackson.

The team will start training camp in Hawaii on Sunday.