Welcome to the Sacramento Kings Media Day! We at the Kings organization are very happy to complete this offseason with this press conference. It's been an exhausting week for us in the front office ever since the champion Lakers were victorious and offseason officially began. The 2003 season for this team will forever be recognized internally as the biggest risk we've taken that paid off well in the end. Since the trade of Camby for Arenas deal back in the 2001 draft, this was a marking of an owner taking his team on another direction. It has taken a few seasons, but the 2003 Reset, we feel, was a huge success.
The offseason began with the 2004 Draft Lotto, in which we were rewarded with the 6th pick in the draft. We were very excited to have a Top 10 pick, and we were on the fringe of a Top 5 selection. After the first few selections of the draft, I contacted the Nuggets to ask about the #5 pick. They didn't seem as enthused with the talent as we were, and knowing the GM in charge, I felt the pick would be dealt to another team once it got to the Nuggets pick. I had no qualms with giving the Nuggets the Hornets pick to secure the guy I had as my #2 ranked prospect in talent/fit/need, SF Luol Deng. He's young, has potential in all the skills we value, and is a tall, lanky defender. We are excited to see his development continue to grow, as he had a great camp and will begin the season competing for big minutes.
We also had another pick in the draft, #27 from the Raptors, and we were able to take a gamble on Shaun Livingston. When we saw that the 6'7 PG was still on the board, we knew right away we were selecting him. While he doesn't have the skills as a PG with B handles and C passing, he is quick for his size and has the potential to be a three-position backup player. We were pleasantly happy with getting this guy at #27 when picks are usually being sold for 2 points in an average draft.
RFA was unexciting for us. We threw contracts at players that we felt were fair value and we maxed Stephen Jackson, but we didn't win any initial bids. We took the extra day with nothing to do to really take a closer look at UFA, and the front office was eager to get started. With only Tyson Chandler and Darius Songaila as front-court pieces, we focused entirely on getting bigs to help with defense and rebounding. I took another gamble and thew a 3-year-team-option max deal at Shareef Abdur Rahim, former PF from the San Antonio Spurs. The risk was great, because Shareef had taken a hit in the prior training camp for the Spurs. Despite getting hit in the prior training camp, Shareef was still a 20 ppg scorer with great athleticism. We won the bidding for Shareef and he had a modest +8 TC, which we were excited for because he didn't drop in anything. We also added Tom Gugliotta to the roster for a 1-year tryout. At 34 years old, Gugliotta isn't the great and Hall of Fame bound Gugliotta we all know, but we know he can still be a good role player to fill in as the PF or C when needed.
As for the other 3 core guys, well, they are doing just fine. Star player Tracy McGrady finally earned 1st Team honors last season, and at the age of 25, is currently one of the top players in the league. He will now be looked upon as the true veteran and captain of this team, and to lead the young developing players. Tyson Chandler once again had a great camp and continues to fill out as a defensive anchor. While he doesn't shoot much, he does make sure to take the smart shot, and that is beginning to show in his FG%. We think Chandler can have a breakout season and average a double-double, as long as Gugliotta and Shareef don't get in his way. And last, but certainly not least, Kirk Hinrich is ready to lead this team as the first true PG in God-knows-when. Ball movement and turnovers have always been a plague for the Sacramento Kings, and that's 100% on me as the general manager for opting athletic combo guards over pure point guards. The team will play as well as Hinrich plays, so it's important for him to start strong out of the gate this season.
I'll open the floor for questions now.
