Rookie team is immediate focus
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, June 26, 2004
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Far behind the NBA chatter and speculation of trading for a Tracy McGrady or a Shaquille O'Neal is the pedestrian business facing many teams: Assembling a team of rookies and free agents to compete in the upcoming Long Beach Summer League.

On Friday, the Kings worked on signing first-and second-round draft picks Kevin Martin and Ricky Minard, respectively.
They will be part of the Kings' summer league entry if they are signed to contracts. If that isn't possible by the time games begin, other financial arrangements are made, such as buying insurance.

Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and his scouting staff will look to bring in players not selected in Thursday's draft as well as other young free agents who they hope will have the desire to make it in the NBA.

Galt's Philip Ricci, who played at Oregon State and fared well in the 2003 Kings training camp, is the type of player the Kings hope to bring in.

He's been putting up big numbers at the Sacramento Summer Pro League at Capital Christian High School. Humboldt State guard Austin Nichols is another player the Kings would like to have among the 13 to 15 players they will assemble at their practice facility July 13-15.

"We'll try and focus on players like him," Petrie said of Ricci, who played last season for the Huntsville (Ala.) Flight - under former Kings assistant coach Ralph Lewis - in the National Basketball Developmental League.

Petrie said the Kings are looking for "undrafted players who may only have been out (of college) a year or two and haven't had five or six shots at making the league."

After Thursday's draft, Kings coach Rick Adelman said the team had identified first-round pick Martin as the player it hoped would drop to them.

"He's capable of breaking down guys and we know he can shoot," Adelman said.

Petrie said it's easier to find players at the end of the first round who can play the wing.

The Kings also had their eye on Saint Joseph's guard Delonte West (taken by Boston with the 24th pick); junior college small forward Donta Smith (Atlanta, No. 34); guard Beno Udrih, of Slovenia (San Antonio, 28th), and Connecticut high school small forward Dorell Wright (a surprise pick by Miami, 19th).


Et cetera - Asked about trading for O'Neal, Petrie said: "I have talked to (Lakers general manager) Mitch (Kupchak), but I have not had any negotiations with the Lakers."

* Darius Songaila's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said his office had received a qualifying offer from the Kings, who now will have the right to match any offer received by the second-year pro. "I think there is going to be a lot of interest in Darius, who loved playing in Sacramento and playing for Rick," said Bartelstein. "The Kings gave him his first opportunity to play in the NBA."

* Look for the Kings in the next few days to announce that Denver Nuggets assistant T.R. Dunn is the replacement for retired assistant John Wetzel.
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