Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

The Sacramento Kings today recalled center Hassan Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the D-League, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Whiteside averaged 4.4 points (.509 FG%, .412 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 2.14 blocks, and 10.5 minutes per game in 14 games, including three starts with the Bighorns. He was assigned to Reno on November 29, 2010.

Selected by Sacramento in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft out of Marshall University, Whiteside appeared in one NBA game, playing two minutes in the season opener at Minnesota on October 27, 2010.

Dale Kasler and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee report:

In a possible sign of fresh financial turmoil for the owners of the Kings, the Maloof family is reportedly struggling to hold onto the other key piece of its business empire: the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Two private investment firms that hold most of the Palms’ debt are negotiating to acquire a controlling interest in the trendy casino, according to a report by Bloomberg news service.

The firms got into position to take control after the Palms violated the terms of its loans, Bloomberg reported.

George Maloof, who runs the Palms, and his brother Joe, who oversees the Kings, declined to comment on the report.

But the family acknowledges that the Palms has struggled in the past two years. George Maloof said last fall that the Palms was restructuring its debt.

“We’re getting through it,” he said.

Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports:

There’s no dancing around the Kings’ rough start this season.

They have the NBA’s worst record, 5-22. They’ve lost 21 of their last 23 games.

Each loss draws more scrutiny, but Kings ownership and management remain resolute in keeping with their plan to rebuild the team back to prominence.

Co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, basketball president Geoff Petrie and coach Paul Westphal are echoing the same message as the team takes two days off before returning to practice Sunday in preparation for Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Despite the rough start, the ownership said it has no plans to make sweeping changes on the sideline or in the front office.

“Paul is going to be our coach through the end of the season, and Geoff will remain with us, no doubt about it,” Gavin Maloof said. “We’re going to stick together and know the future is bright. We have a lot of cap space, and we’re going to use it and know that brighter days are ahead.”

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports:

Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are strongly considering firing GM Geoff Petrie and coach Paul Westphal in a sweeping indictment of the direction of the team, two people familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com.

Petrie is on extremely shaky ground with the Kings foundering at 5-22 and Westphal openly feuding with combustible first-round pick DeMarcus Cousins, who has proved to be a disastrous mistake whose selection will doom Petrie. There are concerns within the organization about whether Westphal is the right coach to calm Cousins and groom him into a dependable star.

But while Petrie has gone to bat for Westphal, urging the Maloofs to give him time with Cousins before making an assessment, it may be a moot point. The Maloofs have developed far more serious concerns about whether Petrie himself should be let go. It was Petrie, according to sources, who supported the decision to guarantee the 2011-12 season on Westphal’s contract months ahead of schedule – a decision that, with Westphal apparently losing the team, has become a very expensive one.

Sacramento Kings’ guard Tyreke Evans underwent a precautionary MRI yesterday in Sacramento which confirmed the diagnosis of mild plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The MRI also revealed that the plantar fascia is intact and there is no stress fracture.

Evans will continue his prescribed treatments of the combination of medication, sleeping in a night splint and walking in a boot when not playing or practicing. He has been cleared to practice and play.

Have an opinion? Share it on the Sacramento Kings forum.

Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports:Kings rookie center DeMarcus Cousins was kicked out of Monday’s practice.

Cousins slipped to fifth in June’s NBA draft because of questions about his maturity and attitude. He was fined earlier this season after a verbal dispute with the Kings’ strength and conditioning coach.

“It was a necessary move in our continued attempt to help him develop,” said Kings coach Paul Westphal of removing Cousins from practice.

Westphal declined to explain why Cousins made it through only two-thirds of practice.

“I’m not going to get into details,” Westphal said. “He was asked to leave early.”

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Ed Fletcher of the Sacramento Bee reports:

On Saturday, a Yuba City man made the halfcourt shot to win a car.

John Guth’s halfcourt basket came two weeks after team owner Joe Maloof tweaked the rules to give an Army lieutenant a new car for making a shot from the free-throw line.

“I wish our players could shoot that well,” Maloof said after Guth’s impressive shot.

Before shooting, Guth told the announced crowd of 13,504 that he intended to “go glass.” Then, he expertly banked it down from half court before erupting into celebration dance that channeled former King Mike Bibby with a little two-fisted Tiger Woods fist pump action thrown in.

“That was just instinct to run around,” said Guth, 27. “It was so exciting. It was surreal.”

The new car is perfect timing, he said. He currently drives a “just get me by” Ford Taurus with no heat and a major crack in its windshield.

Discuss the team on the Sacramento Kings forum.

The Sacramento Kings have assigned forward/center Hassan Whiteside to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie announced today.

Whiteside was selected by Sacramento with the 33rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and has made one appearance with team this year, logging two minutes in the season-opening win over Minnesota (10/27/10). He represents the second assignment of a Kings player to the Bighorns, following Donte Greene in 2009.