Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

The Sacramento Kings today picked up the option on the contract of head coach Paul Westphal for the 2011-12 season, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“We’re all excited about the new direction Paul has given our team and his ability to keep our players focused during the course of the season,” said Petrie. “I think he’s done a tremendous job of helping us turn the corner. My congratulations to him and his staff. We continue to look forward to an ongoing great relationship as we rebuild the Kings.”

Westphal was named Sacramento’s head coach on June 12, 2009, becoming the franchise’s 23rd head coach. He has a lifetime record of 292-214 (.577) in eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns (1992-93 – 1995-96), Seattle Sonics (1998-99 – 2000-01), and Kings, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 1993 with the Suns.

“I’m very excited to continue to be able to have a chance to build what we have with the Kings,” Westphal said. “It’s been a great experience laying the foundation for years of exciting basketball to come. I’m thrilled by the support of the community, the Maloofs, the front office, and my staff and the players.”

An MRI performed today on the left knee of Sacramento Kings center Spencer Hawes revealed a deep bone contusion and an irregular signal in the joint line. Hawes is going to seek a second opinion from Dr. Lawrence Holland in Seattle tomorrow morning. Holland previously performed surgery on Hawes’ left knee prior to his rookie season.

Hawes will miss the team’s remaining six games of the 2009-10 season.

The Sacramento Kings today waived forward Joey Dorsey.  Dorsey was acquired from the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team trade on February 18, 2010, and averaged 1.5 ppg (.444 FGs, .400 FTs) and 2.3 rpg in eight contests off the bench with Sacramento.

The 24-50 Kings are currently 13th in the Western conference standings.

The Kings roster now stands at 13 players.

An MRI performed in Indianapolis today on Sacramento Kings’ swingman Dominic McGuire confirmed a torn right plantar fascia.

McGuire will miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season.  He averaged 0.8 ppg and 1.3 rpg in 10 games (two starts) after being acquired from Washington on February 18th.

Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee reports:

In a major shake-up within the business operations, the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday bought out team President John Thomas, ending an often contentious, 11-year relationship.

Co-owner Joe Maloof said the restructuring is part of the organization’s attempt to regain its economic vitality and reconnect with its fans.

As part of the effort, longtime Kings legal consultant Matina Kolokotronis takes over as president. In the other moves, assistant general manager Jason Levien assumes additional duties as general counsel and senior vice president. John Rinehart was promoted from chief financial officer to senior vice president of business operations.

And Kevin Kaplan, the marketing consultant who has been instrumental in the reduced ticket pricing, sellout campaign and game-by-game promotional deals, becomes more firmly entrenched as the most trusted outside adviser.

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports:

Tyreke Evans, who made comments critical of teammate Andres Nocioni to The Bee after Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City, apologized in a Tuesday afternoon radio interview with KHTK’s Grant Napear and Mike Lamb and reiterated his stance at the Rose Garden later.

The players had exchanged words during the fourth quarter, with the rookie frustrated at the veteran’s shot selection in the most crucial of times.

Afterward, Evans told The Bee, “We were in the game, and you come down and take bad shots?” That’s not team basketball. Coach (Paul Westphal) didn’t say nothing, so I thought I had to step up (and say something).”

“I apologize,” Evans said in the visitors’ locker room before facing the Blazers. “It was me being frustrated and wanting to win. But me as a rookie, I should have pulled him over on the side and said, ‘You know, that wasn’t a good shot,’ instead of putting him on blast in front of a crowd like that.”

Andres Nocioni of the Sacramento Kings has been suspended without pay for two games for pleading no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol, in violation of the law of the State of California, the NBA announced today.

Nocioni’s suspension will begin with tonight’s game between the Sacramento Kings and the Oklahoma City Thunder.