The Sacramento Kings today acquired Donté Greene, Bobby Jackson, a future first round draft pick and other considerations from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Ron Artest, Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing, Jr., it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.
“In acquiring Bobby, Donte’ Greene and a future first-round pick, we’re excited about adding the veteran experience and proven ability of Bobby,” explained Petrie. “Donté Greene, a first-round pick in this year’s draft, brings us another young frontcourt player with a high level of talent who played exceptionally well in the Las Vegas Summer League. The future first-round pick gives us an additional asset down the road. We’re looking forward to watching them play and seeing them contribute to this team.
“I also want to thank Ron for his effort and contributions over the past two and a half seasons. We all wish him the very best. Sean and Patrick are two fine young players and we wish them future success as well.”
Greene, a 6-9, 221-pound forward out of Syracuse, was an early entry candidate for the 2008 NBA Draft. He was selected in the first round (28th overall) by the Memphis Grizzlies and traded to Houston on the 2008 NBA Draft night. Greene averaged 22.6 points per game (2nd in the league) for the Rockets through five outings in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. In his lone season with the Orangeman, Greene led Syracuse in scoring and was fourth in the Big East with an average of 17.7 points per game, which ranked as the second-best freshman scoring average in SU history. He also topped the team in blocks per game (1.63) and ranked second in rebounding average (7.2). A Second-Team All-Big East selection, Greene was named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team and earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors five times. He was also a First-Team NABC pick and made the USBWA District II squad. Greene’s 620 points in 2007-08 was the second highest for a freshman in Syracuse history (778 by Carmelo Anthony), while setting a freshman record for three-point field goals made (90). In addition to his collegiate career, Greene was a member of the silver-medal-winning USA Basketball Men’s U19 Team at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship, as well as the gold-medal-winning USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Greene was also named Maryland’s 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Towson Catholic High School (Baltimore).
Jackson, a 6-1, 185-pound guard, was a key member of the Kings’ success during the early to mid 2000’s and played an integral role in Sacramento’s two Pacific Division titles (2001-02 and 2002-03) and trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2002. He returns to the Kings with career averages of 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 684 games (133 starts) with Denver, Minnesota, Sacramento, Memphis, New Orleans and Houston. An 11-year NBA veteran, Jackson, who played five seasons for the Kings (2000-01 to 2004-05), had his best campaign with Sacramento in 2002-03, averaging a career-best 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.20 steals per game en route to winning the 2003 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, becoming the first player in Kings history, and just the second point guard in league history to win the award. He also finished second in voting for the 2002 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award and fourth for the 2001 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Having been to the playoffs on eight different occasions, Jackson has amassed career averages of 9.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game through 58 post season contests. His most productive playoff campaign, statistically, occurred in 2003 when he averaged 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game through 12 outings for the Kings. Jackson was selected by Seattle in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft (draft rights were traded to Denver) out of Minnesota where he helped lead the Gophers to a 49-11 record and the school’s only NCAA Final Four appearance during his two-year career there.
Artest, a nine-year NBA veteran, amassed averages of 18.1 points (.419 FG%, .333 3pt%, .733 FT%), 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.08 steals, and 38.6 minutes in 110 games with the Kings over a two and a half year span (2005-06 to 2007-08). He guided Sacramento to a playoff berth and a 26-14 record to finish the season after being acquired on January 26, 2005, in addition to being named to the NBA All Defensive First Team (joining former Kings’ player Doug Christie as the only players in Kings franchise history to earn Defensive First Team accolades). Artest has recorded career averages of 16.0 points (.425 FG%, .329 3pt%, .720 FT%), 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.13 steals, and 34.7 minutes per game in 535 regular season games (started 507) through nine NBA seasons with Chicago (1999-00 – first half of 2001-02), Indiana (second-half of 2001-02 – first half of 2005-06), and Sacramento (second half of 2005-06 – 2007-08). He ranks ninth all-time in NBA history in steals per game, second only to Allen Iverson among active players in that category. Artest was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year during the 2003-04 season. He was drafted by Chicago as an undergraduate out of St. Johns with the 16th overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft.
Singletary, a 6-0, 185-pound guard, who was selected by the Kings in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft out of Virginia, averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists in his senior season for the Cavaliers, the only player in Division I to rank in the Top 40 in both scoring and assists. The three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection was also the only player in Division I to have a 40-point game, a 10-rebound game and a 10-assist game during the same season and the only player in Virginia men’s basketball history to accomplish all three in the same season. He finished his collegiate career at Virginia ranked second in steals (200), third in assists (587), third in three-point field goals made (222), fourth in free throws made (573), fifth in points scored (2,079), and ninth in field goals made (642). Singletary averaged 16.9 points (.406 FG%, .362 3pt%, .846 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.62 steals per game in 123 games over four seasons. He averaged over 10 points and 3.9 assists per game in each of his four seasons.
Ewing Jr., a 6-8, 240-pound forward from Georgetown, was selected by the Kings in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. He averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 34 contests in 2007-08, his senior season with the Hoyas. The son of former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing, Ewing Jr. was the inaugural Big East Sixth Man of the Year in 2007-08. Ewing Jr. played two seasons at Indiana (2003-04 and 2004-05) before transferring to Georgetown. He shot over 50 percent from the field in three of his four college seasons.
Kevin Martin looks ready for the regular season. Physically, his once-fragile frame took yet another offseason step toward sturdy. His game that already taken historical steps in terms of statistical progress should be refined, with an emphasis this summer on everything from strengthening his weak hand on the dribble to playing lower to the floor rather than his penchant for staying upright to improving defensive positioning and awareness to finishing with exclamation point dunks more than ever.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed veteran center Lorenzen Wright to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.