Kings add Wright and Jeter

It was late Thursday night when Kings President Geoff Petrie's words continued bouncing around my head.

'Pretty close to adding a couple of guards,' was how Petrie described the Kings situation.

That's Petrie-ese for having a deal done, but he's not discussing it until it is done.

The Kings signed swingman Antoine Wright and point guard Pooh Jeter Friday morning to hopefully bolster their backcourt.

Will it work? That will be an unanswered question until the fall. Jeter is an extremely quick, 5-foot-11 lead-guard capable of pushing the ball and increasing game tempo.

Moreover, since Jeter played with the Kings in the 2007 Summer League, he appears to have acquired a consistent perimeter shot. Combined with his speed and quickness, that could make him a major contributor coming off the bench.

Remember, there is little defense for athleticism and skill. Jeter is hungry to prove his worth and establish a place in the NBA. While playing with Cleveland during the recently completed summer league, Jeter consistently got into the lane and made plays for teammates.

Yes, if he can play at that level consistently - another unanswered supposition - Jeter is what the doctor ordered.

Wright is a player whom I've not seen enough to truly assess. He's played sparingly at New Jersey, Dallas and Toronto and yes, there is a reason for that.

His situation sounds eerily similar to that of Doug Christie.

Wright is a good defender at both shooting guard and small forward and the Kings hope he can add depth at both positions.

Said Petrie of the signings, "Pooh is a third point guard, while Wright is a 2-3 with a decent handle. He gives us depth and versatility at both positions.

Sacramento clearly is not down with spending its cap room on anything other than bringing in a major star. That's the way it should be.

The last time the team made a major score in free-agency was in 1999 following a lockout.

That's when Vlade Divac came walking through the door.

There is going to be a lockout following the 2010-11 season, so we'll see if history repeats itself.

Overtime

Petrie was asked about unrestricted free-agent guard Shannon Brown.

He said, "We've talked to everybody who is available. That's not something that's doable right now."

Translation: Brown wants more money right now than the Kings are willing to spend.

Things have a way of changing over the course of a summer as reality sets.

Petrie says Kings will add guards soon

Kings President Geoff Petrie and head coach Paul Westphal went to Las Vegas Thursday morning to see second-year star guard Tyreke Evans.

Evans is hoping to land a spot on the USA Basketball squad that participates in the 2010 World Championships. Evans, however, sprained his left ankle earlier this week and it's difficult to impress when your best move is to the ice bag.

Petrie said the team is edging closer to adding to its backcourt after a Vegas Summer League during which it went 4-2.

"We'd like to add a couple of backcourt players," Petrie said, "and we're pretty probably getting closer to doing that. After that, we'll see what falls the rest of the summer and maybe even fall camp."

Petrie said the additions will come from free-agent signings.

Free-agency always is a game of chess where players and agents attempt to get as much money, then available playing time, usually in that order. Teams are attempting to find the best fit for their team chemistry while as Petrie described it, "keeping our future salary cap clean."

The Kings should look to free-agent combination guard Shannon Brown. He just won two championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the 24-year-old may have seen his spot taken with the signings of Matt Barnes and Steve Blake and the re-signing of veteran Derek Fisher.

Brown can play both guard positions and has the potential to become a contributor in the mold of a young Bobby Jackson. That may not be the case, Brown's abilities to handle and shoot from the perimeter are improving. That's kind of player the Kings, who are thinking about 'that clean cap', would be lucky to add.

Petrie said the trade of popular power forward Jon Brockman to the Milwaukee Bucks for power forward Darnell Jackson also was a by-product of that financial goal.

Clearly, Brockman would have had a difficult time earning playing time with the additions of Samuel Dalembert, Cousins and Hasaan Whiteside.

Since Jackson plays the same position as Brockman, it would figure he will have the same playing time challenges.

"He's a tough-minded guy," Petrie said of Jackson, 25, "who hasn't had too much of a chance to play. He had a pretty good career at (the University of) Kansas."

Petrie could have used the same description for Brockman, so there is more to find out regarding the trade. Had the Kings acquired a guard, the reasons behind the trade would be more clear.

Petrie pointed to the additional acquisition of a second-round pick. Perhaps that along with a Brockman replacement is enough reason to make a deal. Perhaps the Kings see a higher ceiling with Jackson than they did with Brockman.

I still see more to the deal than meets the eyes and ears right now.

Center DeMarcus Cousins showed glimpses of stardom in three summer league games. Cousins also displayed perhaps the league's leading sad puppy dog face when things went against him.

That was enough for some observers to predict his emotional makeup will prevent him from fulfilling his potential.

What I saw is perhaps the NBA's most talented 19-year-old (20 on, Aug. 13). All day long, give me the talent and let me work with the puppy-dog face, too.

"He was mediocre in one other game and he struggled in two of them," Petrie said of Cousins, 19. "It was one step along the way and there's no reason why we should think he's going to be anything else but a very good player."

Game 5 winner won't necessarily win NBA Finals

The winner of Game Five of the best-of-seven NBA Finals obviously will have two games remaining in which one victory makes it the 2010 champion.

However, a Game Five victory will be no guarantee of a series victory.

The Los Angeles Lakers certainly would gain a huge advantage with a victory and then returning home for Game Six and Seven, if necessary.

The Boston Celtics, armed with a 3-2 lead, would need just one victory in either of those two game in L.A., to win their second title in three seasons.

Yet, I believe it would not be impossible nor totally implausible for either team to win both games in Los Angeles, regardless of the situation. It's more inconceivable to believe people doubt the ability of either team to win a game.

Ultimately, when Game Six arrives, that singularly becomes the focus. There will be only the need to win that game and then it's a Game Seven for all the marbles.

Unquestionably, the Lakers would be glad to play that one at Staples Center, but there's no way the veteran Boston Celtics would fail to relish the opportunity to win that game on the road.

The defensively-oriented flavor both teams utilize almost promise close games that will be won in the final five minutes. That's the way it has been in six games, including two regular-season contests.

Which team can get the most solid performances from the most players? That's what will determine the outcome Sunday, Tuesday and possibly Thursday, if necessary.

If Glen (Big Baby) Davis, Nate Robinson and Tony Allen perform their roles to support the starters, the Celtics will be tough to beat. Conversely, should Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown chime in with timely contributions, that makes the Lakers a formidable opponent as well.

In that scenario, we've got a sweet game ahead.

Consider: Ray Allen has made eight three-point field-goals, each in Game Two. He's zero-for-14 in the other three games.

What if Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace each receive a technical and are suspended for the next game for receiving seven during the playoffs?

If the league is going to put those restraints on players, shouldn't a player with seven technicals during the playoffs immediately have to go sit down and then miss the next game? If the NBA is going to penalize, why wait until the next game?

For the record, if you can't play 28 games without getting seven technicals, you deserve some penalty.

Who is going to win Game Five? I have no idea and that's the way it should be.

Around the world in a boat alone? Why?

Call me a nut, but if you are 16 or 17 years old, shouldn't you have better things to do than try to sail alone around the world?

It's great Abby Sunderland was picked up safely Saturday by a French fishing vessel, but what the heck was she doing out there alone anyhow?

It doesn't seem as if sailing around the world with one or even two other people would be less of an achievement. I do understand her brother, Zac, also sailed around the world before her.

Then again, my idea of sailing is on the Circle Line around Manhattan or from Manhattan to Staten Island.