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**Peja Vu** · 08-13-2006, 01:52 AM

Kings find a backup center: Loren Woods -- 7-2 -- should help block shots and rebound.

Quote:

By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 13, 2006</h4>

Loren Woods will soon be a member of the Kings, according to his agent.
Jason Levien, who represents the 7-foot-2 free-agent center, said his
client and the Kings agreed to contract terms Saturday. Woods, a
five-year veteran who has played sparingly throughout his career, is
expected to fly to Sacramento on Monday. The deal is expected to be
finalized Tuesday.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie did not immediately return a call for comment.

"Loren is bouncing off the walls, he's so excited," Levien said. "He really feels like this could be a good place for him."
A league source said the deal is for one year, paying Woods between
$950,000 and $1 million, while keeping the Kings' payroll below the
luxury tax threshold of $65.42 million.
Woods, a University of Arizona product who was drafted in the second
round by Minnesota in 2001, played the last two seasons in Toronto.
Conceivably, he would back up Kings center Brad Miller, with little-used veteran Vitaly Potapenko also available.
In their search for a big man backup, the Kings also considered Michael
Olowokandi, Kelvin Cato and former King Scot Pollard. According to the
Seattle Times, the Kings also had contacted the Sonics about a trade
for 23-year-old Chris Wilcox.
"The Kings think Loren hasn't shown what he can really do yet," Levien said.
The Kings' hope, of course, is Woods will aid the rebounding and
shot-blocking efforts. When given minutes, he has shown an ability to
do so, but playing time has been hard to come by.
Woods played 60 games his rookie season, 38 in each of the next two
seasons and 45 in 2004-05, when he started 30 games for the Raptors
before being replaced by then-lottery draft pick Rafael Araujo. It was
Woods' best statistical season, as he averaged 15.8 minutes, 4.9
rebounds, 3.9 points and .87 blocks a game.
Last season, he played in 27 games, starting four.

Woods played his first two pro seasons in Minnesota and his third in
Miami before heading to Toronto. He came to Sacramento on Aug. 4. He
went out to dinner with Kings coach Eric Musselman and worked out at
the Kings' practice facility last weekend.

Zuca · 08-13-2006, 07:54 AM

The question is: Can he stay hungry and motivated? If he can, it's a nice addition to Kings. But that's been the main problem... In preseasons, he act like a starting C, and when season begins, he start to miss some mental toughness...

**speedythief** · 08-13-2006, 10:42 AM

Occasionally Woods will do something that will make you say wow, but most of the time he is just a big tree. Good character guy, though.

shookem · 08-13-2006, 11:25 AM

Yeah he's a pretty funny dude.

Probably doesn't hurt the Kings to sign him, however this is the guy who fought Pape Sow and Hoffa for minutes (and he lost).

maKINGSofgreatness · 08-13-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuca

The question is: Can he stay hungry and motivated? If he can, it's a nice addition to Kings. But that's been the main problem... In preseasons, he act like a starting C, and when season begins, he start to miss some mental toughness...

Would you stay hungry and motivated if you thought Ron Artest might go crazy on you otherwise?

Well, I don't think he is going to turn into a truly motivated player because of Ron alone, but Ron, a live-wire like Muss as coach, the loudest home arena, and a perrenial playoff team with expectation to win may help him keep his head in the game some.

Woods is good at two things, but they happen to be the two things that we are desperate for. And there is zero risk in this signing. He could end up being a key backup for us because he only has Pot to compete with...

Legend_33 · 08-13-2006, 06:07 PM

At first I hated this signing, but then again he does bring the two things we desperately need: shotblocking and rebounding. At least we didn't overpay him, thats the most important thing.

This has been a very dissappointing offseason though.

KingByDefault · 08-13-2006, 11:39 PM

I am cool with the signing. Finally have a shotblocker on the team at least.

SirCharles34 · 08-14-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend_33

At first I hated this signing, but then again he does bring the two things we desperately need: shotblocking and rebounding. At least we didn't overpay him, thats the most important thing.

This has been a very dissappointing offseason though.

That's for damn sure.. I've seen so many teams overpay for this type of player. Good signing IMO.

**Weasel** · 08-17-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirCharles34

That's for damn sure.. I've seen so many teams overpay for this type of player. Good signing IMO.

I tend to agree. Getting a big for cheap is always good. For the price it is good signing as if he doesn't produce he will be gone the following year and it wouldn't have cost much or if he produces than it becomes a steal. Seems like a win win situation for now.

Jacoby_Ellsbury · 08-19-2006, 12:26 PM

could be worse

ßibby˜¹° · 08-19-2006, 03:28 PM

good signing, buy yes, there is no argument: we have gotten worse in the offseason.

Legend_33 · 08-19-2006, 05:39 PM

But then again, how could they overpay Woods if we wasted our whole MLE on John Freakin Salmons

Pejavlade · 08-21-2006, 09:21 PM

I remember him on the Raptors where he was pretty useless. Perhaps he would be a good charcater player, but I don't see him making any real impact for us on the court.

elcap15 · 09-13-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend_33

But then again, how could they overpay Woods if we wasted our whole MLE on John Freakin Salmons

No kidding. It seems like they made a rash move and signed him to a big deal just to spite Bonzi. Then again, the suns were pretty hot on Salmons, just not THAT hot.

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