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One more stretch run deal for Kings
By Daniel Dullum March 2, 2006 |
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It didn’t cause much of a ripple, but the Sacramento Kings made a last-minute decision to get involved with the wheeling and dealing that went on before the Feb. 23 NBA trading deadline. On the tail end of a four-team trade, the Kings received center Vitaly Potapenko from Seattle and forward Sergei Monia from Portland while Sacramento was able to unload seldom-used Brian Skinner and his $4 million salary to the Trail Blazers. Potapenko has been a disappointment since entering the NBA as Cleveland’s 12th overall selection of the 1996 draft – ahead of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal and Peja Stojakovic. Basically, with enough minutes, his game is best summed up as six fouls waiting to happen. But because the Kings need some inside presence badly, Potapenko will see some quality minutes, at least for a while. Sacramento is Potapenko’s fourth NBA stop. Monia was drafted 23rd overall by Portland in 2004, but hasn’t played in the NBA until this season. He represents the X factor in the deal, because his potential was, for the most part, untapped at Portland because the Blazers had too many small forwards. The Kings hope to get some mileage out of Monia before his contract expires at the end of next season. On the court, meanwhile, the Kings hold on to their slim hopes of making the playoffs despite a week that saw a decisive win over Golden State and a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sacramento (25-30, 4th place in the Pacific Division) trails the Lakers by three games for the West’s eighth playoff spot. Daniel Dullum is a panelist on Sports Talk and covers the NBA and Major League Baseball for Sports Radio Service. |
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