Clippers and Hawks Seek Ainge

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Kings not likely to make a deal
By R.E. Graswich -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Sunday, February 8, 2004
	
Don't count on seeing new bodies in Kings country, said the man who must do Dick Motta's dirty work. 
Kings player personnel director Jerry Reynolds will talk trades with at least four teams at the All-Star Game this weekend in Miami. 
	 	
But moving players in today's NBA marketplace isn't simple, he said. 
The Kings can't afford to conduct a fire sale and give away talented players for below-value prices, Reynolds said. 
Moreover, maneuvers will be restricted by the NBA salary cap, which the Kings exceeded this season when they signed Wayman Tisdale and Pervis Ellison and acquired Ralph Sampson. 
"I haven't heard anything in the last few weeks to make me believe there are any good deals to be made," said Reynolds, who moved into top management when Motta was hired Jan. 4. 
He added, "The cap really makes it difficult. We can't make a move unless it's for players with equal contracts." 
Reynolds' conservative approach to deal-making contrasts with recent remarks by Motta, who suggested he would like to trade virtually the entire team. 
"If they can't do better than that, we'll get people who can," Motta said last weekend after the Kings lost to the Boston Celtics 121-89. 
Since then, the Kings have fallen to the Dallas Mavericks 100-90, extending their losing streak to six games. 
While the losses mounted, Motta alienated many of his players by forcing them to execute a half-court motion offense. 
Several veterans, including Tisdale, Danny Ainge and Rodney McCray, have said the club's personnel is best suited for an up-tempo running game. 
Statistically, the players have a point. 
The Kings have failed to score 100 points in seven of their last eight games. When Motta took over, the club was averaging 103 points per game. 
The differences between Motta and the players have created an uncertain mood in the locker room. 
Several players are waiting for the Feb. 22 trading deadline, anticipating that their days in Sacramento are numbered. 
But Reynolds warned that Motta's comments about replacing his players shouldn't be literally interpreted. 
"A lot of that sounds like frustration," said Reynolds, who knows the feeling, having ended his Kings coaching career with a 56-114 record. "Every coach feels like that when things aren't going well." 
Still, Reynolds said the Kings are committed to building the type of team desired by Motta. 
That means finding big, mobile players who can operate the coach's half-court attack. 
"It's important to get the type of team Dick feels comfortable with," Reynolds said. "You can't dictate trades to a coach. That never works." 
Like most struggling teams, the Kings don't have much flexibility in their roster. 
Two players, Ainge and McCray, are attracting most of the attention from other teams. 
But no club has made an offer that the Kings consider fair. 
"Rodney is a good example," Reynolds said. "There are plenty of teams that would love to have him, but none are willing to give up what he's worth to us. 
"He's one of our best players. If we were to trade him to Chicago, for example, we'd need to get someone like Scottie Pippen to make it worth our while. But they would never go for that." 
Reynolds wouldn't confirm specific offers, but Ainge seems to be the most coveted Kings player. 
The Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks are believed to be most interested in the veteran guard, who will turn 31 on March 17. 
The Clippers reportedly offered a No. 1 draft pick and reserve center Joe Wolf. The Hawks reportedly offered forward Antoine Carr. 
Reynolds is accustomed to trade rumors, but he said he has grown weary of reading about speculative deals in newspapers. Some teams plant prospective trades in the media to test public response, he added. 
"For a while, I was wondering whether I knew anything," he said. "I was reading about all of these deals we were supposed to be involved in, and there was nothing to them." 
Public reaction to trades is important to the Kings, but a player's popularity shouldn't block a good offer, Reynolds said. 
"The fans are the reason we're here. Their feelings have to play a role in our decisions," he said. "But you can't let one player's popularity stop you from making a move that will help the entire team." 
The Kings' shopping list is long. The club needs frontcourt help and may be seeking a guard to replace Kenny Smith. 
"We'd love to get another No. 1 draft pick," Reynolds said. "But I haven't heard any legitimate offers."