Thompson's Drive Impresses

[KingInExile]

Looks like Jason Thompson is already impressing with is dedication and desire to make an impact at the NBA level. One of the results of the media criticism of him being picked 12 is that it hit a "pride" nerve in him...he wants to prove the pundits wrong. To do that, he's been working his butt off all summer and is asking Theus for more.

From Sam Amick's article today: Team likes Thompson's eagerness

So he found ways to get ahead of the pro game before officially beginning, working out in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York following the Las Vegas summer league in July in an attempt to play against as many NBA players as possible. He said he resisted the urge to head for a four-star vacation when his first paycheck arrived. And while the coaching staff implored players to come to Sacramento two weeks before training camp and even offered enticements, Thompson arrived three weeks before.

"I wanted to come here and be settled off the court, to meet some of the guys and try to work on certain things with the coaches that they want me to do and see what they expect of me," Thompson said. "I didn't want to be confused."

The trend continued last week, as Thompson regularly arrived early and stayed late. He even asked for extra homework one day, requesting written versions of the plays Theus had implemented in that day's practice. Clearly, Theus said, Thompson is willing to work.

"He's out here shooting right now," Theus said following Friday's practice. "Those are the things that are going to ultimately make him a great basketball player – how much work he'll put in outside of practice."

While Moore will retain his starting slot, the potential for Thompson to see quality minutes appears high. It also sounds like Thues will look to use him at the 3, which we saw during summer league.

[a-rod]

Looks like Jason Thompson is already impressing with is dedication and desire to make an impact at the NBA level. One of the results of the media criticism of him being picked 12 is that it hit a "pride" nerve in him...he wants to prove the pundits wrong. To do that, he's been working his butt off all summer and is asking Theus for more.

From Sam Amick's article today: Team likes Thompson's eagerness

So he found ways to get ahead of the pro game before officially beginning, working out in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York following the Las Vegas summer league in July in an attempt to play against as many NBA players as possible. He said he resisted the urge to head for a four-star vacation when his first paycheck arrived. And while the coaching staff implored players to come to Sacramento two weeks before training camp and even offered enticements, Thompson arrived three weeks before.

"I wanted to come here and be settled off the court, to meet some of the guys and try to work on certain things with the coaches that they want me to do and see what they expect of me," Thompson said. "I didn't want to be confused."

The trend continued last week, as Thompson regularly arrived early and stayed late. He even asked for extra homework one day, requesting written versions of the plays Theus had implemented in that day's practice. Clearly, Theus said, Thompson is willing to work.

"He's out here shooting right now," Theus said following Friday's practice. "Those are the things that are going to ultimately make him a great basketball player – how much work he'll put in outside of practice."

While Moore will retain his starting slot, the potential for Thompson to see quality minutes appears high. It also sounds like Thues will look to use him at the 3, which we saw during summer league.

Talent will only take you so far, but if you work hard and play by the rules, you can go as far in life as your talent and dedication will take you.

It's a good thing Kings center Spencer Hawes not only decided to take the team's conditioning test but passed.
That kid is up for a contract extension and will start the first five games because of Brad Miller's suspension. And he's telling the team he won't run up and down the court 10 times in 62 seconds because he's afraid he'll hurt his (surgically repaired) knees. Give me a break.
Man, how did Kings management keep a straight face without asking Hawes if he were nuts? One of Hawes' strengths should be his ability to run the floor. He's hardly a muscleman, so agility and skill will be how he gets it done. Clearly, we're in a new day that gets newer every day. A 20-year-old making nearly $2.2 million a season has the heart to tell his employers he's not doing a conditioning test. By the way, he had the option of working out with strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro for two weeks before camp but elected not to.

Since Hawes brought attention to himself, allow me to bring a little more. Hopefully, sometime between summer league and the regular-season opener, homeboy found a little shot selection.

During the games I watched in summer league, Hawes shot as if he were paid by the attempt. It's already established he's infatuated with his jump shot. However, like most every other player not named Hakeem Olajuwon, Hawes needs to be balanced for 90 percent of them.

Yes, I'm impressed by Hawes' appreciation of Olajuwon. He could choose no better model. But, yo, Spencer, Olajuwon also was one of the best defensive centers ever. He was a shot blocker, a lane plugger and, most of all, a great rebounder.

One should play like a star before one acts like a star, Mr. Hawes.
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1289611.html

^ Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of this, Should I be worried?

[_SRV_]

I'm no Hawes fan, but this sounds like the rant of someone waking up on the wrong side. If Hawes doesn't want to risk aggravation of newly repaired knee, he has the right to do that, if anything, the coaching staff isn't exactly silent usually about players not putting enough effort, if there is any truth to his rant, we would've heard something, just like we heard about Miller/Martin/Beno before, if Theus can call out Martin, he'll call out Hawes if he has to.
If you want any more indication to the lack of knowledge displayed in this article, Hawes is in fact not up for an extension, he will be 2 years from now.

[KingInExile]

I'm no Hawes fan, but this sounds like the rant of someone waking up on the wrong side. If Hawes doesn't want to risk aggravation of newly repaired knee, he has the right to do that, if anything, the coaching staff isn't exactly silent usually about players not putting enough effort, if there is any truth to his rant, we would've heard something, just like we heard about Miller/Martin/Beno before, if Theus can call out Martin, he'll call out Hawes if he has to.
If you want any more indication to the lack of knowledge displayed in this article, Hawes is in fact not up for an extension, he will be 2 years from now.

In a way, Marty is actually right. Hawes's contract for the next 2 seasons after this are team-options. If the team doesn't pick up the options, he's gone...so, yeah, Petrie needs to decide over the next year if he's going to "extend" his contract by picking up the options.

I do think that Marty is reading something into the situation than what is actually there. Hawes is still young and obviously is still lacking confidence about the health of his knee. This is a mental issue that he needs to get over. This was not some prima dona move by Hawes, as Marty seemed to suggest. It's a confidence issue that Petrie, Theus and Dan Shapiro need to work with him to overcome. Berating him isn't the answer.

[_SRV_]

Picking up team option is not an extension, it's opting not to terminate a contract that os already signed.

[pillwenney]

Great to see that about Jason. And while I'm not worried about the Spencer's knee thing, I sure would've liked to have seen him check in with Shapiro before camp when he had the chance.

[KingInExile]

Picking up team option is not an extension, it's opting not to terminate a contract that os already signed.

Semantics. The fact is that Hawes does not have a contract after this season unless the team picks up the option...which is essentially the same as a contract extension (it's just a pre-negotiated extension that only one side makes a decision on versus both parties negotiating a longer deal).

[_SRV_]

It's not really semantics, when a player plays for extension he plays for his next paycheck, a player on a rookie contract should just give enough reason to continue paying that contract, historically it's very very rare for a lottery pick not to be picked up, on the other hand, many player don't get extended.

[KingInExile]

Now I think you are purposely just ignoring the point. I'm done with this...no need to further take this thread off on a tangent.

[Smills91]

I'm no Hawes fan, but this sounds like the rant of someone waking up on the wrong side. If Hawes doesn't want to risk aggravation of newly repaired knee, he has the right to do that, if anything, the coaching staff isn't exactly silent usually about players not putting enough effort, if there is any truth to his rant, we would've heard something, just like we heard about Miller/Martin/Beno before, if Theus can call out Martin, he'll call out Hawes if he has to.
If you want any more indication to the lack of knowledge displayed in this article, Hawes is in fact not up for an extension, he will be 2 years from now.

In a way, Marty is actually right. Hawes's contract for the next 2 seasons after this are team-options. If the team doesn't pick up the options, he's gone...so, yeah, Petrie needs to decide over the next year if he's going to "extend" his contract by picking up the options.

I do think that Marty is reading something into the situation than what is actually there. Hawes is still young and obviously is still lacking confidence about the health of his knee. This is a mental issue that he needs to get over. This was not some prima dona move by Hawes, as Marty seemed to suggest. It's a confidence issue that Petrie, Theus and Dan Shapiro need to work with him to overcome. Berating him isn't the answer.

Totally agree with you here for a change. I typically like Marty Mac, but he's way off base on this article. Sounded more like an axe to grind type article IMO. And IMO you don't not terminate an option on a top 10 pick after 2 years.

[_SRV_]

Now I think you are purposely just ignoring the point. I'm done with this...no need to further take this thread off on a tangent.

The point is whether he's up for extension, and he's not, I don't think I'm ignoring it, but if you're done ...

[ICMTM]

Yeah KIE I'd tend to say an extension an picking up an option are in different categories. With the team options with a rookie contract Hawes didn't have much room to say no or alter that deal AND draftee contracts are pretty much written out anyway based on draft order.

I see an extension as the player and team willing to jointly move forward with their relationship if you will. Hawes' option isn't really Hawes' option, whereas an extension IS something Hawes has the ability to option for OR against. I wouldn't say it's semantics at all because in this "option" Hawes doesn't really have any option but to take what's given to him.

Now back to the point of Hawes refusing to run. The thing about the article that Mac didn't even go near was that hey maybe the knee shouldn't be ran on? If Marty Mac would have said look the knee is good to go and Hawes is skipping workouts then we have a story. Marty Mac never validated the knee is actually good to go so this is a wasted read!

[KingInExile]

Ugh...sorry I brought it up. It's not a big deal and I really don't want to put out a lot of effort defending Marty's uses of a word in a rant. I was just trying to point out that there were definitions of the word extension other than the legal, contract definition that would make it an appropriate word in the context used.

Forget I said anything.

[sacking123]

Yeah KIE I'd tend to say an extension an picking up an option are in different categories. With the team options with a rookie contract Hawes didn't have much room to say no or alter that deal AND draftee contracts are pretty much written out anyway based on draft order.

I see an extension as the player and team willing to jointly move forward with their relationship if you will. Hawes' option isn't really Hawes' option, whereas an extension IS something Hawes has the ability to option for OR against. I wouldn't say it's semantics at all because in this "option" Hawes doesn't really have any option but to take what's given to him.

Now back to the point of Hawes refusing to run. The thing about the article that Mac didn't even go near was that hey maybe the knee shouldn't be ran on? If Marty Mac would have said look the knee is good to go and Hawes is skipping workouts then we have a story. Marty Mac never validated the knee is actually good to go so this is a wasted read!

In regards to Hawes. I certainly think this was a rant and a little baseless more than anything. but if the knee was or wasn't good to go it doesn't really matter. He should have checked in with Shapiro IMO before training camp.
I mean that is his job.
If the knee wasn't good to go he would have been doing rehab work on it. If it was good to go then he could have been working on strength in other areas.
You look at the Thompson article and he is doing things outside of "what is expected" of an NBA player and with such a young roster all of them should be doing that to not only improve, but build stronger work ethics for the future.

[OGSactownballer]

Having read Marty Mac for many years I have a bit of a different take on this. We all know how Brad has been the couple of seasons before last - sitting pretty fat and happy with the big $$$$ contract, smoking out, not putting the effort needed by a non-athletic player to get the most out of his abilities. I kind of take this PUBLIC berating as a sort of a wake up call to Spencer (who, lets face it, has certainly come off more than once as a bit arrogant for a 20-year-old) that just because he is in line to take over that spot and will most likely be the starter for the first five games this season does not mean that he has a free pass to start acting like a large number of NBA stars who think it is their right to make the call as to when they will and will not do the basketball basics required by many teams. Quite honestly if he were a 10 year plus vet who was coming off a heavy knee surgery and needed to be brought along slow and have less off-season wear and tear on the knee I could see his point. But at his age, the test is something that if he is totally healthy should not be a problem. I am well aware that the articles earlier in the summer made reference to him working out and bulking up some with his personal trainer in Seattle, but the fact is that the team has a right as his employer to see that dedication HERE so that they can make whatever judgements/adjustments are necessary for the TEAM'S IMPROVEMENT as a whole. I think that Marty is really just looking to give him a gentle public nudge (or kick in the a**) to remind him that it isn't all about him now but that there are others whose fates are intertwined with his that his actions and words/decisions now affect.