Prospects See Great Opportunity with Kings
June 23, 2010 by Alex Kramers
The day before the 2010 NBA Draft, top lottery prospects gathered in New York City for 2010 Draft Media Availability. As a Kings fan and Kings.com East Coast correspondent for the Draft, I had the chance to speak with several players who are in contention to be picked with Sacramento’s fifth-overall selection about the prospect of playing in Northern California.
“It would be an honor (to play for the Kings),” University of Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins, shortly after declaring he was the best player in the Draft, said.
“I would love to play for them, and I think I can go in there produce and learn to play my role. I enjoyed the city and the (coaching staff), and we had a great workout.”
Cousins maintained he and Evans have the potential to form one of the most exciting duos in the League.
“It would be fun,” he stated. “Tyreke is a great player, and I think he and I could have a good inside-outside combo.”
Small forward Wesley Johnson was not only excited about the opportunity to play on the same team as Evans, but also fellow Syracuse Orangemen alum, Donté Greene.
“Donté has been telling me a lot of great things about (Sacramento),” Johnson said. “I think I’d mesh well, (based on) what I’ve heard from him and what he’s been doing. I (could go) out there and blossom with guys they have out there.”
Georgetown center Greg Monroe, who’s received high praise for his basketball IQ, believed he’d be a perfect fit in Sacramento’s offensive system.
“I’m a big man who can rebound, score and make plays for other people,” he said. “I’m going to adapt and do whatever it takes to get in position to help the team win.”
Monroe added his versatility and spectacular court vision would perfectly complement Evans’ unique skill-set.
“(Evans) is a great young point guard who can score and make plays,” he said. “I think I’d just come in and do the same things at a different position.”
Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors, who’s been lauded for his athleticism, recalled his Sacramento workout.
“It was my first workout so I was nervous, but I think it went well overall,” he admitted. “I think Sacramento is a good team and a good city, and I think it would be a good fit for me too.”
Although Favors felt his hard work separates him from his peers, he acknowledged he’ll need to improve his offensive game to excel at the next level. Luckily, he could have a great mentor in Sacramento.
“I’ve been playing against Tyreke for a long time during AAU, and I know what type of game he’s got,” said Favors. “I can learn something from him — he can give me advice on how I can be the Rookie of the Year.”
University of Nevada small forward Luke Babbitt, who favorably recalled playing with Evans in the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Game, thinks his outside shooting touch would be a welcome addition to Sacramento’s offense.
“(The Kings have) Tyreke at the point and a great foundation,” he said. “I can be another piece of the puzzle.”
While most of the players envisioned teaming up with Evans, Baylor forward-center Ekpe Udoh was more enthusiastic about the possibility of joining the Kings newly-acquired center.
“I can play alongside (Samuel) Dalembert, block shots along with him and be a terror down (in the post),” he said.
No matter which player ends up on the Kings, Thursday night will certainly be full of firsts.
“I’ve never worn (purple) before,” Monroe said with a toothy grin. “It’s actually my favorite color.”
For fans and prospects alike, the Draft is finally less than a day away.
Following are prospect interviews at 2010 NBA Draft Media Availability and an exclusive look at the players’ final day before the Draft.
Watch - Xavier Henry.
Watch - Greg Monroe.
Watch - Wesley Johnson.
Watch - Ekpe Udoh.
Watch - Derrick Favors.
Watch - Gordon Hayward.
Watch - DeMarcus Cousins.
Watch - Behind-the-Scenes: 2010 NBA Draft Media Availability.
its good to know that many players want to come to sacramento (including demarcus cousins)! i hope the kings pick demarcus & we might have the best duo in the nba with demarcus cousins and tyreke evans!!!!!!!!!!!!
they can be the next nash and amarie
i have heard cousins is really good!!!
everyone on kings facebook page wants either cosuins or favors are they good???
Monroe or Cousins
I also wouldn't mind drafting Wesley Johnson as well, but I know the T-Wolves need a Small Forward so I don't see that happening
Cousins or Monroe, i almost cant decide and i will be thrilled with both….
cousins i feel is better
but there's something about monroe, he looks born to be a King somehow
Exactly ^
DeMarcus Cousins(Kings) #5 pick tomorow if he is gone then pick Greg Monroe. But they both have bad things, Cousins his attitude and Monroe in ESPN somebody said that he is like another Spencer Hawes and thats not good. Its time for the Kings to have a player with an attitude…remember Ron Artest that was a good thing for the Kings. Everybody has forgoten of Blake Griffin, he is going to battle for ROY next season and it would be great to see D-Cousins battle it out with B-Griffin that sounds like a good match up. GO KINGS PICK D-COUSINS!
Lol, I'm sorry but comparing Hawes to Monroe is just flat out stupid, Espn likes to make up story's and comparisons just to create news, Monroe just seems like he'd fit in better in Sacramento than Cousin's.. I have a strong feeling Cousin's will simply be "okay" if he comes here, but might be great if he goes else where, He has a lack of work ethic and his basketball I.Q isn't good, he grew up in love with football and had to resort to basketball because of his size, what does that tell you? On the other hand Monroe said on NBA tv that he's been playing basketball since he was 2
I hear the University Kentucky has the chance to become the first team to have 5 players picked all in the first round, Greg Monroe didn't have Jon Wall like Cousin's had, I know all 19 year olds can be immature in some ways, but I don't see it in Monroe, i think he's going to grow into a flat out dominate BOSS player like a Amare within the next few years but can also contribute right away, I see Greg Monroe and Tyreke Evans being a much better inside outside combo compared to Demarucs and Tyreke, again I can be wrong but I guess we'll have to wait and see, I can't wait!
[...] Kramers , who we’ve done some work with before (Careers after the Sacramento Kings, anybody?) has a nice piece featured on Kings.com that focuses on potential draftee’s and their feelings towards the Kings and Sacramento. Greg [...]
Cousins gave up football because in his own words he was "awful." Calipari said that Cousins Basketball IQ is off the charts and that he is one of the smartest baskettball players Calipari has ever coached. Which advise would you take, one of the best basketball coaches in the country, who coached Cousins, or a bunch of ninny sports writers? Sports writers are notoriously bias. They have thin skin and if they get the feeling that a player thinks sportswriters are scum, which they are, then they take it as their personal duty to crucify said player. Look at Cousins supposed greivenses. He mocked an opposing teams fans by giving them them the "call me" pantomime after a dunk. Yeah he's a real loose cannon. Gimme a break. The media doesn't like him. So what? Sports writers are worse than Lawers and Politicians.
Had enough of the high post passing center. It's time to get a beast on the block. Comparing Monroe to Amare is a joke. Amare is a athletic freak. Monroe is not. Tyreke and Monroe a dominant inside ouside force? Monroe is a high post passing Center. He's skilled an will have a good carrerr but Dominant. I think not. Cousins is not Shaq but he's the next best thing. He's smaller than Shaq but more offensively gifted and he's bigger than Dwight Howard with less athleticism but more skills. Could he be a dissapointment? Absolutely. But he's the best shot at a true impact big. The gamble can't be passed at #5 considering a tough monster around the block was our most glaring weakness last year. Even if he is mediocre, aguy with his natural size, talent, lenght etc. is a commodity and can always be used as trade bait. We have the 5th pick and people are talking about taking 10th pick players instaed. Not likely to happen unless Petrie has decided with out a doubt that Cousins is destined for failure. Not Likely.
IN PETRIE WE TRUST!!! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE!!! BOTH HAVE THEIR UPSIDES AND DOWNSIDES! JUST VERY EXCITED!!! GO KINGS BABY!!!
I just hope Coyote is right if we do end up drafting Cousin's, I just hope he doesn't become the Jamarus Russell of Basketball Lol.. good and college then look what happened
I hope Cousin's really wants to be in Sacramento and is not just saying that Lol