'A bigger, more skilled version of Eduardo Najera'

[Evilmav2]

It looks like our friends the Kings are desperately trying to aquire a player capable of matching up with our scrappy, hustling Eduardo...

Kings deal for rights to Lithuanian forward


By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Last week, when trade rumors continued to top themselves in absurdity, Geoff Petrie said he had barely spoken to any team about any Kings player, much less discussed the possibility of dealing the likes of Mike Bibby, Hedo Turkoglu, Peja Stojakovic or Bobby Jackson.
Now acquiring Darius Songaila? The Kings' president of basketball operations never mentioned that possibility.

However, that's what he did Monday. The 6-foot-9 forward's rights came west from the Boston Celtics for the No. 56 pick in Thursday's draft and a second-round choice in 2005. That leaves the Kings with no selections in this week's draft.

Danny Ainge, the Celtics' new executive director of basketball operations, apparently wanted no part of the 25-year-old Songaila. The Lithuanian played collegiately at Wake Forest before the Celtics drafted him 50th overall last year.

Boston found no room on its roster, and Songaila played in the Euroleague with Moscow CSKA of the Russian "A" Superleague. Songaila helped Moscow CSKA reach the Euroleague Final Four.

The Kings have had their eyes on him since this time last year.

"We saw a lot of tape on him from this past season," Petrie said, "but he worked out for us last year before the draft. He played center in college, but he's a (power forward) with some (small-forward) skills. He plays hard."

Songaila is a bruiser who plays aggressively, especially on the defensive end. He has a solid 15-foot jumper and is a good free-throw shooter.

Petrie said the Kings plan to sign Songaila. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the forward will come to town tonight intending to finalize a contract.

Bartelstein also said his client could be a big-time find for the Kings.

"He could be this year's version of San Antonio's Manu Ginobili," Bartelstein said of the Spurs' sparkplug, who was a rookie in NBA stature this season but had played professionally overseas for years. "He's not a young kid coming into the league as a rookie. He's 25 years old, has played professionally overseas and is experienced. He's a tough, tough kid who can shoot, has great hands and is a bigger, more skilled version of Dallas' Eduardo Najera."

Meanwhile, Petrie said he hasn't heard from forward-center Keon Clark, who has an option on a $5 million deal for next season that must be accepted by June 30 or he will become a free agent. Forward-guard Jimmy Jackson and guards Damon Jones and Mateen Cleaves will become free agents June 30. The Kings currently have 10 players under contract, with Clark and Songaila looming.

[Mandyahl]

i like how they compare him to najera...that's pretty cool.

[madape]

Is Najera going to be the Charles Barkley of this decade? A guy who draftees with absolultly no business being drafted get compared to.

"He's a six foot five inch power forward!"
- but Charles was only 6'4", and he's a hall of famer.

"He's short and has absolutely no basketball skills"
- But Najera doesn't have any basketball skills either, and he's a backup on the Mavericks!

[Murphy3]

Let's not forget, he's in the top 300 in defensive rebounds per 48 minutes. So, if this guy is taller and more skilled, does that put him in the top 200?

[Chiwas]

Again the speculation with the rookies.

Regardless of the comparison with Najera, who could have been made with many other players, aren't those kind of assesments who raise the hype?

How many of the hyped rookies are going to be succesful (in the same level of the hype) in the NBA?

On the other hand, if the Kings gets Songaila and he really can play that way, it would be a good -for the scheme of the Kings- and cheap acquisition.

[The Crippler]

So is Songalia going to be the MVP of the Kings next season? We all know Eddie is the mavs MVP, so if the are comparing Darius to him, he must be unbelievealbly good!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[Lonely PSU Mavs Fan]

He cant be that good if the talent starved celts gave him up for barely peanuts

[mavsfanforever]

Originally posted by: Chiwas
Again the speculation with the rookies.

Regardless of the comparison with Najera, who could have been made with many other players, aren't those kind of assesments who raise the hype?

How many of the hyped rookies are going to be succesful (in the same level of the hype) in the NBA?

On the other hand, if the Kings gets Songaila and he really can play that way, it would be a good -for the scheme of the Kings- and cheap acquisition.

Chiwas, people have compared Vince carter to MJ. They are comparing Lebron to MJ. There is nothing wrong with comparing someone with Najera.

[Chiwas]

Originally posted by: mavsfanforever

Chiwas, people have compared Vince carter to MJ. They are comparing Lebron to MJ. There is nothing wrong with comparing someone with Najera.

No, there isn't anything wrong about it.