The Sacramento Kings have acquired 30-year old SG/SF Marquis Daniels from the Celtics for cash considerations.  Daniels has played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 19.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 451 games (113 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 22.5 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Daniels is likely done for the season due to a spinal chord injury but the Kings had to add salary or face a penalty by the NBA.

The Sacramento Kings have dealt 27-year old forward Carl Landry to the New Orleans Hornets for 23-year old shooting guard Marcus Thornton and cash.  Landry played in 53 games (16 starts) for the Kings this season and he averaged 26.5 minutes, 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Landry was in and out of the starting lineup for the Kings this season.  Marcus Thornton has huge potential.  Thornton was in Hornets’ head coach Monty Williams’ Dog House all season long for his defense.  A change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for him as he is a outstanding offensive player.  Thornton played in 46 games (0 starts) for the Hornets this season and he averaged 16.2 minutes, 7.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  He has played in 119 games (17 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 22.0 minutes, 11.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Down the road I think this trade is going to look like a steal for the Kings.

The Kings have acquired 24-year old guard Jermaine Taylor from the Rockets for a future second round pick.  Taylor played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he was averaging 9.6 minutes, 4.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 39 games (4 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 9.7 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  I like this deal for the Kings as Taylor can put the ball in the basket.

The Kings have waived 26-year old SG/SF Antoine Wright.  Wright only played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Kings this season and he averaged 4.4 minutes, 0.3 points and 0.4 rebounds per game.  He did not shoot too well for the Kings hitting only 1 of 8 shots from the floor (12.5%) and he was 0 for 4 from three point range.  I would think that some team will pick up Wright but the Kings aren’t going to miss him.

The Kings have decided to send 21-year old rookie center Hassan Whiteside to the D-League.  The 7’0″ Whiteside has played in only 1 game for the Kings so far this year.  He played 2 scoreless minutes in that game but he did pick up 2 fouls.  The Kings have a lot of players in front of Whiteside in the frontcourt so I like this move because Whiteside will learn more from playing than sitting.

The Kings have invited 24-year old small forward Marcus Landry to training camp. Landry played in 18 games (0 starts) for the Knicks & Celtics as a rookie last year and he averaged 6.2 minutes, 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. He might have a decent chance of making the team seeing how he is Carl Landry’s brother.

The Kings have invited 27-year old shooting guard Luther Head and 25-year old shooting guard J.R. Giddens to training camp on non-guaranteed deals. Head will have a good chance to make the Kings if he is healthy. Head played in 47 games (10 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 312 games (68 starts) in his five years in the NBA and he has averaged 23.1 minutes, 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Giddens played in 32 games (1 start) for the Knicks & Celtics last season in which he averaged 7.5 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He has now played in 38 games (1 start) in his 2 years in the NBA and he averaged 6.5 minutes, 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. I like both of these signings for the Kings as either or both of these guys can help their bench.

The Kings have signed 26-year old SG/SF Antoine Wright to a 1-year deal. Wright played in 67 games (10 starts) for the Raptors last season and he averaged 20.8 minutes, 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has now played in 290 games (96 starts) in his 5 years in the NBA and he has averaged 19.6 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. It’s hard to see Wright getting more than 20 minutes a night for the Kings in 2010-11 but you can never have enough quality depth so I like this signing for the Kings.

The Kings have decided against making a qualifying offer to 24-year old small forward Dominic McGuire making him an unrestricted free agent. McGuire played in 10 games (2 starts) for the Kings last season and he averaged 6.7 minutes, 0.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has played in 200 games (60 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.4 minutes, 2.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. The Kings won’t miss McGuire.

The Kings have acquired 29-year old center Samuel Dalembert from the Kings for 30-year old small forward Andres Nocioni and 22-year old center Spencer Hawes. Dalembert gives the Kings the defensive and rebounding center that coach Paul Westphal covets. Dalembert played in 82 games (80 starts) for the 76ers last season and he averaged 25.9 minutes, 8.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 582 games (491 starts) in his eight years in the NBA and he has averaged 26.4 minutes, 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. Nocioni played in 75 games (28 starts) for the Kings last season and he averaged 19.7 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He wanted to get traded so the Kings did themselves and him a favor by dealing him. Spencer Hawes played in 72 games (59 starts) for the Kings last season and he averaged 26.4 minutes, 10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He played three years for the Kings appearing in 220 games (118 starts) in which he averaged 23.2 minutes, 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Hawes was in Westphal’s Dog House most of last season due to the fact that he was too soft. I really like this trade for the Kings as Dalembert gives them a physical presence in the paint that they have not had in quite some time.