Some leftover draft notes on what I thought was a good day for the Kings:
*Then there were questions about DeMarcus Cousins' weight (292 pounds at last month's NBA Combine) and his having 16.4 percent body fat.
Cousins was working out four times a day since finishing his season at Kentucky. And now that he's a pro, he won't be eating like a college student anymore.
"I think I have a lot of room to improve," Cousins said. "Now that I'll have money in my pocket I'll be able to have a better diet and I think my body will improve a lot."
Paul Westphal said the Kings would like to see Cousins lighter. And at just 19, dropping the extra weight shouldn't be a problem for Cousins.
Now that he won't have to live off the value menu at the nearest fast food spot, that should be easier.
*Fanhouse and former Bee staffer Sam Amick weighed in with one reason why Hassan Whiteside ended up falling to the Kings in the second round after he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at Marshall.
Frank Hughes of SI.com also caught up with Hakeem Olajuwon who has worked with Whiteside.
Even with these concerns, Whiteside was a great pick for the Kings. Whiteside said after his first workout with the Kings that he didn't really have any post moves in college. Working with Olajuwon has given more confidence and an array of post moves.
I like that Whiteside acknowledged his shortcomings and sought to improve. His maturity might be an issue (Geoff Petrie even mentioned it) but that's a sign Whiteside is headed in the right direction.
*I tweeted this earlier, but assistant coach Bryan Gates will be leaving the Kings to join Monty Williams' staff in New Orleans.
The official announcement will come soon now that the Draft is over. Gates was heavily involved in the Kings' draft process and there was no way the team would let him join the Hornets until that process was done.
Gates spent one season with the Kings after a solid coaching stint in the D-League. He was a great guy to get to know and a proud Boise State alum who believes his Broncos would give any Pac-10 team a good game.
He was the last assistant hired by Westphal last year and performed various duties. He will have a more prominent role with the Hornets.
*The Kings will hold a rally featuring Cousins, Whiteside, Petrie and Westphal on Saturday June 26 before Sacramento Capitals Charity Challenge at Capitals Stadium in Roseville.
The rally begins at 5:30 p.m., and will be at
Capitals Stadium
1151 Galleria Blvd.
Roseville
--Jason Jones
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.