The Sacramento Kings are still waiting to hear if Jamal Crawford will spurn Portland and join the Kings this season.
The Kings reportedly have offered $6.5 million for this season.
As of this evening, Crawford was mulling the pros and cons of both teams.
The Kings can pay Crawford more and two new assistant coaches (Keith Smart and Jim Todd) were with Crawford in Golden State and Atlanta, respectively.
I'm told that even if the Kings add Crawford they do not intend to waive any players using the NBA's amnesty clause to clear a salary from the books.
That could change, but as of now that is not the plan.
Francisco Garcia was rumored to be that player but I'm told that's not the case. Garcia has two more seasons left on his contract and if he were waived the Kings would have to pay him unless a team put in a bid to claim Garcia.
Kings coach Paul Westphal continues to maintain that he likes the current roster but would not be opposed to basketball president Geoff Petrie upgrading as he sees fit.
The other prominent free agent the Kings have made an offer to is Andrei Kirilenko, who has been playing for CSKA Moscow in his native Russia. Kirilenko is also being courted by New Jersey.
Having missed out on Nene and with no trade for Dwight Howard imminent, might Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov make a large offer to Kirilenko to lure his fellow countryman?
Regardless the Kings have to make a deal. They are a little more than $1 million below the minimum salary floor and even though I asked, Petrie doesn't plan to spend that money on me
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