NBA Kings obtain All-Star Miller, trade Scot Pollard to Pacers
Sacramento may have lost a future star in Hedo Turkoglu.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- As one of the NBA's most coveted free agents this summer, Brad Miller considered many destinations. Sacramento wasn't among them -- until the Kings engineered a bold three-team trade to land the All-Star center.
Miller was traded to the Kings on Thursday moments after signing a seven-year, $68 million contract. He was the biggest piece in a five-player deal that bolstered Sacramento's front line and left Indiana with Kings center Scot Pollard instead of nothing after Miller's ascension to prominence during two seasons with the Pacers.
"We wanted to get somebody who could play center and fit in with the team," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said of Pollard. "In many ways, I think he is a perfect fit -- like Brad Miller was in a lot of ways."
Kings wheeling, dealing
The Kings also sent promising forward Hedo Turkoglu to the Spurs, who traded forward Danny Ferry to Indiana. In addition, well-traveled guard Ron Mercer went from the Pacers to the Spurs, who also signed free agent forward Robert Horry on Thursday.
"We're very excited to add an All-Star-caliber player to our team," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said of Miller. "He's a young, versatile player who should be a great addition to our team and our ongoing success."
The fast-developing trade was Sacramento's response to a summer of sharp improvements by West contenders Minnesota, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings also hope they got their center of the future, since aging veteran Vlade Divac is entering the final year of his contract.
The deal was costly to the Kings' famed depth, however: Sacramento lost Turkoglu, widely thought to be a future star, and Pollard, the eccentric big man who was a fan favorite and a prized reserve.
"Geoff knows what he's doing to improve this team," said Divac, reached while he was watching Andre Agassi in a tennis match in suburban Sacramento. "I think the moves overall are going to help us. (Miller is) similar to Pollard. Offensively he has a better game, but he's not as good defensively. It's up to him to fit in."
Pacers helped financially
Walsh said the Pacers also received a trade exception worth about $4 million. Walsh believes Indiana now has enough salary cap room to re-sign five-time All-Star Reggie Miller.
Brad Miller, a 7-footer with 3-point range, has improved remarkably since going undrafted out of Purdue in 1998. After stints with Charlotte and Chicago, he became a key member of the Pacers during the last two years, averaging 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds last season as one of the Eastern Conference's top centers.
More importantly, he's a gritty defensive player who should relish the chance to match up regularly with Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and the rest of the West's top big men.
Others involved in deal
Turkoglu, the NBA's first Turkish-born player, still hasn't reached the potential Petrie saw in him three years ago. After he failed to unseat Doug Christie from the starting lineup early in the season, Turkoglu's playing time dwindled as coach Rick Adelman used veteran Jim Jackson instead.
Pollard spent the last five seasons in Sacramento. He missed most of last season with various injuries, and he lost playing time to Keon Clark, who recently picked up his $5 million player option for next season. The Kings also recently signed forward Darius Songaila.
Ferry, whose contract was up with the Spurs, barely got off the bench during San Antonio's run to the NBA title. The Pacers probably will cut him, and the 13-year veteran might retire.
Mercer is headed to his sixth NBA team since 1997. He averaged 7.7 points and 2.1 rebounds as a reserve in Indiana last season.