Open Arms: Carl Landry Returns To The Kings
SACRAMENTO (AP, KHTK Sports 1140) -- A new Sacramento Kings roster is shaping up with some familiar faces. That's good news for a team that needs help in the front court and an attitude that can help this team get back to what they got away from so long ago, winning.
Landry returns to a team that was bad when he was here and worse after he left. He also returns to the coaching of new Kings head coach Michael Malone, someone who's proven he knows how to use the versatile forward (Landry averaged 10.8 points and six rebounds in 23.2 minutes off the bench to help the Warriors reach the second round of the playoffs last season).
With an aggressive new regime in place, Landry and the Kings agreed to a four-year deal worth at least $26 million on Saturday that will bring the power forward back to California's capital city.
While Carl's agent was happy to find the veteran forward a long term contract after opting out of his final year with Golden State, Landry is happy to return to a new look franchise in Sacramento. "They've got a great new ownership group that's committed to building a winner, and Carl was thrilled to be a part of it," Bartelstein said. "Carl loved the city before and the Kings made a strong push to get him back."
Landry's time with Golden State was officially sealed after the salary-cap strapped franchise agreed to terms with free agent Andre Iguodala on a four-year, $48 million deal Friday. Fellow Warriors free agent Jarrett Jack also agreed to a four-year, $25 million contract with Cleveland on Saturday. The final year of Jack's deal is a team option.
The Kings frontcourt includes Landry along with centers DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes and forwards Patrick Patterson and Jason Thomspon.
If you were daydreaming of reaching an agreement this offseason about landing a huge name free agent, I say "hello and good morning!" It was never going to happen, Iggy or otherwise, but the Kings are making moves to shape their new roster for success. It seems that bringing in versatile veterans on reasonable contracts and getting value for "tweeners" that lack the outside scoring and passing ability (they so desperately needed) are good places start.
Sean Stanfield - KHTK, Sports 1140
The Associated Press Contributed To This Article
