--While first-year Kings coach Paul Westphal recently rounded out his staff of assistants by hiring Jim Eyen, Mario Elie, and Truck Robinson, he put the summer league team in the hands of an incumbent. Kings consultant Pete Carril was the head coach of record for the summer league squad, although Westphal did most of the coaching during practice. Carril, the Princeton legend who returned last season to help the Kings with their offensive identity, was the man in charge during games.
--For all the Kings' draft talk about Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio and his potential impact on the team's ticket sales, they may not have passed up on a chance to use an international player to help with marketing after all. The June 25 drafting of Israeli small forward Omri Casspi was historic, with Casspi becoming the first player from his country to ever be drafted in the first round. He is hoping to become the first Israeli player to play in the NBA. Meanwhile, Casspi has sparked significant interest in the Jewish community and from anyone tied to his homeland.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It felt pretty good. I get a chance to take care of my family, make better things for my family. I was excited about it." -- Kings draft pick and former Memphis guard Tyreke Evans, on signing his first NBA contract on July 8.
