NBA Free Agents 2011: 6 Players the Sacramento Kings Should Target After Lockout

The Sacramento Kings have many players with conflicting roles and lack definitive veteran leadership. Central scoring fixtures are also unsettled and have been inconsistent over the past four seasons. Here are some suggested points of interest in connection with targeting players to improve the Sacramento Kings franchise moving forward after the 2011 lockout concludes.

Troy Murphy Could Be a Fit in California Again

Troy Murphy is no stranger to the West Coast having spent seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Murphy is a shooter who can extend the defense even while standing tall at 6'10" and 245 pounds. Murphy is a league veteran at age 31 and is a proven shooter.

The Sacramento Kings could utilize Murphy as a reserve to rest Jason Thompson and bring a shooting threat off the bench. Murphy is a proven role player that would bring consistency to the lineup for the Kings. Furthermore, the allure of guaranteed minutes for Murphy would be a motivating factor for the power forward to return to California.

Negotiate with Dallas for Peja Stojakovic, J.J. Barea and Caron Butler

The Dallas Mavericks have a lot of decisions to make concerning unrestricted free agents. The majority of the productive championship squad core is up for auction.

J.J. Barea might be the point guard to come off the bench for the Kings and maintain high energy. Barea plays larger than his stature and pushes tempo to the throat of the defense. His value is at a career high after contributing greatly to the playoff run of the Mavericks last season.

Peja Stojakovic was a mix of success and disappointment last season. He missed a lot of open shots. He also converted on occasional momentum-swinging baskets. He is a tremendous shooter when left unguarded but has a history of playoff disappearing acts.

Through thirteen NBA seasons, however, Peja has remained consistent as a shooter first and foremost. Very little of his game has changed since his stint in Sacramento where fans loved him and have not forgotten his high arching form from 32-plus feet. In short, he would be welcomed back with open arms as a time-tested shooter.

Caron Butler is now 31-years-old and has found his stroke from beyond the arc along with the confidence to trust his shot. He shot 45 percent in 2010-2011 during the regular season, including 43 percent on three-point attempts.

Butler, now healthy from an injury that forced him to celebrate the Mavericks' 2011 championship in street clothes, would be a valuable shooter off the bench and might be acquired through a sign and trade for the many swing men of the Kings.

Another Sacramento Vlade Named Radmanovich

After 74 games with the Golden State Warriors, Vladimir Radmanovich showed no ill effects of reaching age 30, putting up a 40 percent rate of shooting from behind the three-point line. Radmanovich is a defense extender, able to launch shots against opponents of any size.

Vlade played only 15 minutes per game last season and would be valuable in that capacity off the bench for the Kings bringing scoring opportunities with him to Sacramento.

Shannon Brown

Slamming this list home of prospects for the Kings to investigate is the limited deployment of Shannon Brown. The athletic prowess of Brown needs minutes to develop and reach its potential. Strikingly similar to the dunking in unimportant situations of Gerald Wallace who was able to become a star after leaving a crowded roster.

Shannon averaged only 19 minutes per game in the 2010-2011 season. Brown would be able to take control of a greater role in Sacramento with the Kings organization and run with Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton.

One of the lacking areas of the Sacramento Kings roster remains consistency with durability. Brown played in 81 games of the 2010 season. His electricity and excitement is a major bonus as well when talking possibly having this 25-year-old in the playing rotation. Enticing Brown to join the Kings would take a multiple year commitment and a hefty sum to attract the young talent.