SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Thomas Robinson to a rookie contract.
Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie made the announcement Monday. Sacramento selected Robinson, a D.C. native, with the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft almost two weeks ago.
Robinson, the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Kentucky, where Kansas lost 67-59. He averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds in 31.8 minutes in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double-doubles. Robinson also was the Big 12 Player of the Year. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Williams not caught up in Howard trade talk
LAS VEGAS — Deron Williams and Dwight Howard talked about being NBA teammates four years ago during the Olympics. Now Williams knows there’s speculation that it could happen soon.
He’s aware of reports that Orlando and Brooklyn and trying to arrange a trade - possibly involving two other teams - but he’s not paying too much attention to that.
“There’s been a lot of rumors over the last year as far as he’s concerned, so early on I concerned myself with it, but lately just let it play out and whatever happens, happens,” Williams said Monday at training camp for the latest Olympic team. “I think we’ll have a good team without him, I think we’d have an even better team with him.”
Howard has asked the Magic to trade him, with the Nets his preferred destination. That goes all the way back to last offseason, and Williams knows it’s difficult not only for Howard, but for teammate Brook Lopez, whose name has been linked to the trade talk.
There were multiple reports Monday that the Nets and Magic were talking with the Clippers and Cavaliers about a deal that would ultimately send Howard to Brooklyn.
The Nets already have had a good July, acquiring All-Star guard Joe Johnson from Atlanta and getting Williams to commit to a five-year, $98 million extension, rather than join the Dallas Mavericks.
Heat’s Wade sidelined 6-8 weeks after knee surgery
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade of the NBA champion Miami Heat had surgery Monday on his left kneeand is expected to need up to eight weeks to fully recover.
Wade was bothered by knee pain and swelling throughout the playoffs. He had fluid removed midway through Miami’s second-round series with Indiana and needed treatment several times a week during Miami’s run to the title.
He opted to have the knee surgery early in the offseason in Miami with hopes of being ready for the start of training camp this fall. The surgery forced Wade to withdraw from consideration for the U.S. Olympic team. Wade played in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems.
Hinrich makes return trip to Bulls
CHICAGO — Veteran guard Kirk Hinrich agreed to a deal to return to the Chicago Bulls. Free agents can’t sign new contracts until Wednesday.
Hinrich, 31, spent his first seven seasons with Chicago before he was traded to the Washington Wizards two years ago. He was later dealt to Atlanta, where he averaged 6.6 points in 48 games last season.
He will give the Bulls an experienced point guard while Derrick Rose recovers from knee surgery. Chicago also drafted Marquis Teague in the first round last month.
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