Maybe there’s something between guards and big men,

Maybe there’s just something between lazy and non-lazy. JT’s a big man, and it’s pretty clear he’s been working hard in the offseason.

But no matter how good Hawes gets, I’ll always get the feeling he could be better if he just cared about the game more. That feeling ain’t ever going away.

I agree…once could be flukey, twice is a trend. “Family commitments” need to be scheduled around work when you make well into 7 figures per year. It’s not like he didn’t know summer league was coming.

But the bigger disappointment comes from Hawes’ apparent lack of love for the game.

I don’t really agree with this stance. It reeks of total spin. You really are too far removed from either party to accurately project what REALLY is going on.

Maybe Hawes doesn’t want to risk injury – I mean he IS the only legit 7 footer on the roster
Maybe Hawes’ grandpa is terminally ill – I dunno
There are just too many what if’s and maybe’s to where I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sure I agree the communication amongst BOTH parties should have been better, but it’s not like one summer league of 5 games is going to MAKE OR BREAK Hawes season or career.

So let’s just be fair and stop the speculation into peoples motives. Thanks.

He is young, he has played and made basketball his identity throughout high school and college and it clear he has other interests now.

I think, and again, what do I know (the answer to that is: nothing) that Spencer has shown he is more than a basketball player. Sounds like the kid needs to mature and recognize that right now, Spencer Hawes is a basketball player for the Sacramento Kings first and a growing, intelligent young man second. Who knows? If nothing else, he needs some lessons in public relations.

Jon Brockman needs to kick his ass a bit.

He doesn’t want to play in summer league. Not that big of a deal. Sure, I wish he played, but mostly because I want to just see him play. Whether Hawes dominated, or sucked during summer league play wouldn’t mean anything for the regular season. Now, if he isn’t around the game, working out, getting stronger, then I would worry. But I have heard too much about him working out with Reef after practice, and playing one on one with Shock during the regular season that I don’t think this is a big deal. When your a 7 footer with a knee history, entered the league at a young age, will be playinig heavy minutes the next season, all while gaining weight, you need to take rest when you can get it.

As for him not loving basketball, I don’t agree with that. Hawes is a very competitive guy, and I think he is doing what he feels he needs to do. Honestly, nobody will be able to tell until the season starts, when we see if he has improved at all from last season. Improvment is always the best indication of love for the game.

I know some will try to downplay the importance of this, but it’s flat-out disrespectful on Spencer’s part. If 79 year-old Pete Carril thinks it’s important enough to be actively involved, you better damn well show up. Have some pride, for Pete’s sake! If I were one of the centerpieces of a 17-win team, I believe I’d be jumping at any opportunity to prove my worthiness as a player and commitment to improving the team. I definitely agree that Spence needs a swift kick in the ass in the form of another quality big pushing him for minutes. I mean, if he’s pulling these stunts now, how’s he going to act when he starts making real NBA money?

I used to wonder if I’d be more willing to give up JT or Spencer in a deal for a star. Now I know.

I want to see JT play the five.
I want to see how many boards Brockman can get in Starter’s minutes.
I want to see Donte play some 4.
I want to see Omri get to play alongside a frontcourte of Shock and e.

I understand what you’re getting at TZ, but this seems like making a mountain out of a molehill. So he skipped summer league, big deal. Spence doesn’t need Summer League. Is his game perfect? No, but 2 weeks of halfassed play against sub-par talent isn’t going to fix the holes in his game.

As far as job passion goes, everybody gets tired of work no matter how much they love their job. I loved being a lifeguard/summer camp counsler. The 2 months camp was in session was awesome fun, but I’ll be damned if after that 2 months every damn summer I was itching to get the Natt out of there. Did I hate my job? No, I had a blast, but I just needed a break.

Maybe Spence just needs a little bit longer of a basketball break. Trainers can’t tell him if he’s mentally ready to get back into it. Geoff can’t tell him that and Westphal can’t tell him that. The only person who knows if he’s ready is Shawes himself. If he says he’s not ready, I’ll take him for his word. It doesn’t mean his passion for basketball is less than any of the other players, it just means he’s not ready to bang with a bunch of gangly centers who are too uncoordinated to make it in the league. I’d rather he miss 5 meaningless games in Vegas than pull a Ron Ron and pull out of a game that matters a half hour beforehand.

Take all the time you need Spence. Fully get over the Palin resignation, then come back.

While I agree with TZ’s view of this being a disappointment, I’m equally amused by the lashing Spencer is suddenly receiving. Let’s take a look at the reactions this has brought:

-If we had David Lee, this would never have happened. Personally, I wasn’t aware that Lee was considered a vocal leader and someone who would fix every problem.

-Hawes is suddenly not just tradeable, but should be traded. Funny, I didn’t read much of that when his name was floated in rumors before the draft. Actually, people were opposed to trading him.

-He has an attitude, is a know-it-all, and is impressed with himself. Honestly I’m not sure how to begin dismantling this hyperbole, because I struggle to think of any support for these claims, other than the fact that the guy has political opinions.

-Spencer Hawes doesn’t care about basketball. Ok, so we’ve had two incidents in two years. The first one was a kid with a history of knee problems being worried about conditioning drills. The second was not participating in summer league, with short notice.

Is it disappointing? Of course. And yes, he should have handled it better. But let’s not make mountains out of molehills.

This is disappointing, but it is not the end of the world. I think that it would have been beneficial to the squad physically and emotionally to have Spencer play. That said, it’s only a couple of games and a mini-camp, one in which almost 2/3 of the team will not be participating.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retrieve the babies that some of you threw out with the bath water.

This is a young roster that remains fluid. While it would be nice to have Hawes playing, its not like the guy is playing for a roster spot. Look around the NBA and see how many teams have three regular season starters playing on their Summer League teams. Most are rookies, undrafted players, and free agents trying to get back in the league. Looking over the Summer League rosters, most are complete unknowns with zero chance to make a team. If you call Hawes out for his absence, single out every young NBA player not in a Summer League uniform.

Now, the communication between Hawes and the Kings is another issue….no reason for him to have been listed if he didn’t intend to play. But questioning his commitment to the game is presumptive and Voison-esque. This is the same guy who has surprised most of us with his dedication, hustle, and improvement in each season. When the preseason starts and the guy doesn’t want to play, then I’ll accept that label for Hawes. Until then, he’s just not in Vegas blocking shots of unknown Euros or back-up guards from the Big Sky Conference.

I wasn’t expecting Spencer to be on the roster when it was announced. And he is coming over Monday so he might play still, up to him. But if he doesn’t I don’t mind. Pre-Season is where he’ll really need to shine though.

… is this was a 17 win team last year.
Here we have a 3rd year center that was essentially given the starting job simply because we traded away our veteran center, who seemed to be the only one capable of keeping Spencers ego in check.
Spencer is given an opportunity to go play with his friend, (Brockman), and become more of a leader on a team that severlely lacks leadership and camaraderie, and instead of seizing said opportunity, he basically flakes on his team and management.
I realize its just Summer League and he is a 3rd year player, however I think TZ is spot on to question his passion and maturity.
His actions make me feel as though he is OK with being a part of the worst team in Kings history and that disgusts me. I dont understand how you dont do whatever it takes to show that your pissed with how things went down last year and that you personally will not tolerate losing like this again this year!
The guy has just convinced me we need to either trade him or find someone with heart to take his place because Im tired of non-caring lazy centers who dont take some responsability for this teams terrible play.

Good article all in all, and maybe you’re right about Spencer’s love for the game. But leg me chime in with this. I was an intern for KHTK Spence’s rookie year and I was lucky enough to be there courtside during sportsline as the Kings and their opponent warmed up. I’d say 90% of the time Hawes was the 1st one out there for shoot around.. And 2nd wasn’t even close.

The Vegas Summer League exists to allow teams to basically scout young talent that they want to see in game situations. By all accounts, this isn’t very organized ball and certainly doesn’t exist for a long enough duration for extensive coaching of players. Short of an injury ot a young player, nothing from this two weeks of barely organized games will affect the Kings win total. Donte Greene went off for 50 in one game last summer, and scored 209 for his entire rookie season! So lets not overvalue this league or Hawes’ absence from it.

long as he busts ass during training camp and the regular season, this doesn’t bug me at all.

Spencer was taking classes right now?

Missing Summer League is his option… the way in wich he skipped out may have been handled better but it is still his option. Call me when Training Camp Starts.

This was an opportunity to show those qualities on a team he knows desperately needs both.
Its not a complicated idea.
He’s letting himself, the team and everyone else down and I don’t like it one bit.

The Kings should sign Brad Miller again to keep Spencer in check!

“I’ve been working out with him almost every day in Seattle,” Brockman said after Wednesday’s second practice. "He just had some other stuff going on that he could not miss, and I think he’s a little banged up just from – he’s been working really hard.
“He’s been working really hard in the weight room and on the court, so you know I’m a little disappointed (he’s not here) but I think we’ll get a chance to see him here at some point. I think he’ll be down here in a little bit.”

- Jon Brockman as told to Sam Amick in the Bee Blog

Let me see if I understand. Spencer playing under Pete Carril, who he’s learned under for two years, is going to improve during two weeks of Vegas ball playing with guys who won’t be on the team. Brilliant.

If Hawes weren’t on the orster, no one would have blinked. K-Mart isn’t there, does he not care about the Kings? This is an ‘introduction to the NBA’ mini-league. Look at other team’s rosters, and you’ll recognize a few names of rookies, sophomores, and retreads…and a bunch of unknowns who’ll be serving you Whoppers and fries before long. If young Kings want to play, great. If not, I’m telling you, it won’t affect the Kings’ season at ALL. Hell, Westphal isn’t even coaching!!

Is whatever doesn’t happen in Vegas, should stay in Vegas.

And reading all the debate, I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re all going to forget about this at about 3 pm tomorrow when we’re being amazed by Tyreke Evans.