Agent: Kings had wink-wink deal with Williamson

The Associated Press reports: The Sacramento Kings have been sued by the former agent of Corliss Williamson, who alleges that the team pulled back a secret agreement to circumvent the NBA's salary cap, according to reports in several newspapers Thursday.

Elbert Crawford, who is no longer an agent, wants $10 million in the suit, filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles against Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, former owner Jim Thomas, and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.

According to the lawsuit, the Kings promised Williamson a seven-year contract worth at least $50 million, provided he play a season for under market value. He played a season in Sacramento for $500,000, freeing up money that allowed the Kings to sign free agent Vlade Divac, according to the suit. The suit says the $50 million offer was withdrawn after the season.

After firing Crawford, Williamson signed a $3.5 million deal with the Kings in August 1999.

The Kings deny the allegations.

Williamson is now with the Detroit Pistons.

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Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons

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Turnovers plague Terry in loss to Kings

The Hawks got some good news Sunday night. They won't see Shaquille O'Neal on the court Tuesday in Los Angeles -- the big fellow's foot is hurting.

"I wasn't looking forward to trying to push him around with this hip," Hawks center Theo Ratliff said, a reference to his surgery of a year ago.

But that was the only triumph the Hawks enjoyed Sunday night. They rallied repeatedly against Sacramento but were undone once again by too many turnovers and too many bad shots by Glenn Robinson and Jason Terry, who were a combined 10-for-30. In addition, the two committed 13 of the Hawks' 21 turnovers in a 105-97 loss.

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings

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Pollard out 4-6 weeks with a back injury

Martin McNeal of the Sacramento Bee reports that Kings reserve center Scot Pollard was shocked. He received an MRI test last week to try and determine the reason for his aching back. Results were inconclusive. After undergoing another MRI yesterday, it was revealed that he has a stress fracture of the sacrum, a bone just above the tailbone.

He will miss 4-6 weeks according to Kings trainer Pete Youngman.

"I was in shock, disbelief," the 6-foot-11, 265-pound Pollard said. "I was really angry, very, very angry. I said, 'No, Pete, no.' I just told him, 'No' when he told me how long it was going to be."

Pollard never thought the back ache was serious enough to cause him to miss any playing time. "I was thinking it was something I would be able to shoot up and play with," he said.

Now his biggest challenge is staying in shape while recovering. "Unfortunately, with a stress fracture, you have to just stay off of it and do nothing," he said. "If it was in my hand, I could still work out and stay in shape in the meantime. But it's in my back, and it's going to be hard for me to stay in shape."

The Kings will try to get by with Vlade Divac, Keon Clark, Chris Webber and Lawrence Funderburke as their big man rotation. Pollard may have to join Mike Bibby and Brent Price on the injured list according to Kings president Geoff Petrie.

"We didn't do that today, but we may eventually do that," Petrie said. "In terms of trying to replace him, that would probably be a pretty difficult thing to do at this point. If we can stay reasonably healthy, we're still pretty solid up front at the (power forward and center spots). I think we're going to take a day or two and see what transpires."

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Sacramento Kings

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