| Luck Of The Single-Card Draw Authored by Bob Souza - June 30, 2005 - 3:25 pm
When Louisville Cardinals sharpshooter Francisco García was still available at number 23, Geoff Petrie decided it was a stroke of luck – a bolt of destiny. After all, the Kings could have grabbed impact player Wayne Simien, the big bruising forward from Kansas, to contribute some muscle inside.
And maybe they should have.
Geoff apparently coveted another shooter though, and he got a good one. Rashad McCants and Julius Hodge had already been snatched up. The fact that García was still buried in the unpicked bucket was a huge surprise. To all concerned.
“I thought I was going to go a little earlier, but it happens,” García said.
As in: Stuff happens.
“You can't find anyone who doesn't have good things to say about Francisco,” Petrie said. “He's driven to be successful. Everyone says he plays for all the right reasons.”
Now he’ll be able to add money as one of those reasons.
Born in the Dominican Republic, García went to high school in New York. He left Louisville after his junior year to enter the NBA draft. He’s thrilled to be coming to Sacramento.
“It feels great. It goes right with my style,” he beamed. “They're a great team,” he said of the Kings. “They want me to produce, and that's what I'm going to do.”
Uh, would there be any teams drafting him that “wouldn’t” want him to produce? Just curious.
In the event Cuttino Mobley decides to mad dash to greener pastures, García could find himself enjoying substantial playing time as a rookie. Otherwise, he will wait longingly in the queue next to Kevin Martin, “producing” when he can.
Francisco comes to the Kings with a solid shooter’s reputation. He holds the Louisville single game records for assists with 15, and 3-pointers with eight. The knock on him has been his on the ball defense, although at 6’7” he has shown a propensity for blocking shots.
This draft does nothing to address the team’s biggest problems: Defense, rebounding and toughness in the paint. You have to figure Petrie has other sinister ideas lurking, waiting for that special moment. At least he’d better.
García has been far more effective as a spot-up three kind of guy, much in the way Reggie Miller has had his say for about a million years. The Kings can only hope there is some resemblance. If so, he could be a sweet piece to the evolving puzzle.
So what about Francisco, the man?
“Off the court I’m a funny guy, happy guy. I like to communicate with my teammates and see what they are all about, ya know, just have fun.”
“I know my abilities and I'm confident I can make it,” he added.
Bet that’s never been said before (wink).
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