Pollard surprised by swap

Kings send ex-Jayhawk to Pacers in big trade

Scot Pollard had hoped to play for the Sacramento Kings a long, long time.

“I loved Sacramento. I thought it was a place I could finish my career,” a subdued Pollard told the Journal-World Thursday, minutes after learning he’d been traded from the Kings to the Indiana Pacers.

Pollard, a 28-year-old former Kansas University power forward/center, played with the Kings the past five seasons after short stints with Detroit and Atlanta. He had three years remaining on a six-year, $30.7 million contract.

“I felt it was home,” the 6-foot-11 Pollard said of Sacramento. “We’d settled in there, bought a house that we lived in nine months. It was a big family there.”

Pollard attended high school in both Kennewick, Wash., and San Diego, but he makes Lawrence his offseason home.

The fan favorite, who averaged 4.5 points and 4.6 boards in just 23 games last season while battling a series of injuries, was shipped to Indiana with forward Hedo Turkoglu for center Brad Miller.

The Pacers in turn traded Turkoglu and Ron Mercer to San Antonio with the Spurs giving up forward Danny Ferry.

“I have a lot of connections in Sacramento and the people were very nice to me,” Pollard said. “Having said that, this is the NBA. You can’t cry about it. It’s one of the things that balances out all the perks and money, all the stuff. Still it’s hard on your home and family life to pick up and move, but that’s what it’s all about.”

Pollard is expected to battle for a starting position in Indiana. He replaces Miller, who averaged 13.1 points and 8.3 boards for the Pacers. Miller reportedly will make $68 million over seven years in Sacramento.

“I read an article that said they traded two bench players for an All-Star,” Pollard said of the Kings. “We’ll see what happens. I plan on taking Brad’s spot in Indiana. I don’t think that argument makes sense.”

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh was confident Pollard will be an able replacement for Miller. Pollard could thrive starting next to All-Star Jermaine O’Neal.

“We wanted to get somebody who could play center and fit in with the team,” Walsh told the Associated Press. “In many ways, I think he is a perfect fit — like Brad Miller was in a lot of ways.”

Kings’ vice president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie hated to part with Pollard.

“It’s one of those things that you’re excited about who you’re getting but very sad about who you’re losing,” Petrie told the Sacramento Bee. “It’s tough.”

Pollard told the J-W both Petrie and coach Rick Adelman phoned him Thursday in Milwaukee, where he’s attending the wedding of a friend.

“That made me feel good,” Pollard said. “They said it was something they didn’t want to do, but it came down they felt they had to do it. I had heard they might be making some moves to unload some money, but actually unloading me and Hedo means they are taking on more money. I don’t understand everything that goes on. It’s a business and you realize that right away. You understand that.”

The Kings entered the offseason with a goal of reducing salary after having to pay about $18 million in luxury taxes. The Sacramento Bee said the team has had discussions about dealing forward Keon Clark to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the deal has fallen through.

  • LaFrentz on block: The Dallas Mavericks are talking about dealing 6-11 former KU forward Raef LaFrentz to the New York Knicks for Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward. LaFrentz is in the second year of a seven-year, $70 million deal. The Bergen County (N.J.) Record says if the deal takes place, it won’t happen until next week at the earliest because of salary-cap restrictions.
  • Collison on fire: Former KU forward Nick Collison averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 boards in summer league action for Seattle’s SuperSonics. The 6-10, 255-pounder hit 54 percent of his shots, leading Seattle to a 6-1 record.

“I like what we’ve seen from Nick. He’s poised, he makes good decisions, and he’s been solid in the paint,” Sonics coach Nate McMillian told the Los Angeles Daily News. “Nick can play the four spot or the five, depending on who we’re playing, and he’s very mature for his age.”

“I’m feeling more and more comfortable with every day that goes by,” Collison said. “But I do need to stay out of foul trouble. I’m playing against some real physical guys and they make you pay for your mistakes.”

  • Hinrich learns ropes: Ex-Jayhawk Kirk Hinrich hit one of 12 shots in a recent Chicago Bulls’ summer league game against San Antonio, but his one bucket was a three-pointer that sealed the Bulls’ victory.

He also was scoreless in 16 minutes in a 74-70 win over Denver.

“Right now I’m just trying to get comfortable in the triangle offense and in this style of play. I expect to contribute and I expect to play well,” Hinrich told the Chicago Tribune.

“There are going to be nights when I feel like I can’t score, but I can always play a good floor game. That’s what I want to bring. This team has people who can score. I want to be a general, as tough as that is as a rookie. That’s what a point guard has to be.”