Theus lays new foundation for Kings

Reggie Theus was looking dapper Saturday inside Cox Pavilion, especially considering the temperature outside was 113 degrees, which can spoil anyone's sartorial splendor.

But the former UNLV great and new coach of the Sacramento Kings isn't looking to win a best-dressed award at the NBA Summer League. His goal is to see a certain mind-set for his team by the time it leaves Las Vegas next Sunday.

"I want the guys who are here to set the example for the veterans," Theus said prior to the Kings' 73-47 win over the Chinese National Team. "These guys talk to each other, and I want the young guys to let the older guys know how it's going to be."

Theus is intent on quickly turning around the Kings' attitude. No more moaning and groaning. Either buy into the program or be gone. He has had conversations with Ron Artest, the team's star player, as well as Brad Miller, a veteran center. He will speak with Mike Bibby, the Kings' point guard, later in the week.

Artest made an appearance Saturday at the Kings' game with China. He was sitting in the stands to watch the young guys, including his brother Danny, who is on Sacramento's summer league roster.

"I'm just now starting to talk to them about what they want to do with the rest of their careers," Theus said of his veteran trio. "They've all had success, but they've leveled out. The question I have for them is, 'Do they want to get to the next plateau?'

"Obviously, things have to change. But I want all of them to stay."

Artest's status remains a hot topic on the rumor mill as the New York Knicks reportedly are trying to strike a deal to reunite Artest, who grew up in Queens, with Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, who coached Artest in Indiana with the Pacers.

Theus said he'll have input involving any trade. But ultimately, he's going to leave it in the hands of general manager Geoff Petrie and ownership.

"Geoff's a pretty sharp guy," Theus said. "He has the greatest poker face I've ever seen."

Since his hiring two weeks ago, Theus has been going virtually nonstop. He has been lining up perspective members for his coaching staff. He has been talking to the current players. He had to get ready for the draft last week. Now, it's time to watch and evaluate at the summer league.

"I haven't had a chance to reflect on all of this," he said. "But when I look back on it now, the best part of it was I was willing to take some steps backward so I could go forward."

Theus has decided not to be on the sideline during the summer league, preferring to evaluate the team from the stands and let Kings assistant Kenny Natt handle the bench chores. But he is running the practices, and the Kings' summer league workouts have a Tarkanian-like quality.

"We went three hours for our first one," Theus said with a tinge of pride in his voice. "We threw a lot at them the first day. We'll see how they handle it."

The Kings' roster is sprinkled with young, experienced players who have had a taste of NBA life. Francisco Garcia, who Theus coached when he was Rick Pitino's assistant at Louisville, Quincy Douby and former Wyoming shot-blocking specialist Justin Williams were part of Sacramento's losing culture of a season ago when the Kings went 33-49 and missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Garcia, who had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists Saturday against China, said he has noticed a different Theus.

"He's more demanding," Garcia said. "He's got a different job now. He's working even harder than when we were at Louisville.

"But I'm happy for him. I think the guys will enjoy playing for him. He knows basketball."

The drafting of 7-foot Spencer Hawes with the 10th pick last week is an indication the Kings are going in a different direction by adding size and attitude.

"He's got a little mean streak in him, which I like," Theus said of Hawes, who he inadvertently called "Steve" during Friday's practice. Spencer's uncle, Steve Hawes, played against Theus in the NBA during the late 1970s and early '80s.

Theus isn't expecting perfection in execution. He wants to see who will work hard and who can think on their feet and show off their basketball IQ.

"We're trying to set a precedent, a standard for the type of team we're going to be," Theus said. "If we're going to re-energize, if we're going to set a different tone, it has to start now."