When Hedo Turkoglu felt his shot was off three weeks ago, the Orlando Magic small forward thought back to his days with the Kings. And he knew whom to call.
Kings consultant Pete Carril was happy to help his former player, telling him he needed to shoot with the ball in front of his face instead of above his head so much. The phone conversation reconnected the two, who hadn't seen each other in about three years, said Carril, who rejoined the Kings on Thursday.
"I'm in a rush to see him," Turkoglu said before his team's 139-107 victory Tuesday night over the Kings. "I haven't seen him in a long time. He did a lot for (the Kings) organization, and it's nice of them to bring him back."
Turkoglu said he has nothing but fond memories of his time in Sacramento and that it's only a matter of time before the Kings return to their winning ways.
"I remember when it was the loudest arena," said Turkoglu, who played his first three seasons with the Kings (2000-03). "And I think it will get back there."
Brief return from Reno -- Kings rookie Donte Greene attended Tuesday's game, with his return to Sacramento serving two purposes.
Greene said he needed to pick up more clothes because his stay with the Kings' NBA Development League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, has been extended to at least Saturday. While in town, he watched the Kings-Magic game.
The Bighorns play at Idaho against the Stampede on Thursday and at home against the Utah Flash on Saturday. Greene said his stay will be re-evaluated after those games.
In the meantime, Greene will continue to play alongside fellow rookie Patrick Ewing Jr., the Kings' second-round draft pick, who was dealt to the Houston Rockets in the Ron Artest trade. Ewing then was traded to the New York Knicks before he was waived and re-signed to play with the Bighorns, the D-League affiliate of the Kings and Knicks.
"He's doing well," said Ewing's father, Patrick Ewing Sr., the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and assistant coach with the Magic. "Naturally, I'd love for him to be in the NBA -- that's his dream. He's down there playing pretty well, making his game more well-rounded."
Ewing Sr. said he sees NBA teams utilizing the D-League more as a farm system in the future. Greene was the first player the Kings sent to their D-League affiliate. He has averaged 19.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in his three games with the Bighorns.
"That's one of the reasons the NBA helped start (the D-League)," Ewing Sr. said. "If you aren't going to use a man who is the 15th man on your roster, then you can send him down and bring him back up. I think there is going to be a lot more interaction."
The Bee's Sam Amick and Ailene Voisin contributed to this report. Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. To have alerts and game scores sent to your phone, text Kings to 72737.
