Kings free agent Thornton must continue to wait

Marcus Thornton is near the top of the Kings' priorities once the business of basketball resumes with the anticipated official end of the NBA lockout.

Thornton is a restricted free agent, so the Kings can match any offer the guard receives from another team. But he must wait before he knows what the Kings – or anyone else – offer him.
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Commissioner David Stern said training camps ideally will start Dec. 9, coinciding with the start of a compacted free-agency period. The season would begin with a Christmas tripleheader.

By then, the Kings will have had time to use the $25 million to $30 million under their salary cap to add to the roster, which would include re-signing Thornton and signing their three draft picks.

But until Thornton actually can speak with the Kings, he remains in limbo.

"I really don't know where I'm going to be until I have something in writing," Thornton said. "I'm going to keep my options open. This free-agency thing is going to go fast."
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Until players can communicate with teams, they remain, in effect, locked out, which is difficult for free agents like Thornton to handle.

"Can't talk to anybody; don't know what's going on," Thornton said. "It's frustrating. But the Sacramento fans are great. They hit me on Twitter and everything. They've got a big smile on my face."