Kings ready to make pitches to keep Dalembert, Thornton

Teams were permitted to contact player representatives last Tuesday. Training staff was allowed to contact players who wanted to use team practice facilities when they became available to players last Thursday.

The Kings contacted the agents for guard Marcus Thornton and center Samuel Dalembert last week and will look to reach agreements with both this week in time for training camp Friday.

Thornton and Dalembert have drawn a lot of interest, but the Kings have an advantage in retaining both.

Dalembert is an unrestricted free agent, and the Kings have about $25 million under the salary cap to use in offering him a contract that would be worth more than contenders over the salary cap could offer.

Thornton is a restricted free agent. If a team signs Thornton to an offer sheet, the Kings will have three days to match it and retain him.

"We've had quite a bit of interest, and what we're doing is communicating with people," said Tony Dutt, Thornton's agent. "I guess this week will be a big week."

Thornton's qualifying offer from the Kings is worth a little more than $1 million, but he's expected to receive a multiyear deal worth more than that. How much depends on what the Kings offer and how much another team might be willing to sign Thornton to in an offer sheet.

Dutt said he has had "consistently good dialogue with the Kings," one of five teams that have shown consistent interest in Thornton.

"The next couple of days will be fast-paced," Dutt said.

Thornton expressed a desire to return to the Kings but is keeping his options open in case a better deal is available.

"He's really ready to play," Dutt said. "He loves the game, and that makes him special."