SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Deuce Lutui . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. The Kings announced the agreement Thursday. Fredette was drafted 10th overall in 2011 after dazzling at BYU, where he won The Associated Press player of the year award after leading the nation in scoring at 28.5 points per game. But "Jimmermania" never took shape in Sacramento like the Kings had hoped, and the franchises instability didnt help his cause. The sides began talking about a contract buyout after the Kings couldnt find any suitable takers before last weeks trade deadline. Fredette is averaging 5.9 points and 11.3 minutes this season. Hes shooting 47.5 per cent from the floor and 49.3 per cent from 3-point range.
Charles Mann .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena.
George Tuttle .com) - The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are ready to put all the talk and hype surrounding their meeting at Dodger Stadium behind them. SEATTLE -- Lloyd McClendon is bringing an entirely new coaching staff to Seattle, although a number of his additions have ties to the Mariners organization. McClendon announced his coaching staff on Monday, with only two of his hires coming from outside of the club. Instead, McClendon is promoting a number of coaches from the minors and still holding out the possibility that one coach may return from the previous staff under Eric Wedge but in a different role. "Obviously, there is some advantage to having some guys from within the organization," McClendon said. "If you have the opportunity to promote from within, No. 1 its healthy for the organization, and No. 2 if those guys are qualified individuals it becomes an A-plus. ... All those guys fit that bill." Howard Johnson, the former New York Mets third baseman, will take over as Seattles hitting coach after serving in that role for the organization at Triple-A Tacoma last season. Hell replace Dave Hansen who was with the club for only one season but may return as Johnsons assistant. Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said Hansen has an offer to return as the clubs assistant hitting coach if he does not find another major league job. Rick Waits will move from minor league pitching co-ordinator to Seattles pitching coach, while John Stearns will be the third-basse coach and Chris Woodward will be the infield coach.
Mike Stonebreaker. Stearns finished the 2013 season as Tacomas manager after Daren Brown was added to the major league staff, while Woodward was a roving minor-league infield co-ordinator. McClendon said he was impressed by Waits and his view of how a pitching staff should be handled. "He really blew me away from the interview process," McClendon said. "(He) represented everything I wanted in a pitching coach." McClendon is bringing in Andy Van Slyke (first-base coach) and Mike Rojas (bullpen coach) from outside the organization. Van Slyke has been out of coaching since 2009 when he left the staff in Detroit, where he worked with McClendon. He reached out to McClendon to express his interest in returning to coaching in Seattle. "He was excited for the opportunity to coach with me again," McClendon said. "Andy Is probably the most impressive practice coach I have ever been around." McClendon previously announced that Trent Jewett will serve as his bench coach. The team said that bullpen catcher Jason Phillips and Scott Budner (left-handed batting practice pitcher) would return, and Zduriencik said if Brown does not find another major league job he has already signed a contract for a minor league position in the Mariners organization. ' ' '