Whiteside nursing calf strain as Kings open training camp

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The Hassan Whiteside experiment in Sacramento has hit a snag.

According to coach Luke Walton, the newly signed 7-footer has missed the first two days of camp with a mild right calf strain. Whiteside is listed as day-to-day.

The 31-year-old center is missing valuable time as the Kings implement new offensive and defensive schemes. In his second tour of duty with Sacramento, the Kings are hopeful that Whiteside can help anchor their defense and improve the team’s rebounding numbers, but they have additional bigs on the roster in case he isn’t healthy when the season begins.

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Richaun Holmes, who started 38 games last season for the Kings, is healthy and competing for the starting job once again. The Kings added Frank Kaminsky and Chimezie Metu in the offseason and they also have holdovers in Jabari Parker and Nemanja Bjelica who can play the position as small-ball fives.

It’s only the first few days of camp, but the season starts in a little over two weeks. Whiteside will need to learn the schemes and terminology on the fly and hope for some quick healing if he hopes to make an impact when the Kings open their schedule on the road against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 23.

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