Most people were suprised when Peja Stojakovic bolted Indianapolis for New Orleans, but Stojakovic told media that a major reason for his decision was reconnecting with head coach Byron Scott.

Scott was with the Kings as an assistant from 1998 to 2000, and the two played against each other in Greece, with Stojakovic competing for PAOK in Northern Greece and Scott playing for Panathinaikos in Athens.

"Every time that we played against Sacramento, Peja and I would always exchange hugs and talk, and we kept our relationship going," Scott said. "When I saw an opportunity where I knew that he was going to be a free agent, I just wanted him to know that we were going to be calling. I wasn't going to break any rules or anything like that, but I wanted him to know how interested we were as a basketball team. And I wanted him to just be aware."