This morning Shams Charania and Sam Amick of the Athletic wrote about five coaches on the hot seat. Luke Walton was predictably included as a coach who could be at the end of his tenure. There’s nothing surprising or shocking about that idea to anyone who has watched the Kings this season.
What was potentially concerning, though, were the reasons that Walton might not be fired at the end of this season. The report cites that Walton has a good relationship with both De’Aaron Fox and with Monte McNair, but those aren’t the primary reasons given for why Walton might stick around another year. No, the main reason is far more Maloofian.
The Kings not only owe him a combined $11.5 million after this season but also, according to sources with knowledge of the deal, are unable to stretch those payments out over several years if they fired him.
While coaching contracts often include this kind of stretch provision, the sources said Walton’s deal that was signed in mid-April 2019 does not. Considering the context here, with the Kings known to have lost approximately $100 million as a result of the pandemic, this will certainly play into the decision-making process.
Shams and Sam then go on to add that this year might not totally be Luke’s fault, since the Kings didn’t do any favors with the roster this season. And sure, it’s true the Kings allowed Bogdan Bogdanovic the leave for nothing and then filled out the roster with bargain players. But can anyone argue that this team has maximized its potential this season?
I don’t understand how you can look at a defense that is on pace to be the worst in NBA history and say “well that’s because they lost Bogdanovic and Alex Len.”
I don’t understand how anyone could look at a team so wildly inconsistent and believe they’ve been well-coached. This team showed it has the talent to sweep the Mavericks and the Nuggets, but regularly gets outplayed by teams like the Pistons and Timberwolves.
And if you think Walton hasn’t maximized this team, I can’t fathom keeping him because you’re worried about $11.5 million dollars spread out over two years. Delon Wright is going to make $8.5 million next season alone. $11.5 million is a lot of money in the real world, but it’s chump change in the NBA.
It’s unclear how much of the Athletic report is just recycling old reports and speculation versus how much is based on a current reading of the situation in Sacramento. It feels like it’s more of the former than the latter, so we may be getting worked up over nothing, but if the Kings keep Walton around next season because they can’t afford an extra $5.75 million next season I will lose my mind.
Monte McNair has given Luke Walton this season to show what he can do. If that was based on finances in a year when the Kings wouldn’t have fans in the arena, I don’t like it but I understand it. But next season the fans will be able to return.
The Kings need to show fans this team is worth showing up for.
For my sanity, I am interpreting this “reporting” as akin to “the Niners prefer Mac Jones.”
God I hope you’re right. That one worked out ok in the end. Boy, was I worried though.
I prefer Mac N Cheese over Luke Walton.
Mac N Turds would still be preferable.
Mac Jones would almost assuredly be a better coach than Walton.
This organization…
I would like to think that Monte wants to fire him. Unfortunately, I also think that Vivek would present arguments as to why he should stay (all invalid ones), and because of his meddling history, makes the final call to keep him. Nothing should really surprise us at this point.
No stretch clause in Walton’s contract, eh?
VD once again fucks Kings’ fans from beyond the grave.
And agreed, in a multi-billion dollar business, $11 million ain’t shit. It’s not as if it counts against the salary cap, so just cut the check.
I’ve been bracing myself for the possibility that this unqualified dope could return. No significant progress can happen while Walton is running things.
The number of stenches left behind by Vlade literally has set this team back YEARS.
But he drafted Fox!
I was telling the Mrs. this morning that I think Vlade set this team back at least a decade.
Fixed:
“We got VD. That shit don’t go away.”
Maybe have everyone in the organization take thrice the recommended dose of penicillin?
At this point, it seems the check would possibly bounce.
The FO and media folks should also just write off Luke’s three underwhelming years in LA and last year’s suck fest too.
Also, I still need an explanation as to why there are folks that still give Luke a pass for failing to exceed roster expectations when the Kings won 39 games and were able to play mediocre defense with Joerger prior to Luke’s arrival with an equally flawed roster!
Sports media has always gone out of its way to use a very light touch on the relatives of great players. Coaches and front office staff are also notably soft-edged with this type of thing. There seems to be some implied obligation to never speak bluntly/truthfully about anointed offspring.
Not everyone can be Ken Griffey, Jr. Good bloodlines don’t necessarily indicate proficiency or even competence as it relates to athletics.
Or to anything else, truth be told. Legacy hires/admissions have hobbled every country on earth, and it shows no sign of abatement.
I especially like when he benched our ROY candidate, good stuff…
Vlade didn’t think of giving his good friend Luke Walton a stretch provision in his contract? Of course he didn’t.
It’s honestly incredible how much damage Vlade Divac did in his time as a GM. He’s on the shortlist of worst GM’s ever. Any love I had for his as a player has long since dissipated and I only associate him with his incompetent run as GM.
Unretire Vlade’s jersey.
And he got a contract extension too for all his “transactions.” Only in Kingsland does someone so unqualified for a position gets rewarded more money.
Hey! I am also grossly incompetent!
Did we ever find out how much the kangz had to pay to get rid of Vlade?
Take a low interest loan for $11.5m, increase the price of concessions and wearables by two cents per to cover the vig, and pack his bags.
Breaking: New item for sale at the Golden 1 Center: Sacramento Kings hats!
Sack Walton!
I’m beginning to seriously consider taking in a game this season, just do wear a paper bag on my head.
I don’t mind chipping in to a crowdfunded row or paper bag wearers
Can someone please get a cut-out in one of the sections with a photo of someone with a bag over their head..?
It’s a COVID mask!
It’s a Bagley family reunion.
It would take a $611 donation from each of the 18,000 fans that can attend a game at G1C to cover the $11,000,000 Walton salary owed.
Obviously ownership should pay that. But I’d be willing to chip in just because I really want a new coach.
Maybe we should start a GoFundMe campaign as a message to the FO, if he’s still retained after the season?
HELP THE POOR KINGS PAY WALTON’S TERMINATION PACKAGE!
As fans, even if you do nothing more than get cable or streaming that includes NBCSN in order to watch games, you’ve already contributed to his salary.
I wouldn’t send a dime. Someone else needs to eat this, Kings fans are full.
I’m desperate.
I realize it’s a fairly hollow statement given I’m already about 98% out the door anyways, but I will completely quit the Kings for as long as Vivek is involved in any way if they don’t fire Walton.
I will repost this because it’s just so succinctly perfect for this moment we find ourselves in.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/1253486486663475200?s=20
Is it Walton? Is it Vivek? Is it Vlade? Take your pick!
Dude, Greg isn’t that bad! 😉
Threats to take fandom to other teams just ring so hollow. Every year, you get stories about how people are fleeing California, and yet, the state population continues to grow.
People are free to live where they want, and back whichever teams they want. I guess I don’t understand the inclination to make repeated declarations to that effect. If you can tough it out, stick around. If you’ve had enough, good luck on whichever bandwagon you’ve decided to jump on.
It’s right up there with people on Facebook declaring, “I have decided to go through my friends list, and do some housecleaning. If you can see this, congratulations, you’ve made the cut.”
I’ve unfriended everyone who’s ever said such a thing on my timeline. No one wants to wallow in your insecurities.
You know what, have a rec. I respect your takes here. I’m tired and venting and agree with you more than I don’t.
What? This isn’t how internet conversations work!
Fight! Fight!
Hang in there. And please don’t ask me for reasons why you should, I’ve got nothing.
You do know that we lost a couple of electoral votes via the most recent census, right?
Still grew…just not as fast as some other states.
Thought I read something recently that a great majority of people fleeing certain cities were mostly going to other places in CA.
Narrator:
“The man who posted a Facebook rant that he ‘can’t take it anymore and would be moving out of California’ was in actuality a lifelong Arizona resident.”
I am skeptical of this, as the statement was coherent.
National growth was 7.4%, CA 6.1%.
This is very Kangzish in a way, in that the team continues to “grow” but not at a pace that is keeping up with the Western Conference.
Quite true. Frankly, it’s ok with me.
Yep, I ain’t complainin’ one little bit.
Gross Regional Product! ð
I have family in Idaho and they’ve said in recent years the folks moving there from California are exactly the kind of folks we don’t want in California.
For reference, a neighbor a few doors down from me who build his own gun range to shoot at beer cans, has a few broken down cars on blocks in his front yard, State of Jefferson flags everywhere, and has had a few visits from the Sheriff’s department is selling his house to move to Idaho, because ‘Merica.
I don’t know about who wants whom where, but the numbers are pretty stark when it comes to who is leaving and who is coming when you break them down by things like educational attainment and earning potential/skillset. California is the highest net importer of people with bachelors degrees and higher. It’s also a heavy net importer of “highly skilled, high earning professionals.”
Yup, a buddy of mine is pretty high up in a tech company in the Bay and they are hiring highly educated folks from out of state for very high paying jobs.
Do they have any grass that needs cutting?
That depends. What kind of grass do you cut? Also, how tall are you?
Leave my dad out of this, pal!
Birth rates and non domestic migration (international immigration (legal and illegal) is how CA grows at all (it’s very minimal recently). Domestic migration is a fat negative for CA, relatively speaking no one from other states are moving to CA.
See BHE’s comment above.
Kings mantra! We’re better than last year! It’s just that everyone else got better faster.
We lost one, but as Otis said, that’s due to California’s population increasing less quickly relative to some other states. The state could lose ten more EVs, and still be the biggest kid on the block.
To my mind, the benefits greatly outweigh the negatives.
Interesting times.
Summary: More people are leaving then coming, while Bay Area douchebags are ruining Truckee.
Just spitballing, but I wonder if this is a temporary change? Bay Area office rental/real estate prices may become more reasonable over time, and eventually people will start to migrate back.
It may become more reasonable in terms of the rest of the state closing the gap a bit. But SF Bay Area prices are unlikely to ever decrease in any meaningful, lasting sense.
I’m hoping for the working remotely from home thingy to continue indefinitely.
Maybe some folks will move out of San Francisco for less expensive homes somewhere else.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind living in Switzerland or the South of France and working remotely from there.
Then you’ll have to leave that LA year-round summer weather!
A ton have people have been moving from SF to the outer reaches of the Bay Area and further for cheaper housing. Heck, they’ve driven up the value of my neighborhood significantly. But the SF Bay Area, because of it’s combination of weather, geography, and education level is a nearly endless well of well-funded new companies and high paying jobs. There may be a momentary lull but the moment prices creep down the demand response is going to push them back up.
We almost left CA this year. But it was for a unique job opportunity. The cost of living change was just a side benefit.
Some people at the game studio that my brother works at in SF moved to remote working (even before the pandemic) because housing in the Bay Area is just too expensive. I think one moved to the Central Valley and another moved to Utah.
Tracy’s going to be one of the bigger Northern California cities before long.
If they had the supertrain, that would be true today. Not that I think what they’re doing is remotely a good idea.
I pastor at a large church in the Bay Area and we’ve had a large number of congregants move to other areas of California (mostly central valley) and to other states in the last year. Probably about 1/4 of the congregation. With remote work looking like it’ll be more the norm people, I guess we’ll see if the trend continues. We haven’t been in person since March 8th of last year and we are coming back in person with restrictions on June 6th and we really don’t know how many folks are still going to be around.
Hopefully things work out for you guys! It seems like in general things in the state are trending in the right direction in terms of vaccination rates and cases going down since more things are being able to open up.
I actually was fortunate to be able to get my job back at the place I was working at in Sunnyvale in late March after being furloughed since June of last year (the workload had finally picked up enough where my boss was able to bring a number of us that were furloughed back, and he’s hoping by June or July most everyone who is still furloughed can be brought back as well). Even though we all had to take a 25% paycut and are working 30 hours a week, he anticipates being able to bring us back to full time in the summer. I must admit though I do like not having to work on Fridays. And I actually moved from San Jose to a studio unit in Mountain View and am finally living without roommates for the first time in my rental history. It’s more expensive, but it is worth not having three other housemates, especially during COVID times.
ForKingsandCountry: Put a prayer request in for the KANGZ this Sunday…
Across the country, resort communities are feeling the pinch as well-paid workers quickly discovered they can telework from their favorite vacation spots, permanently.
Much has been written recently about the sudden change in Tahoe’s demographic, which oddly enough fits in nicely with the ski resort’s new strategy of embracing the reality of becoming a playground for the 1%ers, and abandoning their family, ski-bum roots. Homes are selling in Truckee in five minutes, sight-unseen.
I follow this crap because I’ve lived on both sides of the lake and spend a lot of time in the backcountry.
We live in interesting times.
I’m surprised people are actually moving to these areas to telework – I’d assumed the broadband infrastructure in most areas isn’t good enough to permanently allow this for most employees.
That’s why I refuse to go anywhere except Granlibakken!
Yea it’s Homewood or nothing for me. Honestly after 24 years of boarding I feel like I’ve made enough turns and there just isn’t any terrain left to see. I’m a dirtball at heart so I like my recreation long, cheap, unsupported, and dirty.
Homewood is a gem, at least for skiing. My favorite place to go up there.
Yea me too. My cross country move ended in Reno and then the trips to Homewood in my VW bus began. The mid 90’s in Reno were amazing.
There are actually still a number of smaller places up there I like (though I don’t really have a problem with the bigger places.). I’ve have great days in the past few years at Homewood, Donner, Mt Rose, Diamond Peak, etc.
I’ve never skied Donner, but those other three are my normal rotation (although I don’t get out much anymore). The views at Diamond Peak are the best, IMO, but I like the runs at Homewood and Mt. Rose a bit better.
Mt. Rose is just too far for most people. I lived in Galena on the Mt. Rose hwy, it was my home mountain and where I learned. Slide side in the morning is the stuff of legend. Lunch in the van at noon! Man those were good times.
It’s a great place for kids to learn. Relaxed, low-stress ski school.
…and one of the few remaining hills you can ride right to your car. We used to park on the upper lot at the end of Around the World and have great lunches.
I had a pass at Donner Ski Ranch this season. Mostly due to issues at my regular spot. Sugarbowl stopped selling season passes before informing anyone. It was a good year at that small resort. Had a ton of fun. With that said, I’m excited to get back to a bigger mountain (although Sugarbowl isn’t exacly Squaw).
I like all those other spots too, but I do have a problem with some of the bigger places. Namely Northstar and Squaw. I’d rather not ride than ride at either of those resorts.
That’s what she said.
Just took my kids up there again for some zip lining over the snow a few weeks back. I love that little tucked in resort.
With the surprisingly good tacos!
Crazy as it sounds, rent is actually falling in some parts of the city. I think many have relocated out of the expensive Bay since they can now work remotely.
It has dropped quite a bit in the last year. Rent prices are down by like 25% over last year. That said, if you could convince some SF landlord to give you a multi-year lease at current prices (and you’re interested in living in SF, of course), I suggest you jump on it.
Fixed: Bay Area douchebags are ruining Truckee for the Bay Area douchebags that ruined Truckee in the 90s who ruined Truckee for the Bay Area douchebags that ruined Truckee in the 70s.
LOL, truth.
Lol. Just replied to marty then saw this.
Mostly true, but it is worse than ever. At least in my experience.
My mom in Auburn just sold her house to cash buyers from the Bay. She sold for $150K higher than what she bought the house for…just 9 years ago.
Yeah, it’s pretty crazy right now. I bought my house in EDH five years ago, and could probably sell it for about 60% more than the original purchase price. I just wouldn’t be able to buy much of anything else…lol.
Our house is currently estimated (thanks every real estate agent in town trying to convince everyone to sell!) at nearly double what we paid for it in 2010.
My wife and I a few months back, checking Zillow for a house that just went up for sale in my neighborhood: “That’s crazy, no way they get that much.”
Yeah, we don’t laugh anymore.
Yeah, there are a few houses that just went on the market in our neighborhood at prices that I would have scoffed at a couple years ago. But those For Sale signs still aren’t lasting more than a couple days. They usually never even get past the “coming soon” stage.
Lived in Truckee for 15 years. Left in 2014. It was already going down that path. Now Covid has crushed anything that was left. It is ruined and it’s really sad.
They aren’t stories of people fleeing CA, if you don’t understand the concept of domestic migration compared to immigration that’s on you. CA just lost house seats for the first time in forever. Californian’s are fleeing the state, that’s just a fact dude.
Nah, they aren’t “fleeing” the state. Your boy killed off about 70,000 of us by way of COVID to start, and his immigration policies mitigated some growth.
Frankly, I don’t mind if the Calituckians bail. Go live in Texas, it’s ok with me.
My boy? Newsome? Newsome controlled the CA Covid response as did each individual governor…as they are supposed to.
“I don’t take responsibility at all.”
Newsome?
Interesting how righties get a chubbie from the microagressions of intentionally mispelling or mispronouncing names of people or entities they don’t like.
LOL.
The political narrative being built around it is pretty funny and “fleeing” adds a fun (if not especially true) literary flourish, but the truth remains that a lot of people are being priced out of the state.
Now, whether the details of that migration tell a meaningfully positive or negative story, and how long the current trends will continue, are entirely different conversations.
California grew 6.4% last year. The US grew faster, but that’s not “fleeing” the state.
So no, it’s not a fact dude.
It is a fact, just because you don’t know the difference between migration and growth is a you problem.
Goalposts moved from “fleeing” to semantics.
https://www.capolicylab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CalExodus-Are-People-Leaving-California.pdf
Maybe try lying or blaming AOC or the beef “ban.” Those all seem to work pretty well.
Growth is growth. Christ, you people pick weird hills to die on sometimes.
That’s your biggest problem on Facebook? I definitely need to meet the people you know.
I don’t really use it much. And it isn’t a problem at all, or I’d have actually said so in order to give you the opportunity to zing me with my own words.
But I didn’t, and you already know that.
I generally agree with the sentiment and total side topic, but just FYI…
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/04/californias-population-may-be-declining/
Could be mostly pandemic related but population has definitely slowed recently
Edited: Repetitive – Didn’t see big conversation about this topic before I posted : )
California Population 1900-2020Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the state of California from 1900 to 2020.
I hate to screw up some peoples rants with the facts…but maybe the truth will set them free….
Luke continues to make Steve Kerr look incredibly overrated.
Luke continues to make Kenny Natt look incredibly overrated.
Now that I think about it, the fact that GSW won so many games while Kerr was away with back issues is a real testament to how well Kerr had that team playing. You could have placed a potted plant in the first chair, and they still would have won most of those games.
I see Kerr as being in the mold as Phil Jackson. Yes, the unbelievable talent of their respective rosters was/is integral to both of their overall successes but they are also exceptional communicators and managers of strong personalities. I think it’s a mistake to write off that coaching skill when dealing with, getting buy-in from and keeping focused the Shaqs, MJs, Rodmans, Draymons, KDs, etc. of the world.
There are good coaches of bad/mediocre teams and bad coaches of bad/mediocre teams. There are also good coaches and bad coaches of really good teams. Kerr is definitely an exceptional coach of a really good team, and this year I think he is showing he can be a fine coach of a mediocre team too.
Kerr never lost a locker room inhabited by Draymond Green and (for a time) Kevin Durant. ‘Nuff said. Good head coach.
But what team could we point to and say “that should have been a superteam but the coach lost the locker room”? No matter the HC, we all knew the Kobe/Shaq Lakers would win championships, same with any team LeBron is on, the W’s when they got Durant, etc..
Hot Tub Time Machine 3 plot idea:
Now hear me out:
Luke Walton goes back in time by way of Hot Tub Time Machine.
Arrives in the 90’s and hits Phil Jackson in the knee with a metal pipe à la Tonya Harding/Jeff Gillooly.
Luke replaces Jackson as head coach of the Un-beat-a-Bulls.
Un-beat-a-Bulls miss the playoffs.
Have there been any “superteams” that didn’t have success? At the end of the day, the roster talent is what makes it work or not.
Our superteam didn’t have success. Ours.
Maybe we were just young, though.
too soon
*born too soon
Off the top of my head, OKC comes to mind.
I think they get a ring during the KD/Russell/Harden years if you upgrade Scott Brooks.
Roster talent is critical, no argument there. Coaching also makes a difference, both in maximizing a team without top end talent and in managing and game planning top end talent.
And, of course, that team had a lot of success. Not the ultimate success. But a lot of success in the grand scheme.
That team likely wins some rings if they chose to keep Harden instead of Westbrook.
Harden has shown an impressive ability to shape his game to the talents of other players since going to Brooklyn. I’m not surprised that things have worked out as they have, and given the Nets’ record when Harden plays compared to when he doesn’t, I’d suggest that he’s the most important player on that team. Durant and Irving are also future hall-of-famers, but they’ve shown less ability or inclination to adapt to lineup changes due to injuries, etc.
If Harden isn’t healthy, I wouldn’t bet on them getting to the conference finals.
These guys had 4, 3 and 2 years NBA experience respectively, te year before they got broken up. That wasn’t a superteam yet.
Hard to win anything with 3 stars all under the age of 24, 25.
Hmm. When GS won their first title:
Green, 24, 2nd year
Thompson, 24, 3rd year
Barnes, 22, 2nd year
Thanks for confirming what a good coach is Steve Kerr! 😉
You forgot someone. That’s shifting a bit from the 3 main stars, but I’ll allow it. Kerr is good.
Yeah, I’m not sure you can make the case that HB was the reason the W’s won a championship…
So they were a super team … just young.
Vince Young and the Philadelphia Eagles’ dream team never really became a thing.
Agreed, Kerr is one of the best in the game. I expect if they can get any kind of respite from catastrophic injuries that they’ll be back in the mix sooner rather than later.
As an aside just finished watching the Last Dance this week. For as much of a pompus arse as Phil Jackson became I couldn’t help but admire his ability to reach players and made sure they shared the common goal. The same with Steve Kerr who came across really well.
Even now it amazes me that some coaches in todays day and age seem oblivious in how to relate to the players on their rosters
Which is it for Kerr?: “the fact that GSW won so many games while Kerr was away with back issues is a real testament to how well Kerr had that team playing” or “you could have placed a potted plant in the first chair, and they still would have won most of those games”? I think you know my opinion.
I don’t actually know your opinion, and don’t feel it’s worth the trouble to find out, especially if it involves scrolling.
I thought it was clearly implied that as a result of practicing and playing under Kerr, that the team could operate essentially on auto-pilot if he was away.
Are you under the impression that the players only see their coach during the games, and maybe for an hour before and after?
Good Lord I forgot this was a basketball forum, thank you for reeling it back in.
Luke should have been fired the third time he refused to cover his nose with his mask. That alone was evidence of supreme idiocy. “The sniffer” deserves no respect. Oh, and losing by 49 to a team missing its two best players. That too. Oh, and being accused of sexual assault and (ALLEGEDLY) paying a bunch of hush money and signing a NDA to keep it all out of the press. Oh, and just plain sounding high in every single interview.
At this point, you think Walton would be looking to move on. Maybe he’d take a percentage buyout on the remainder of his deal?
On the other hand, without knowing how much he paid out (ALLEGEDLY) for his, uh, indiscretion – he might not be financially able to take a haircut on the rest of his contract.
You can only pull off a ruse for so long. At this point the cat is out of the bag (everywhere outside of Sacramento at least!) that Luke is a no-value-added NBA head coach.
He knows he isn’t getting another head coaching gig, so I see no incentive for him to want to leave this one without being run out.
Yup.
Hell, maybe Luke’s thinking he finishes strong and they extend his current deal!
Yep, his HC days are over after this.
I don’t think he sounds high, I think he sounds like Darth Vader.
Vlade fucking Divac, ladies and gentlemen!
Yet another devastating tip out to a Laker!
“Why don’t you go back to your home on Horry Island?”
Take his shirt off the rafters and burn it in an excorcism ritual.
Let’s be serious. What are we actually talking about. Luke will be paid an average of 5.75 million a year for the next 2 years. Let’s say the stretch option existed and had a 5 year max. That’s 2.3 million a year. The payout drops 3.45 million for two years and increases 2.3 for the 3 after that.
The NBA cap is 110 million, so this adds just 3% to cost not counting any other cost of running an NBA team. If the Kings played 3 home playoff games they would earn 3 million dollars and they could raise ticket prices.
Firing or not firing Luke is not going to be decided by finances.
It’s not just paying out Luke, it’s the cost of the next head coach as well.
How about assigning PLAYER-COACH title to Tyrese Haliburton?
Would the Kings have to pay him anything extra besides his regular player salary?
List of National Basketball Association player-coaches
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_player-coaches
Ah, nevermind–the answer is in that link. Can’t do Player-Coaches anymore because teams could circumvent the salary cap.
I’ve been saying it for months, I’m not convinced Walton will be gone at the end of the season.
I really detest Vlade. This is the ultimate example of cronyism and stupidity and hubris, all wrapped in lazy incompetence.
If he stays, that’s on the FO, which comprises both Monte and Vivek. If Monte accepts this, and/or is unable to convince Vivek that retaining Wsalton is penny wise but pound foolish, he’s not worth his salt. I will not be cutting Monte any slack for being Vivek’s figurehead while cashing his cheques.
Rec for using “cronysim, stupidity, hubris, and lazy incompetence” in a Vlade comment.
Thanks.
Disappointed in myself that I edited out the rant about that dismissive tall chap.
For Vivek (the bit about Drake).
For everyone else…VLADE SHOULDA HAD A PRENUP.
There must be some kinda Ted Lasso *Diamond-in-the-rough coach out there that we could pick up maybe on the cheap.
*Diamond-in-the-rough meaning, better than Luke Walton.
Perfectly summarizes my feelings of any real hope I have for this franchise.
Pervasive conspiracy theories suggest that what you say is true.
If McNair keeps Walton out of financial considerations for Vivek and the owners, his job is safe.
If Mike Budenwhatever or Terry Stotts actually get fired next year I say go for it. Hire one of them (preferably Mike) and let Luke Walkton.
Scotty Brooks will be our next coach…
The wheels on the bus go round and round…..
Wow, Vlade gave Walton this much $$$ to suck for this long and Vivek signed off on this?! I don’t know why there aren’t more fans mad at this ownership and the organization as a whole considering the amount of money the tax payers have to fetch up to keep this team in Sacramento and this is what they’ve got?
At this point, it should be evident that the real appeal for buying the team was the real estate dealings. The Kings were just a means to that end. Winning basketball is an afterthought, not even on the top 10 list in terms of the major stakeholders’ priorities.
The part of the construction that wasn’t financed privately is covered by parking fees in Sacramento, not tax hikes. If you don’t park downtown, you aren’t impacted at all.
There are people in the comments of that Athletic article 100% buying the idea that Walton is a great coach and that things will turn out great because Vivek has a reputation as a good businessman.
Meanwhile, I can’t think of a professional sports owner who isn’t a good businessman. Yet the the Kings, Browns, Knicks, Sabres, Mariners, etc., continue to exist.
I don’t know why we should care about the Kings finances. Every team had to deal losses due to with COVID. Is there any other team in the NBA or in sports that refuses to improve due to COVID losses?
If they can’t afford to operate the team, sell it to someone who can.
This is good
I know I am just beating the dead horse here but Walton was paid 5 million a year in L.A. (there are incentive he can reach to get to 6 million but I don’t know if he reach that) and was fired after 3 lackluster seasons including Lebron’s first missed playoff since forever ago. Divac then brought him to Sacramento to replace joerger who was making 4 million a year and gave him a pay rise. I don’t know what else to say. This one almost stunk as bad as that infamous pass to another lakers….
Good ol Kangz. Don’t know how to tank and will win down the stretch without some players and Walton will keep his job. LOLOL
No original thought allowed only whiny group think just showed up to see what people think of mr injured & his nice stretch
Badge Legend