Following an exhaustive search that left no stone unturned, the Sacramento Kings are hiring Scott Perry as their new General Manager. This was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, and confirmed by James Ham. The news comes almost exactly 12 hours after the Kings were eliminated from the postseason, and roughly 11 hours after news break that Monte McNair was done. The official announcement of McNair’s departure was sent out by the Kings about an hour ago.
This is just peak Vivek. No searching, no interviews, just hiring one candidate who the Kings were likely talking to behind McNair’s back for quite some time.
Perry returns to the Kings, where he spent three months on Vlade Divac’s staff in 2017 before leaving for the Knicks. In his short stint in Sacramento, he was credited as the experienced and guiding hand to show Vlade the ropes. He was credited as a driving force behind popular moves, and has seen a bit of a mythos built around him in Sacramento based on the dysfunction that followed his departure.
By the way, those great moves that happened in his short tenure with the Kings? Drafting De’Aaron Fox, trading for the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic, and signing Zach Randolph, Vince Carter, and George Hill. Fox and Bogi were definitely great moves. I loved Z-Bo and Carter’s weird stints here. But that’s it. When someone points to how good Perry was in his previous time here, those are the moves.
As GM of the Knicks, Perry traded Carmelo Anthony for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott, drafted Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, and Kings Legend Kyle Guy. His notable free agent signings included Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, and Taj Gibson. The Knicks never topped 30 wins in the three seasons with Steve Mills as President and Perry as GM, and Leon Rose was brought in to turn the franchise around. Perry stuck around another year under Rose before leaving at the end of his contract.
Consider me skeptical that Perry will finally be the savior of this franchise. My hope is that Perry will be competent and not get fleeced in what feels like an inevitable Domantas Sabonis trade.
Welcome back to Sacramento, Scott. I assume you like Doug Christie?
Fiddlesticks! I was hoping for Kayte as GM…and Marty as assistant.
How can you not go with the smartest person in the room?
Ha. And.
Fuck all the way off Vivek
It had been over 24hours since I told V to fuck off. Had to re-iterate
This wall has handwriting on it
Re-hire past GM who worked with past GM.
Promote interim coach, to Head Coach, who was was a mandatory hire to past (fired) coach, and is friends/colleague of past GM who worked with re-hired GM.
This wall has handwriting on it
Isn’t that usually called graffiti?
Nah. Graffiti is usually made with cans of spray paint. You’re thinking of a mural. However, just like graffiti and tattoos, they can turn into a serious mess in the wrong hands. Imagine a little girl’s room with a Rapunzel that ends up looking like the girl from the Ring instead. Lots of sleepless nights and therapy sessions.
Well, our stuff might be bunched up, but misery loves company and we seem to have plenty of that now this time around.
Classic!
Makes me feel like vlade is back in the decision making.
I’ve never been a stop being a fan type of person but what the actual fuck is wrong with vivek? Is he actually smart? How does he run a company like this? I have ideas but I’ll keep them to myself just out of experience.
The beam team felt like MAYBE we were finally turning that corner. Only to turn the corner and it’s a big kick in the dick by a tiny little chap
He’s always the smartest man in the room. He fires everyone who’s not smarter than him.
If he’s the smartest in the room I need to find the rooms he’s in and just plop myself and my ideas down next to him
Can we leave Vivek in a room by himself for a while?…I think it might be the only way he gets fired.
It’s a room of mirrors, unfortunately
V reminds me of Kennedy, Musk and all those stupid fucks.
Totally detached from reality. Huge ego. Little self awareness. Think they know it all/the truth.
So he is stupid that way. Amd doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself and his money/power.
FIFY: “… he was credited as the experienced and guiding hand to show Vlade the ropes to hang himself with.”
Kangz in full. Scott Perry new GM.
Perry’s track record mediocre at best.
During Perry’s 6 yrs. 2 playoff appearances.
Best Draft picks: Quickly, Barrett,
Grimes, Toppin, Robinson.
No stars there. But solid players.
Perry’s biggest coup: Signing Brunson. This trade transformed the Knicks into a perennial playoff contender. Also helps that Thibs is the coach there as well
Perry wil be stuck with Lavine. So the team really still needs a 1A.
Lavine’s desire to win going into his 12th season, poor defense, and just not a winning player.’
Ultimately, I think Perry is slight upgrade. He’s drafted overall better in his 6 years compared to Monte Mcnair’s 6 yr tenure.
He also played a role in getting Brunson real difference maker. The knock his teams still weren’t cohesively good. Sounds familiar. 2 playoff appearances in 6 years. is resoundingly bad. Not as bad a McNair. But close.
If Christie comes back as coach this team will probably be bottom 4 in the West next year. He’s in way over his head.
I see both the Blazers and Spurs ascending. Only teams I see worse are the Jazz and Suns.
Vivek probably didn’t interview anyone else. He didn’t want another hopeful Gm to fire his guy, Christie.
Like the dozen coaches before him, Christie will be fired by the end of next season. Watch.
Having Brunson’s dad involved, along with Leon Rose, who I think was a prominent figure in Brunson’s life, really helped that thing move forward.
Also, whomever is the GM of the Kings doesn’t really matter. Vivek does what he wants.
Leon Rose in charge of Knicks Basketball decisions .
Yes. Perry is a cap guy. He is not a player talent GM.
To me this means Vivek will continue making the decisions, among w Vlade, Matina and maybe his son.
Joke
But only after having signed a 3-yr contract.
Seems like a match made in Heaven for Vivek and the Kangz. Lord help us all.
This is a very misleading summary.
For one, Perry was GM for six years. So this is leaving out picks like Emanual Quickly, who he acquired right after the draft. Also, the Knicks won 47 games the year he was let go.
Here is a decent and balanced summary:
https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-knicks-gm-scott-perry-030651370.html
Leon Rose was and is President of Bball with Knicks . Perry was second in charge just like Monte was in Houston and Pete D in Denver when hired . Just another 2nd man to be a front for Vivek .
Exactly
Which is fair, but there is technically very little time when it was Perry in charge, so basically every bad move people want to attribute to him could be attributed to Mills or Rose.
I think the real summary is it’s hard to know how good Perry is or what role he played in the front office. The Knicks got better while he was there and made some good an bad moves, but overall, more good than bad moved and improved steadily to become a 2nd round playoff team by the time Perry departed.
Almost everything else is just conjecture or confirmation bias depending on how happy or sad you want to be about his signing.
To me, the real question is if he is even in charge and who is making the decisions based on what we read this morning about Monte having his hand forced on DDR, LaVine, Brown, etc.
We could steal Sam Presti away from OKC tomorrow and it would only matter at the margins if someone else was actually making the decisions.
But is it 47 wins in the east like 39-40 wins in the west
Brought to you by the same people who brought you Marvin Bagiey? Am I doing this right?
LOLZ. Kangz. Zame az it ever wuz.
Vivek got his Yes Man.
In related news, the contract of the beam will not be renewed, as its services are no longer needed.
The beam will sign a three year contract extension, only to be fired 20 games into the season.
Smite The Beam! Smite The Beam!
My take, Perry is likely no better and no worse at GMing than Monte. Perry may end up being more of a “yes” man to Vivek and sees this as his opportunity to back into an NBA front office, of which he hasn’t been for 2 years.
Deck chairs successfully rearranged.
This is my working assumption until proven otherwise.
I wish I shared that perception. Monte wasn’t great by no means, but his credentials entering the job were better. How much to disaggregate from Vivek over this tenure is difficult as always but we were comparable to average for a second.
Scott Perry wouldn’t be hired by anytime team but us. I see nothing of intrigue or indicators that would make me intrigued. His tenures are out of date and lackluster, his own record lets just say it is bad and considering Leon Rose and what was his Kentucky connections impossible to discern.
My only hope is that he’s so poor we stumble into franchise altering draft talent by pure incompetence and not strategic tanking.
LOL! We’re a full blown farce at this point. If everyone on planet earth didn’t think we were a joke they sure do now.
It was certainly a nice 1.5 year break from being the laughing stock of the NBA while it lasted…
The Kings did a pretty exhaustive search the last time around and landed Monte McNair. How did that work out?
I have no idea whether or not Perry will work out. History tells me he probably won’t. But the lack of a search doesn’t really upset me much.
In the end, it really doesn’t matter who the GM is because they are only the GM by name. Vivek is the one making all the decisions.
Vivek, that you?
Except for the backstabbing and unprofessional part . That upsets me a lot .
We did a search last time so why do a search this time? That’s some wild logic.
At any rate, Sam Amick AGAIN this morning in his Athletic article and on the radio made it abundantly clear that Monte didn’t want to fire Mike Brown, didn’t want to hire Doug Christie, didn’t want to bring in Demar Derozan, didn’t want to bring back Zach Lavine in a De’Aaron Fox trade and basically had been completely sidelined for at least a year and probably longer.
Ultimately the GM of the Kings being a totally irrelevant position because Vivek just does whatever he wants anyway is the bigger issue but I don’t believe that Scott Perry is a legitimate GM candidate and the way he was hired screams of this being a total farce.
It’s always Vivek at the root of all problems.
Craziest to me is that V gave McNsir some power in beginning and playoff steak broken……then Vivek decides to take back power. ?
Ego? He a piece of shot
Fired for being right.
“I don’t want to make these moves, Vivek.”
”We’re doing them anyway. My team, my rules.”
End of the season:
“Monte, your moves didn’t work out, so we’re letting you go.”
As others have pointed out, it hardly seems to matter who is the GM at this point. Vivek’s tenure as owner has been abject failure. 7 (maybe 8 now) coaches in 11 years since he bought the team, 1 playoff appearance, the most successful recent head coach + star player + GM that took us to the playoffs (in spite of Vivek) are all gone now in this one season. It all reflects the utter instability of the franchise. Will Vivek ever learn that you can’t achieve sustained success by signing/trading for middling players instead of building through the draft like a smart team would? On top of that, we’re very likely losing our pick this year too. Vivek is either a con artist or just a hyper incompetent guy who loves basketball way more than he understands it.
It didn’t take long for ( The Dismissive little Chap ) to find a 2nd banana to be his front man puppet . Hope Perry got a lot of money !
well… ok
I’m just disappointed he doesn’t look like he has Nic Cage’s face photoshopped onto a previous Kings employee. Was really looking forward to that.
So our office is moving, and the questions are:
Do I bother packing this stuff up?
Do I put it back up?, or –
Should I just go with clown paintings?, and –
if I do, would anyone notice the difference?
Tell me you’re a King’s fan without telling me you’re a King’s fan.
Just photoshop Vivek in the center ring:
And 1: It looks like Fox is your most recent player for Kings memorabilia?
Yep.
What office job allows you to work without pants?
Fruit of the Loom
Tipco.
Dicks Sporting Goods
Framed KMart jersey. Nice
My takeaway there is that you need a monitor upgrade my friend. Check out what they use at Kings HQ:
They definitely like money.
I don’t see the team photo with everyone giving the bird!!!
So at this rate I’m guessing we get the DC is hired as the permanent HC by the end of the day lol.
And with (likely) no first round pick, that’s the offseason until free agency! Enjoy your vacations, everyone!
Mavs win, Miami wins, Kings win coin flip. 13 & 14 don’t jump in lottery.
I can see that happening.
Don’t forget the extra 2nd round pick we will get when we inevitably trade Sabonis to the Bucks for Kuzma, Portis, Connaughton and a 2nd round pick.
We can use that on Peja’s kid!
One of the rare glory years nepo shenanigans I’d actually be pretty happy with. Kid is talented
Go Bears!
Go Bears! Only, Andrej just entered the transfer portal. Alas, the Cal Bears are the Kangz of college basketball (and football).
Illinois is NILing him $2.5m.
College sports is so weird now.
This will be Andrej’s third college team now, correct? lol
It will have to be rectified shortly. It’s beyond the Wild West now and has entered pure bedlam.
Always been frustrating that we can’t be just as good in the major sports as our sister school, UCLA. Just choose not to put any money into it like they do. Not like we wouldn’t reap the benefits if we did.
Mission Accomplished!
Just brace yourself for an announcement like: “Kings hire Calvin Booth as Assistant GM” and we end up with the Monte/Wes style FO part deux!
Until the headline reads: “Vivek Ranadive sells the team” I’m not sure anything else will ever matter.
Unfortunately, this is true. Or if he pulled a Dolan amd backed off/got distracted by other pursuits (doubt it)
Took 25 years to get rid of Shithead Dan Snyder….amd now Washing can be good again. Let’s hope it’s not that long for Vivek
Hey look on the bright side, we’re halfway there!
Jerry and the boys should have waited a day before dropping the recent pod.
We need a new one asap.
I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
We’re the Cleveland Browns of the NBA, if not worse. I’m done caring too much about this franchise until there’s new ownership.
If one of Vivek’s becomes the new owner, does that count for you? If not, you might not be a fan for a looooooooong time.
Well, if nothing else, this move will likely make clear what we all suspect.
If we know that Monte’s hand was largely forced with DDR, Lavine and Brown, and the Kings mostly run it back next season with this current group, I think we can safely land on the full reality of Vivek as both Owner and Perma-GM.
(Essentially, the reincarnation of Al Davis. But at least Davis was competent in his first 20 years.)
On the other hand, if this team gets torn apart in the offseason, then I’ll hold out a tiny bit of hope that Perry will have some autonomy…at least initially.
Nah, who am I kidding? They’ll tinker around the edges and run it back again.
Taj Gibson to replace Jae Crowder as the “vet”?
I think Garrett Temple is still collecting an NBA paycheck. Let’s run him back.
Funny that I actually started watching the kings and raiders in the early 2000s when they were both on top. With AL, at least he had a great legacy before the decline and had accomplished so much and given so much to the franchise.
Vivek came in and took over from owners who had 0 good will left in the city and has just made stupid decisions the entire time to the point where I’m not sure who the worse ownership group is now between the magoofs and vivek. That really says something
Funny, I knew about the Kings when they were a good team, but I didn’t actively start following them until the 2006-07 season….the start of the 17 year playoff drought.
So in that time, I’ve only experienced two winning seasons and one playoff year.
Amazing that Vivek has only achieved that in 12 years of owning the team. Almost a third of my life.
Maybe you should stop following them.
I kid, I kid.
We were all thinking it.
At least Al Davis would get in front of the media and explain himself and not be a coward running the franchase through a faux GM to keep absolving himself of all the blame.
I’m beginning to think Vivek only has a GM to handle the mundane aspects of running a franchise, like negotiating with agents, taking care of payroll, etc. When it comes time to make trades, draft players, or dream in free agency, Vivek puts on his fantasy GM hat makes roster decisions based on ESPN box scores and highlights.
Vivek:
“Buddy Hield hits threes like Curry, we gonna trade for him!”
“Oh…LaVine scored 50 points just like Curry? We should get him.”
“DeRozan finished second as Clutch Player behind Curry…we should sign him.”
“Jordan Poole was once Curry’s backup? We need to target him this summer.”
Vivek would’ve kept Monte Ellis and dumped Steph Curry. There is no doubt in my mind.
LOL, truth.
For sure. Ellis was a Mullin guy and Mullin was the first voice in Vivek’s ear.
I mean, there is an in-between here. We might not have a choice, because DDR and Sabonis might both force trades.
This could give us a great opportunity to rebuild. Take our medicine for a year and get a top pick while stockpiling assets….
But given we are allergic to rebuilding, I imagine we will do something like Sabonis to the Bucks for Kuzma, Portis, and Connaughton. DDR in some 3 way trade where we get CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simmons, or Bradley Beal. Then we roll out:
CJ MCCollum
Zach LaVine
Keegan Murray
Kyle Kuzma
Jonas Valančiūnas
And we win 34 games and get stuck with the 9th pick. That is unless we trade it away midseason in order to chase the play-in.
Looks like a leak of the actual plan to me.
Sadly, a better plan than what we are likely to get .
We had a better plan 2 days ago
I’m tired Boss.
Wow the Vivek string-pulling has been fully exposed, feels like they had all this ready for as soon as they lost. I was really hoping Vivek had developed some amount of chill but there is none. I highly doubt there will be much to root for next year, I’ll probably barely pay attention.
If I recall correctly the Knicks were basically the East Kings during Perry’s time and a complete laughingstock with the crappy owner they had. Sure he’ll fit right in here. This is definitely not the cycle where the Kings break out of their patterns, this is repeat for sure.
It’s familiar territory for Perry. Poor team performance and a shitty owner. The weather is nicer, though.
Nice arena/weather could be worse for us.
Oh. Thank god. The police.
He probably should have slept on it.
“The good news about a GM change is that it’s a dead ball GM change.”
– Kayte
“Listen, I am going to be very clear about this. The Front Office needs time to gel. There were some major changes, and integrating that on the fly is really challenging”
-Kayte
“The Kings new GM was only hired on April 17. He didn’t even have a full offseason to integrate his philosophy!”
-Kayte
I’m hearing her voice in my head WAY MORE OFTEN NOW thanks to the trolling. ????
I mean, he technically did. He didn’t announce it last night.
We gotta just formally boycott buying tickets to games. That’s the only thing Vivek will understand. Also maybe flood his and Anjali’s social medias with links to this site.
Anjali ain’t got shit to do with this.
Yea she does, as one of the only people on earth Vivek will listen to.
Amazes me that people spend their hard earned money on this team.
No merch and tix for me for years now.
Last night I was hoping for an embarrassing loss, and I got SO MUCH MORE!
A Nate Duncan tweet:
This is the cold hard truth that King’s fans refuse to accept, the same tweet could have been said about Lavine, Mm and DDR.
Yet, here we are.
Nate Duncan has been a Sabonis hater for years. Only pipes up when something supports his argument.
I’m willing to discuss the merit of the argument with anyone who wants to discuss it in good faith. Nate Duncan isn’t arguing in good faith.
Does anybody really argue or discuss in good faith when they have and live in an echo chamber I will say this about the fans here the conversations in the discourse is civil unlike a political conversation and I see people even changed their minds, which is why I come here that and I really don’t like what I’m working on even though I need to get it done
I have been a very loud Domas defender but last night he was horrible.
There are reasons and excuses but only to an extent. He wilted during the most important game of his season.
You need a very specific group of players around him to mask his shortcomings, more so than for many other good players.
I agree wholly that if you are going to get the most out of Sabonis, you need to have the right kind of players around him. The dribble drive guys (especially the ball pounding, streaky inventory that we have) does not get it done.
I’m too lazy to look it up, but I wonder what Doma‘s efficiency and stats were when Fox was on the floor versus off and when monk is on the floor versus off . I also believe that Sabonis was willing to take that high post shot more often and we had an offense that had cutters he would be lethal. I believe the Princeton offense was predicated on that he could do the DHO look to face up and hit a cutter or shoot.
Yes about the Princeton offense, but this team doesn’t seem to have willing cutters. Nothing meshes with this team. Just a bunch of dudes that would look better in varying systems, and they all happen to be on the same team.
This team does not do the Princeton offense. That was a thing of beauty. I see more of that in Denver (and now with David Adelman at the helm).
Sacramento does a version of the Brown offense, and Kingston defense (sort of laid back and jerky)
I think he was agreeing that the Princeton offense was predicated on having someone at the high post that would hit cutters. I know that Dimo would be an excellent center for that as one of the pieces. I just don’t know why we didn’t run it except for the fact that we don’t have too many cutters.
I wouldn’t say the the roster as-is lacks cutters. You could always add more, but when I watch, I see frequent off-ball dives to the basket.
What I see when I watch especially when Derozan or LaVine has the ball nobody moves they just stand around. You have 24 seconds to run a lay or plays and we frequently get the call because nobody mo es. I found myself many times this year yelling at the TV MOVE!
Sabonis is an elite passer and rebounder. His defense and scoring would have to improve for me to consider him a great player. He’s not a perennial All-Star for me, he’s fringe like Fox.
That said, name the Sacramento Kings that have been better than Domas. I have Richmond, Webber, and Peja on my list. Cousins is not, due to factoring in everything about his stay here (rough teammate, often times not available due to lack of emotional control). Maybe you have Fox ahead of him, maybe you don’t.
All of these guys mentioned (including Domas) have made all-NBA at least once. No other Sacramento King has, I do not believe.
So the question becomes, how do you do better than Domantas Sabonis?
And again, this is the old trope. When the team sucks, it is the top of the roster that takes the hits. In this case, I believe that Sabonis and Fox were enough to build around. Monk and Murray were a nice start. Add in a PJ Washington or John Collins or Cam Johnson instead of having an overabundance of shooting guards. Have a JV and a LaRavia sooner than too late. A real backup point guard. That’s it. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but that seems a lot easier than trying to replace Fox and Sabonis, based on Sacramento Kings history.
Yes. Sabonis, as a poor shooter, has to be surrounded by shooters.
This is why I was not only pissed they traded Hali but dismayed they’d go after a non shooter- Trade away shooting for not.
And w Fox already a so so shot.
KOC retweeted the ND tweet. I guess he’s a Sabonis hater as well?
Like I said, most King’s fans are in denial IMO.
The thread turning into the type of offense and players that need to surround Domas says a lot and kind of proves my point. Again, just one fan’s opinion.
Yes, KOC is a very well-documented Sabonis hater lol
Also, people are engaging with the topic you brought up. You shared your opinion, people respond with theirs. It’s very convenient if you point is “Kings fans are in denial”, which means that anyone expressing a contrary opinion “proves your point”. People are discussing the context of the argument.
“Just one fan’s opinion” can also apply to people who disagree with you. We’re all just fans sharing opinions.
Nate is actually one of the brightest nba beat writers out there. In his recent podcast spoke glowing about Murray and how the Kings have stifled his growth. By signing to stat fillers. Dunked on prime are 2 guys that really get into the numbers, real time analytics and are completely unbiased. One of the best NBA podcasts out there.
Sabonis is 14-7-5 All time in 5 playoff appearances. He’s not a difference maker. Kelvin Looney could tell you that .
Regular season is one thing. Playoffs performer he is very average. His strengths get minimized. His weaknesses get amplified. Where playoff teams. Good ones put a premium on D. Sorry but AD shut him down for the fifth time this season.
It does not surprise me at all that you admire Nate Duncan.
Not buying what Duncan is selling. Domas’ first trip to the playoffs with the Kings was as a one handed player. And this season the organization has seemingly gone out of its way to surround him with players that don’t fit his style of play.
This is the same horseshit that started flying around about Fox. The fact of the matter is that the Fox / Sabonis duo was the best pairing that the Kings in almost 20 years, and it will likely be years and years before we see that level of talent at the top of the roster again.
Unload Sabonis. He, like Fox, will kill us every time we come against him for the next several years.
And 1 – If the concern is Sabonis as a playoff performer, he is in the absolute right place at the absolute right time. This roster is not going to sniff the playoffs for quite some time.
Yup, complaining about Sabonis not being a playoff performer when the Kings have made the playoffs once in damn near a generation is a bit ridiculous.
Agreed. I mean, if one wants to argue that Indy got the better of the Hali-Sabonis trade, OK, but I’d qualify it with Indy doing a much better job of building around Hali than the Kings did around Sabonis/Fox. The Pacers had a vision and a plan and they have executed it. Not sure what the fuck the Kings have been thinking since the 48-34 season. They have done nothing but take steps backward. Let us not forget that Sabonis played at an all-NBA level last year, and was playing at that level again this year before Fox was dealt.
Sabonis is not the problem with the team, pack one could argue that we would’ve been better off with Barnes versus Debo. I’m not hating on Debo just a bad fit and the fit got worse once we brought LaVine In
This IMO is the reason we ended where we were. Their is no team play. They players don’t fit along each other. The offense is so predictable anybody can defend it. Players don’t fit in the scene of what the offense does. Iso ball is not the answer. The regular offense isn’t the answer. So much needs to change in order for the Kings to move forward. Last Vivek needs to keep his nose out of the GM’s decisions. He might be a great talent to lead an organization other than basketball but knows nothing to help this organization moving forward. He needs to sit back and let those who know run the team. If so he might be able to enjoy it. He sure isn’t now.
And if we are counting the play-in as the playoffs, which Duncan is doing for the game last night, then last season we had two play-in games and went 1-1. Domas’ stats:
Game 1: 16-12-7 with 2 steals and a block on 54% TS, +25
Game 2: 23-14-7 with 3 steals and a block on 71% TS, -7
If that’s not coming through when it counts, then I don’t know what is.
Sure, Sabonis is not Jokic and will never be the best player on a championship team, but he can be an important player on a championship team. Or at least he could have been a player with strong trade value who we either traded in a deal for a superstar or if we acquired one where Sabonis did not complement him, we traded him for a player who did. Think how Toronto had DDR and Val and traded DDR for Leonard and then shipped Val + a pick for Marc Gasol.
The real crime is that instead of adding more pieces that fit Fox’s and Sabonis’ playing styles and that complemented their strengths and hid their weaknesses, we just added more one-dimensional scorers.
We needed more switchable defenders who could help clog the lane, protect the rim, and provide spacing on offense. Instead we added one dimensional scorers who were bad at running the P&R (other than looking for their own shot) and horrific defenders who provided no ability to contest inside.
This isn’t to say Sabonis is beyond criticism, but the idea that most players (even much better ones) in the NBA don’t need the right type of supporting cast around them is wrong. Maybe prime LeBron, prime Leonard, Tatum, and SGA are that versatile. But Luka, Steph, Jokic, Giannis, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, prime Harden, etc. all needed rosters crafted around them to bring out their best and hide their flaws. I’m not saying Sabonis is on their level (duh), but it’s absurd to suggest that “needing the right type of roster” is something very unique to him.
Fantastic comment.
Ahhh, that guy is full of shit.
“Leads the league in rebounds for three straight years, but I guess he was getting 26 per game against the losers and zero rebounds against good teams.”
OK but he doesn’t play defense. The old addage still holds true. Defense wins championships Period.
And you’re going to lay the defensive problems in their entirety at Sabonis’ feet?
He’s not great, but I do think that he was more effective this season as it relates to covering out at the perimeter.
And ten defensive rebounds every night is one hell of a defensive boost.
I didn’t say he was the total defensive problem. So is LaVine, Derosan, Monk and others. You read it wrong. They really can’t protect the rim, block shots etc. Defense is a team effort.
While I also agree with Greg that Duncan is a blow hard hater….Saboins bears a lot of the stench of this year on and off the court.
His on court value and role on any other team in the league isn’t the star or even the 1b. Sam Veciene isn’t a hater and has done a ton of deep dives on Sabonis. He’s of the mindset that he’s generally empty stats but is a very high IQ player. His most recent example on his podcast was of a game when he had his patented double double but most of those stats came from his own misses. After listening to it I watched a little closer and in the pacers game for example his 4 offensive rebounds were on that one play where he basically couldn’t make a layup and just rimmed it out. Granted his got his own rebound each time. But it was the play where he was basically lead on the fast break when Neismith lost his handle. And threw it directly to DDR. Basically saying 3 of the 4 rebounds were uncontested.
Sabonis also I think started thinking he is the straw that stirs the drink and was being listened to more by a GM/owner in Vivek and when he wanted brown gone Vivek pivoted away from him and his actual GM and his actual former favorite player voice.
the chaos of what and who Vivek listens to isn’t just random hanger oners in the front office it’s also players. He used to listen to Fox. Got his buddy here and was the undisputed star and voice that Vivek wanted to hear. Sabonis wanted to play the game of thrones game and started politicking. Sabonis was elevated in the pecking order of players voices.
Craziest part is now it’s Lavine hence why even Amick was mentioning that he’s extension eligible this offseason. So standby for that.
Vivek/MM have made it a point to fill this roster with empty stat players (Lavine, Domas, MM, DDR). It’s comical.
Cuz was a long time King with amazing stats that equated to losing. Not sure why fans act like it’s impossible for this to be the case. And it doesn’t mean that Domas or Cuz are/were bad players, it just means they’re not at certain level that would classify them as elite or superstars and that very specific players and system needs to surround them etc. Nor can they be the first or second best player on your team, but Domas is being paid as such.
Totally a Vivek thing. I remember talk of trying to get Monta Ellis when he first bought the team.
It’s not just the money, it’s the culture Vivek also fosters with his “stars”, elevating them to star level here making them feel like the face of the franchise. Then gets a new toy and elevates that one.
Which is exactly what caused the drama with Fox and Sabonis and led to Mike brown being fired.
And they are not either. All can score. None are winners.
My theory on this: I’m guessing Vivek feels like he listened to the “conventional wisdom” before. He did a broad search using a firm, he hired a GM he didn’t know beforehand, he eventually let Monte hire Mike Brown instead of Mark Jackson. He backed off, and it didn’t get him the level of success he wanted so now he’s saying screw it and hiring how he wants. He’s oblivious to the fact that two years ago this team was on track until he starting meddling again.
Vivek Ranadive going to his Safe Room
Spot on. I’d buy that for a $7 Path water.
How about he trying to get the whole organization to buy in on bit coins.
The team was on track two years ago until the front office decided to sit on their hands for two straight years. The weaknesses of this team are well know by the end of that Warriors series and McNair’s front office did nothing to address it.
It’s always easy to blame Vivek for everything but stop letting McNair off the hook for how bad of a job he did as GM. 4/5 years in the lottery and twice spent their lottery pick on an undersized combo backup guard.
All those GMs. All those head coaches. All those players. What is the one constant over the past 12 seasons?
Slamson…I blame Slamson.
Solid take. There is simply no way that I can argue with this.
At this point, I am leaning towards calling Matina the instigator (Vlade, Peja, Doug Christie) and Vivek the protagonist.
He’s too insecure to do anything else other than listen to her. She’s gotta go.
Still can’t believe we lost the Gorilla.
The answer to our problems is that we need more…Roy Al.
The curse of Roy Al is real.
FIFY
The curse of Roy Al is Rey Al.
An entire thread about Ranadive calling the shots, and still there are comments about McNair sitting on his hands for some reason.
Either Vivek is overly-involved. or McNair is an imbecile. It could not be less complicated.
It’s so convoluted, I took to calling it “the organization” a while ago. Even back in the Vlade days, you could not parse the credit and the blame. At the end of the day, it was, is, and will continue to be an organizational failure. And I’m more convinced than ever that this will not change as long as the dismissive little chap and funky cold Matina have keys to the basketball ops offices.
Also, I loved this comment from fellow Athletic reader Richard E.:
Two things can be true.
I don’t give Monte a pass on his mistakes, but I also don’t pin them solely on Monte when I know full well that Vivek had a hand in many of those decisions along the way.
Those early PDA and vlade trades scream of GM Vivek playing with the trade machine
In retrospect I think you’re absolutely right. Petey D did himself no favors by giving one of the worst GM interviews I’ve ever heard but still, I see it a bit differently now.
Unlike the reporting we get from Amick and Slater where they give us 1/2 the story on a good day, there’s plenty of blame to go around from the owner to the guys on the floor that mailed it in last night. Maybe their only sources are Brown, Monte and Fox that just want to blame the ownership for all the failures.
I beg you to believe me that we have heard stories for years, across multiple front office groups, and they all support a very consistent picture of Vivek.
Monte stopped making big moves after the Domas trade, backed off too much and stopped taking risks for sure. The roster imbalances were obvious, Monte was never the guy. Perry sounds worse to me.
My guy, are you new here? I know you aren’t so I assume you’re just being obtuse. Every single reporter and writer that covers this team is telling you all the time that Monte hasn’t made any of the decisions for this team in a long time. You can choose to believe whatever you want but it is not difficult to discern what is happening.
Are you talking to me? If Monte is not making any decisions then that is the worst condemnation of Monte I have heard. Clearly he’s a big part of the process but seems to also have Vivek come in and effect certain moves. I fully believe Monte had the time and resources to make plenty of moves that he didn’t, that’s on him. If he was actually doing almost nothing with very little power than he is an even bigger disgrace than I thought but I don’t buy that or care to waste my time speculating on it. It’s just sports bro I honestly don’t care about any of this.
I can just imagine what else you fully believe.
No, I was responding to Kingz4life.
I understand the finger pointing and peeps saying that Vivek made all of the bad decisions, but the unwillingness to make changes after the 48-win season was the beginning of the end. I guess everybody thought the team was on the right path although Domas disappeared in the playoffs, as did Huerter and Barnes.
The team needed a 4, a big man to defend, and players much better than Huerter and HB and Davion to take the next step … and they did nothing. Wasted the next season. Waited a year too long to dump HB and Mitchell, then began this year even worse after desperation move to add DDR at the end of the off season.
I guess at that point, they should’ve just written off the season and waited for the off season to move Fox, Sabonis and do the tear down. Oh well.
Maybe it’s time for the mother of all articles… a list of all the things the little chap has fucked up. Then it’s up to us to share the living hell out of it on SM.
How about a balanced piece that calls out the owner’s screw ups along with the GMs and coaches and their bone headed trades, draft picks, missed opportunities and history of poor player development.
This is all about the owner. If you can’t see that, I’m not sure what franchise you are watching.
Except that he bucked conventional wisdom and actually hired two GMs so he could have multiple voices in the room, as he seems to covet repeatedly.
You can go back and almost pinpoint the exact moment when Vivek starts making decisions again. At every step, after 12 years, it is painfully obvious when Vivek is making decisions because they are all of a type. It’s incredible how bad he is at this. There is a formula to this stuff and he does almost exactly the opposite EVERY TIME.
Vivek has the unfathomable ability to never, ever feel shame, no matter how badly he screws up. Screw up the EXACT SAME THING three times in row? Let’s go for four!
It’s actually remarkable. It’s Anchorman “You popped in the fridge and you ate a whole wheel of cheese!? I’m not even mad I’m impressed” meme. It’s a stunning level of pride mixed with incompetence.
Huge ego….no shame because he’d never admit/doesn’or think he’s screwed up. Surrounds himself w sycophants
sounds too familiar. These types won’t change.
Or was it that he gave away power, saw the team break the 16 year streak and he wants to get credit for it? Comes up with the beam (?).
Vivek “but I’m the one who’s made this all
possible”. Look at me. I’m making moves. “
I certainly feel like that’s possible.
At least somebody likes this hire…
&ct=g
He could team up with the broadcast team! We could call them..
Marty could hear them Roar
How the heck did this not go to Anjali Ranadivé?? Travesty!
They still need an Assistant GM.
Correct me if I’m wrong… but wasn’t the Bogi trade during the 2016 draft? So before Perry was here. So can’t really give him credit for that one.
Fox was a consensus pick at #5.
The Hill signing was a disaster. Dude wanted out like a month into the season. Z-Bo and Carter were OK I guess. The Knicks resume is meh.
Really this just seems more of the same. Has Perry ever orchestrated a rebuild? Knox in 2018 was a terrible pick. The only player in the top 12 of that draft with negative VORP (including Bagley). RJ Barrett at #3 was meh in 2019. And Perry selected Obi Toppin over Haliburton in 2020.
Seems like a dude who the game has passed by. Hope I’m wrong though.
People keep saying some version of this. Hill was leading the league in 3pt% when the Kings traded him. He was right around his career averages in most statistical categories.
So, Hill may not have saved the team but he pretty much played close to as expected.
Agreed, it was a good signing, but Hill just never played anywhere close to his averages while he was here. I’d say the same thing about getting Dwayne Dedmon. He was having a very nice career, and just couldn’t do anything right in Sacramento.
There are no shortage of names on that list.
Throw Kevin Huerter on that list. Became an NBA player again in Chicago.
The Hill signing was a disaster in that he forced his way out after only 43 games played into his contract. His minutes were down from the previous year, and it was likely a communication issue that he would get a certain level of playing time. Kind of concerning for a guy that was never malcontent in his career before that time.
His PER and VORP were way down from his previous year in Utah. Granted it was more in line with his stats going forward from that point… so they signed him to the big contract in the first year of his decline.
You’re right about Bogi. They signed Bogie the following summer, when Perry was there. I was looking at the transaction history and got mixed up.
To be fair, I did love Scott Perry with Journey.
“Don’t stop believin’…”
All is lost, more so than before. It’s actually very hard to imagine that the new GM doesn’t completely botch the coming trade of Domas. If peeps were upset about the return for Fox, this could get pretty ugly. From Ty to Domas to … a fringe roster player and picks?
Vlade tip out to Horry
Vlade passing on Luka
Vlade being Wormtail to our joke of a trashcan owner and suggesting crap for almost a decade.
I gotta say I personally would like to cut down #21 from the rafters. Im sorry but has there been anyone single handedly more destructive in our franchise history?
With all do respect I really wish you would leave your Kings move on.
Don’t forget the rarely mentioned Papagiannis pick. But at least he traded down for that one.
Passing on Domas at 8 to do it.
He is a Lakers mole.
He entered the HOF as a Faker
Not a tip — if he doesn’t hit that ball as hard as possible, directly to an opponent spotting up at the arc, which no player on D has done before or since, it never gets to Horry in time to launch that shot.
Not a tip and one of the dumbest plays in NBA history. At that time, I can’t name a player that would have tapped the ball out like that instead of securing the rebound. Maybe Vlade gets fouled on the rebound. To my knowledge, he wasn’t a terrible free-throw shooter. The Lakers didn’t have any timeouts left either. So it would have taken a half-court shot or a long pass inbounds from the Lakers that could have easily been broken up by the Kings.
Hindsight will always and forever be 20-20 though…
Wormtail lol meant Wormtongue. HP to LOTR cross up ever the millennial error.
I can’t say “Vlade” without a FU in front of it. Let’s not forget the pick swap that ended up letting Boston pick Tatum at 3 when we got Fox at 5. But he’d have picked Fultz anyway.
Guaranteed if we took Luka, Pelinka would have fleeced vlade somehow worse than Nico.
Im genuinely serious that my hope lies in Scott Perry being so incompetent that we accidentally tank for top 3 odds. Like that’s the most optimistic to realistic outcome I can cook.
Instead I assume to keep getting 63 cents on the dollar for 29 to 35 win teams that slowly deteriorate for 3 years. what year is it?
I think I have lost years thinking about this dumpster and posting from here to Sactown Royalty. I have to say above all that maybe drives me crazy is the constant obsession with making decisions clearly with obvious red flags from the jump. Decisions incomparable in approach to any league counterparts. We make decisions that are rationalized in the most with the thinnest margins time and time again, yet have no track record to justify that arrogance in approach.
I can go threw a litany but let’s call out a few.
Could Christie end up a good coach, sure but he is a woefully under experienced assistant for the jump up now. His training has come from a dysfunctional franchise (us) and not an elite franchise and thus a good coaching tree. He has been poor in his interim stint. It is a risk and you are bad at this thus the answer should simply be we cannot afford that risk.
Scott Perry’s main experience comes from a league from 20 years ago. His GM tenure with you was poor when compared to the rest of the league. His Knicks tenure hyperly reliant on one of the most powerful men in basketball World Wide Wes and in extension Leon Rose who ultimately usurped him. The decisions regardless were not notable. It is a risk and you are bad at this thus the answer should simply be we cannot afford that risk.
Hiring a franchise icon with no experience to be GM was a bad decision. That person’s track record ended up truly historically bad. Allowing that person to still suggests and be present in your thought process because of that history by all track will not be good. Having that person around still is a risk and you are bad at this so his opinion should be ignored as it is a risk.
Honestly it isn’t that fucking hard, if you are at least trying to be respectable. Dumbest approach to become average and respectable. Go to the best front offices and hire their assistants. Go to the best coaching trees and hire their assistants. That logic is better in two sentences then anything that could be said for Vlade, Perry or Christie being involved/considered in anyway.
The Christie hire is easy to explain by the Warriors parallels. Jackson got the Ws to respectability, was fired for Kerr who had 0 NBA coaching experience, but had been a broadcaster.
Vivek fires Brown and goes with Christie with some NBA assistant coaching experience and had been a broadcaster.
It’s scienceish!
Kerr had been a GM in Phoenix but a total failed one . He was in my opinion a very good broadcaster and Christi much less so . To your point still very sciencish !
Going on that theory, kings had 1 really young exciting point guard and 1 really good scoring combo guard, and traded one of them for a big man. Only we traded the wrong one. I’d bet my life savings Vivek didn’t want to trade Ellis but didn’t have the power to ruin the warriors
You make great points but why not go to successful franchises and hire the top people like Miami did years ago for Pat Riley or Memphis to get Jerry West . Just a lot of money and power ceded to get them . Remember no cap on coaches and execs . Seems more of a sure thing .
Because like a good tech bro he wanted to disrupt the NBA. Remember NBA 2.0?
Outstanding summary.
The interview process likely consisted of Vivek showing Scott his NBA 2K Dynasty team and asked him if thought it was cool. Scott apparently gave the correct answer.
I miss fielding the sales calls from the Kings for years after my company didn’t renew season tickets in 2020. I miss telling them how terrible they were doing. I wish they’d call me back again this off-season.
I use to rip into my sales guy every year when he’d call to take my money.
I know Stephen A. Smith said Ishbia is in danger of becoming the worst owner in sports. But he’s already moved higher up the ladder than our lovely chap because he’s able to admit failures. Hell, how about he’s simply able to hold a freakin’ press conference and face the music. Vivek? Vivek?? https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44720540/suns-owner-mat-ishbia-begins-process-franchise-reset
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2025-26 Sacra-MEN-TOOOO…KINGS! Zach LaVine $48M, Domas Sabonis $43M, DeMar DeRozan $25M, Malik Monk $19M, Keegan Murray $11M, Jonas Valanciunas $10M. Devin Carter $5M. Over the cap. No first rounder. Welcome retread GM Perry! Enjoy this blank canvas for your team building prowess!
Some good news to share. Domas said he wants to stay in Sac.
So did Monk.
It’s going to be a long summer, I’m afraid.
He kinda has to say that. It’s a long off season. I hope he stays but only if we add a legit 4 and a PG.
Bingo.
What’s he going to say on his exit interview?
“I hate it here. This is basketball hell, I have to get out.”
These guys had media training and unlike some (Hield) know what to say and what not.
Who are you thinking is “legit PG” that is attainable with what the Kings have to offer?
Also said something about wanting to know the direction?
I kind of feel like V is going to want to trade him because he doesn’t want to pay him.
Or that’s a bonus is already starting to look for a way out.
So I let this all stew and slept on it. Gave it some good thought and came to the conclusion that this franchise is still a shit show. There is nothing positive right now that the team can hang their hat on…absolutely nothing.
When they inevitably announce that Doug will remain as head coach and they are extending Zach LaVine, I think that will be it for me in terms of actively following the team, with the only exception being on TKH.
LaVine locked them in to a certain type of roster that is probably not going to be a winning roster. He and Sabonis need specific styles of players for each to be effective. I don’t think the Kings can acquire those players.
If they could move LaVine, which I don’t think they want to, then building the roster would be easier. Send out DDR as well, and build a team that plays defense and has willing cutters and passers. I know it won’t happen, but a man can dream!
I don’t fully agree.
Lavine is a singular talent, as is Sabonis. They need the adjusted roster and a Head Coach to figure out how to take advantage of those talents. It takes a team of pieces to make the puzzle a picture.
Today, there is no direction, missing pieces, and a roster of confused players wanting to perform (and good guys too, I should add), and a frustrated fan base tired of ownership unable and/or unwilling to bring it together.
Wiping it out and rebuilding with the current ownership and their now long established history of unmitigated incompetence just prolongs the misery.
Can they make something out of this roster by making adjustments? Yes!, a solid organization can find a way. Can this franchise do that? They haven’t shown an inkling of understanding the task in front of them and there is little reason to expect different.
Dammit.
The only things keeping me as a “fan” are proximity (I live in Davis), and this amazing community. I’ve tried being a Clippers fan (I was FromSACtoLAC on a Clippers fansite but the energy was different and not as much fun for me. So I returned to be re-joined with the Ship of Fools here at TKH (formerly STR).
Ahoy Mateys, full steam ahead! (and Light That Beam)
I know Vivek won’t do a full tear down. He doesn’t have the guts to do that. So the tinkering will continue to happen. The adjustments are getting the poor defenders out of the building, and using Domas and Lavine properly. How they do that? Who knows.
They need a floor general at PG who can spread the ball to everyone and keep them involved. Domas tries, but he can’t do it the way that a good PG can at the position.
I hope they are able to retain LaRavia. I think he fits well in both style and demeanor. A starting level PG that can defend and distribute would do wonders.
If FO is committed to keeping both Domas and Lavine, the complementary pieces seem pretty obvious — you need a pass-first PG that plays good D and you need a 4 that can run the floor, defend the rim and rebound. Play Murray at the 3.
Monk and Ellis and JV come off the bench, then you need to add 1 more big who can ….. run the floor, defend the rim and rebound and play the 4/5.
With Lavine, Murray, Monk and Ellis you have all the players you need to play Small Ball. They need 2 capable Bigs to help team play good D for the first time in 12-15 years.
What?
Domas and Lavine ARE the poor defenders
Bingo — if you’re keeping them, it’s for offense and they’ll be your top 2 scorers, while the other 3 starters need to play good D.
Yep. You start with a review of the usable inventory:
Sabonis / JV
Murray / (LaRavia)
LaVine / DDR / Monk / Ellis
Everyone else is either a FA or a question mark (Lyles, Carter).
LaRavia is a decent bench wing, and due to his injury you might still be able to land him for at or under the max $5.1m that you can offer him. He may take a one year prove it deal with a player option.
Next, you determine who goes among your shooting guards – at least one and maybe two. For me, my guess is that Monk has the best chance of getting you a true point guard or a starting 3-4 in return (if not by himself, than as part of a package that includes a future pick of some sort or Carter or whatever). If you do that, DDR becomes your 6th man (and if he doesn’t like it, let his agent find him a landing place that doesn’t cost the Kings in assets or flexibility). I don’t think that you can get away with an Ellis / LaVine starting backcourt, and if the low cost of Ellis can get you a viable PG or 3-4, you’d have to consider it.
That’s the only hope on threading this narrowest of needles. You’re capped and you don’t have decent draft pick. The only way that you compete next year is by converting the fat at shooting guard into a starting point guard and a starting 3-4. Odds of that happening? I don’t think that Vegas would even put it on the board.
I am fully expecting a DeMar for Julius Randle swap, smh. Wasn’t Perry in the Knicks front office then they signed Randle?
Randle would first have to opt into his $31m deal, which he will likely do…unless he’s looking to make a little less per and a bigger overall nut. And while he would be yet another weird fit, he would be a better fit than DDR on the current roster and in his current role.
He would fit better based on positional need. He just kind of seems like a bigger version of DeMar. Lots of ISO, not a great 3pt shooter, defense is lacking. He does rebound well, which the team needs helps with.
While we’re on the topic of threes, one of the things that I would hope that the Kings add next year (especially if they are going to continue to employ DDR) would be a corner three for Domas. It would seem only natural to clear the key if DDR is going to work, and if Domas’ defender sags he is left open for the easiest three on the court. Given that he shot almost 42% on 156 deep threes this season, that would seem to be a no brainer. And no brainer is the Kings brand.
Sacramento Kings, we’re no brainers!
Brainz.
Whose brain was it that we put in Vivek’s head?
Abby Something…
The only way I can see the Kings keeping a LaVine and Keon backcourt is if you were able to add a point forward in the mold of a Draymond Green, Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons type, but good luck with that.
Yeah, that’s right, I said Ben Simmons. I could see a situation where Ben is brought in on a vet minimum to a small market without the microscope on him and a lineup of Keon, LaVine, Simmons, Keegan, and Sabonis could work. That’s 2 passing bigs, 3 quality defenders, and 3 outside shooters. If Ben were put in the Vlade role and Sabonis in the CWebb role of the glory years Kings and they ran a high post Princeton offense, I could get behind the idea.
It’s funny you mention that when I was searching for potential free agent guards, I came across Ben Simmons and thought that could work as a point forward
Here’s a quote from Scott Perry from November 2023:
This year I did make an effort to root for losing and embrace the soap opera. One thing I learned is that soap operas have actually been quite popular, and I don’t regret it one bit. The thing that made it manageable was I’m also an Eagles fan so my emotions were perfectly balanced. I realize most Kings fans probably don’t have that emotional luxury.
First move: unload Mark Jones as announcer. Please. Sick of him. Bring Kyle Draper in full-time, or let him split time with Deuce Mason.
PS I may have to change my KH name again. At the nadir (2019-21), it was something negative, and I didn’t think I’d be an enthusiastic fan again. During the Beam Team year I changed it to “NowLoveThemOnceAgain.” I still attended 3 games this year (live in NV, so it’s a big trip and $$$ for good seats) and watched ~77 games on TV (hence my remarks on the announcer). Will re-evaluate for next season.
I’m with you on Jones. Think he’s okay as a national game announcer, but having to hear the same 3-4 stories on repeat as the home team announcer drives me nuts. Did you know Jae Crowder introduces the rookies to the refs? Did you know that Domas worked with Christie on his jumper and off hand?
I think Kayte’s okay. I don’t like the constant excuse making for everything, but some of that may be directed from ownership.
I think Kyle’s fine as well.
The double superlatives and excessive use of pedantic vocabulary get old, fast.
100% agree. Kayte catches endless grief and Jones is far more annoying to me.
Go Miami!!
Go Miami, Go Mavs, Go Coin Flip!
Tails never fails!
I heard something interesting from my friend regarding Scott Perry being so quickly hired as GM – he said that this is a league appointed clean-up job, similar to how Joe Dumars is sent to help struggling franchises figure their pile of shit out. Anyone else know or heard this? Also, I don’t know that Scott Perry is the right person to have that type of job lol, although, both Dumars and Perry worked for the kings (same time?) before and tried to help steer the team in a better direction. Of course, it went back to Vivek catastrophe soon after
A league appointed cleanup job would be most welcome. They should supply Perry with a roll of duct tape with Vivek’s name on it though.
Tell me more about the franchises Joe Dumars has supposedly cleaned up on behalf of the league.
LOL, truth. In what sane world would Dumars be a league appointed cleanup man?
He’s a scrape the barrel GM that’s would sign on anywhere to remain in the league.
He’s the Doug McDermott of GMs.
Of course Davion Mitchell was the hero for the Heat tonight lol
Realkly happy for him.
And also, I see it as a signal that a clear role and good team culture are so important to maximize potential.
And another thought, as much as I belive that Vivek is meddling, I find it hard to believe that he was the one behind minor deals like the Davion/Sasha trade. Monte was as much culprit as victim.
Was still the Davion that we knew — was 1 for 8 from the field going into the 4th quarter, then caught fire late, which can happen for literally any player in the league. He can be a solid contributor in a 9-man rotation on a winning team at the end of his 6th season in the NBA, which is probably also true of Devon Carter … almost the same player really, but Kangz fans aren’t too excited about Carter right now.
Davion shot 40% from three this year. With the defense he plays, he’s a plus player. Devin Carter hasn’t proven anything yet.
Davion just finished his 6th season and shot ~33% from 3 over his first 5 years. He’s a replacement level player. Carter hasn’t played 40 NBA games yet. He might never get better, could easily be better than Davion in a year.
OT: Davion Mitchell on fire for the Heat in OT.
Yeah! He’s still one of our guys!
Well, probably for most of us, right?
or did some of us underestimate Davion’s role during the Beam Team year?
MB did in game 7.
Draft pick watch: Miami won. Now just need Dallas to beat Memphis…
Great to see Davion doing well, and it could actually benefit the Kings keeping the pick lmao that’s just sad.
Welp…going to need a lot of luck to keep our pick now. Mavs aren’t winning this game.
This franchise doesn’t deserve this year’s pick.
But us fans do……
Dallas sure could use some of that defense thing they’ve been talking about
Dallas loses to Memphis at the exact score that Sacramento loses to Dallas two days ago.
And a Marvin Bagley III sighting! (6 points/5rebounds in 15 min)
Nico is the defintion of a douche. Take some accountability and admit you made the dumbest trade in NBA history instead of defending this nonsense.
One thing is clear. Perry does not like Lavine. He said that clearly just a couple years ago. If he could somehow trade him, I would be a Perry supporter for sure. The problem is his contract. But I heard Denver was interested in him just recently.’Bulls turned down MPJ. Crazy! If MPJ is still available, Kings should do that trade yesterday.
Teams that are desperate for a perimeter scorer will talk themselves into Lavine (ORL, DEN). The question is whether Vivek will allow Perry to trade Lavine.
Both the Nugs and Magic have players we could use and that could fit next to Domas.
Give me Isaac next to Domas.
LaVine to Denver for MPJ and Nnaji. DDR and Monk to Orlando for KCP, Black and da Silva.
New rotation:
PG: Black, Carter
SG: Keon, KCP
SF: MPJ, da Silva
PF: Keegan, Nnaji
C: Sabonis, JV
Kings get young, longer, and better shooting.
I like the Lavine to Nuggets deal.
The Orlando deal would leave us thin with perimeter scoring. Probably makes sense to hold onto Monk.
Even after these deals we haven’t solved the 4 next to Domas issue. Maybe this offseason is when the J Collins deal finally happens. I really wish Monte had drafted Ware.
I’m gonna keep screaming it from the rooftops: Keegan can play the 4. Put him on the court with a 6’10’ MPJ and it won’t matter. The two of them would be your prototypical 3/4 combo wings.
I’m curious, what makes John Collins more of a 4 than Keegan?
I worry about a guard that can score a lot with your trades, but I do like it and I’m sure we could pick up some type of microwave type score as a sixth man
Welp…RIP our draft pick barring the unlikely scenario of jumping in the top 4.
Might be a good thing at this point, feels like this pick owed to ATL has been hanging over our heads for like 5 years.
For when people (the new FO) will start defending this dumbster fire of a season by pointing at injuries …
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Go0m5xjX0AE8OqH?format=jpg&name=large
Healthy team, just bad.
Holy crap @ OKC
Kayte will still point to injuries, stats be damned.
Are the Kings not going to even bother with a press conference after having their front office people quit and/or be fired, and obviously working to hire someone while they were still employed?
I’m guessing they don’t do one until the front office is complete and a decision is made on Christie. Then they will just invite friendly local media and answer some softball questions.
Sadly, all signs are pointing to Christie being retained. Fourth time’s the charm of hiring the coach before the GM.
Who was the person at the old site that was always so positive? Was the Pooky?
Well, I am not that person, but I am a bit of a contrarian, which means I may sound like Pooky (or whoever that was) for this post. I think I’ll risk getting made fun of on the board here, but would like to offer a different take I think than most. Doesn’t mean I’m right, but I always try to challenge myself to imagine different scenarios than the general consensus for just about anything. Here are my thoughts:
-Three or four bad things happened last summer:
While we all hoped that they’d figure out how to fit DeRozen in, he was and is a terrible fit on this team, as many here feared, including me. Brown pretty much washes his hands of the team early on, and to my eyes, actually works to get himself fired. He’s not dumb, he could see how DeRozen breaks the mold that he’d tried to build. Fox becomes frustrated playing with DeRozen, Keegan can’t get the ball long enough to take a shot, and Domas becomes and after thought in the offense. BTW, no respect for Brown in this mess for quitting on the team (my evidence for this was his repeated throwing his team under the bus in press conferences-that’s a loser leader for me). So Brown goes haywire, and Vivek decides he has to fire Brown. Lot’s of folks here were calling for that move. Fox demands a trade.
This may be the most controversial part of this post…I blame Monte. I feel like Vivek stayed reasonably in the background for 4 of Monte’s 5 years. But the lack of action last summer, particularly after he let himself get talked into resigning Brown, was too much. (I think we all blamed-rightly so-Vivek for the hesitancy to resign Brown).
The good news in this whole thing? Move DeRozen, who will never fit with Domas and find a point guard, and I think we can be pretty close to back to being the Beam Team year again. I know, that’s not enough for some here, but I’m happy just avoiding a shit show. Low standards, I know.
I’m not sure about Doug, but I think he showed promise. If we can get Memphis’s old coach (Jenkins?) do that, but Doug is a decent fall back plan. Perry is a 20 year NBA guy who played some role in resurrecting the Knicks from the dead. Most importantly he’s a guy who already seems to have Vivek’s trust. We all want Vivek out of the day to day, and Perry is probably the best route for that because Vivek trusts him. And he probably has the skill to move DeRozen and find a point guard.
In the end, I don’t feel nearly as bleak as many of you here. And, yes, I’ve been a Kings fan since they moved to Sacramento. I see a pretty possible route to an 8-10 game improvement next year. Nope, they are not going to win a championship, but they really aren’t far from respectability. (Again, my bar is….lower than some)
Of course, if DeRozen is still on the team at the start of the season I won’t be watching much Kings basketball. Seems like a good dude, but god I hate his playing style.
Thanks for reading!
I think you’re referring to JLV.
Badge Legend