On Tuesday, Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair spelled out his reasons for retaining Luke Walton as the head coach in a media session.
The main reasons he continued to point to included:
- Walton's relationships with the players.
- His working relationship with Walton.
- How the team finished the season.
- The need for stability.
Here are the full comments that sum this up:
"Luke will continue to be our head coach. The team finished strong down the stretch, obviously did not ultimately reach our goal, but he has the support of our players, we have a great working relationship and while we both acknowledge that we have to become better in many areas, we've built that trust and we need the stability in this organization to ultimately take that next step. On the season, we're disappointed. Fan base deserves better, deserves the playoffs, we feel the frustration. We saw some good stretches, but ultimately, we were too inconsistent and we need to find more consistency. Defensively, goes without saying, has to be much improved. Luke and I recognize that, we're going to work together to improve that. Offensively, we made a jump, but I think this team can be a top-5 offense consistently. So, we'll look for another jump on that end as well. We're going to do everything in our power to be aggressive and improve the team and ultimately get back to the playoffs."
Here is more:
There was a lot of positives this year. Certainly, not enough, we understand that, but Luke and I talk every day. We have a great working relationship; he's got the support of the players. We found some success especially late in the season to get back into the play-in race, and ultimately, I felt that we could build on that and that he's the coach who is going to get us back to the playoffs."
McNair was asked if the decision to retain Walton was a money decision or a basketball decision, and he said, "I understand that that is kind of out there, but I've been given every resource I need to get this team back to the playoffs and this was a basketball decision."
He also addressed the fact that some fans are not happy about the direction of the team.
"We feel, and hear, and see the frustration of the fans here, but we also see the passion and all we're trying to do is unlock that and really turn it into the excitement that this city is ready to explode with, he said.
The Kings finished the season with a 31-41 record, which was good for 12th in the Western Conference, the same record and spot as last season.
Now I wish the kings picked a different gm. That’s a very disappointing press conference.
Not encouraging.
Same as it ever was.
This BS on finishing the season was bound to show up
You heard it first in the propaganda segments of each pre-game and post-game, I was holding out hope that McNair was the real deal, he is not.
Different GM, same press conference.
Vivek Ranadive wasn’t going to bring in anybody unwilling to toe the line.
This is Vivek’s show, so there’s no reason to start expecting different results.
“THIS IS NOT A MONEY ISSUE, I PROMISE!” is only said when it is in fact a money issue. Financially confident teams never discuss finances, only teams with a shitty balance sheet feel the need to address those concerns publicly.
Monte has lost all credibility with me (I know he’s still better than Vlade at talent evaluation) but he’s a liar and is now just another another clown in the clown show that is the Vivek FO.
I’m not so sure. I wish McNair would fire Walton yesterday. But we knew from day one that McNair is a big fan of collaboration between the coach and the FO, so having a coach that is also down with that (like Walton appears to be) is very appealing to him. I doubt McNair would want more of an old school “my way” head coach who was territorial about his/her court and locker room, regardless of their skill level, because the relationship would not be sustainable. We also know McNair is a big fan of flexibility and patience–his lack of major deadline moves showed he is NOT one to make major shake-ups unless he feels that he abso-positively has to. Walton is a crap coach, but right now he’s McNair’s crap coach, and McNair will keep dating him until he’s sure he’s found a smarter and more attractive girl to marry.
If Monte weren’t an idiot, he would have waited to make this decisions once he knew which coaches would be available for hire, instead…well, he proved to be an idiot.
Agreed 100%, in that Walton is under contract and there is absolutely no reason to come out and make this statement at this time. If they feel the need to broadcast a “vote of confidence” for Walton, they are already fucked beyond their knowledge.
They did this for the players. They are coddling their young star(s). They do this every time. I don’t think monte wanted Luke anymore than you do.
Vivek’s #1 objective: Make sure the players still like him.
ð¤ð¼
I’m in the same place as I was with Vlade. It’s either McNair’s call or he’s a paper tiger. And if his call is to cowtow to De’Aaron Fox, he is a very bad GM. And if this came from above him, then his is a spineless paycheck grabber that should walk away.
Can I say it’s all of it and yes he should.
I also don’t want to go on a huge tangent but a valid concern on their horizon is this treatment of players. They have now retained and fired coaches based on player feels vs results.
The true horror show on the horizon which we heard a lot today and then heard it regurgitated at length by ham and the talking heads, the swing for the fences Webber esque all star trade.
For those of you too young to recall the genesis there was a time when our beloved Chris Webber said he would rather retire than play here.
That was 98 and Ownership/FO has shown they are about as soft as 10 ply so far with player feels so what happens when their disgruntled trade return just says…..um nope.
Yeah, this isn’t something that needed to be announced. If there’s ever been a coach that should be on the hot seat, it’s Luke Walton.
I’m not doubting your take, but why wouldn’t he want his own hand picked coach then? Presumably, his own coach would be on board and matching what he and the rest of the front office wants.
Why doesn’t our front office realize all the money they lose/waste on bad hires gets wiped away when a good or exciting product is put on the floor? If the kings, all of a sudden, started playing well, they might get put on national tv more often. That puts a spotlight on our local players. People start buying fox and haliburton jerseys. The arena starts selling out again. Success brings money. Even genuine attempts at success would bring money.
See my comment. If this were a publicly traded company, they’d be in Chapter 11. Endlessly.
It’s kind of a corollary to when someone begins a sentence with some version of “let me tell you the truth:” It’s all but a fact that you’re about to hear a lie.
McNair got a pass for Walton this first year. He owns this now.
Just wait until Holmes walks. Then the shit is gonna hit the fan around here.
Frankly, I’d be shocked if he comes back. So him walking won’t move the needle for me.
It’s gonna move the needle for me because Monte could have moved him at the deadline.
I don’t blame Holmes for wanting to leave, but if Monte couldn’t read those tea leaves, we are fucked.
I’ve been thinking about this, but I wonder what kind of deal the Kings would offer Holmes. Assuming it’s 10.5 million the starting salary, the Kings can offer 8% raises.
1st season: 10,500,000
2nd season: 11,340,000
3rd season: 12,180,000
4th season: 13,020,000
47,040,000$$$$
That’s what the Kings can offer with their early bird rights as of now.
If I’m the Knicks, would I offer Holmes a 2 year 20 million AAV? I would consider it. They certainly can afford it. And those early bird rights would allow the Knicks to pay Holmes 27.5 million starting salary (which he won’t get) if they so chose.
The point is, were I a team out there with cap room, I would consider a higher AAV and shorter term (2 years) to get Holmes. If I were Holmes, I’d certainly consider that. But, it is what it is.
I’m not losing sleep over it, no matter how much I love Richaun Holmes. Holmes is good, but like Bogdanovich, it’s understandable were he to walk under the right circumstances. And if there wasn’t trades out there worth doing, there’s only so much you can do.
I wouldn’t blame Holmes for leaving, but there was certainly a deal for him at the deadline that netted something. If McNair didn’t pursue that and subsequently let the guy walk, that’s a terrible look.
Throwing away an asset for what? To desperately try and fail to be the 10th worst team in the conference? That’s an issue of basic competence for a GM.
Couldn’t agree more.
And that something was?
Does it matter? Probably an early second round pick at best, or possibly a recently selected second rounder with some promise.
If you can’t figure out a guy’s market and that you can’t or won’t retain him, that’s just incompetent.
Hornets are going to clear the bank for him. At least 15-17 million. HE would fit in perfectly there.
Replace him with Kantor. Matches up better against bigger players. Gives you 11 and 11 in 24. Give him 30-32 min and it’s probably 18-15. Does everything Holmes does, cheaper and better. A little less athletic, that’s it.
Kanter is a genuinely terrible defensive player.
Yes, and?
And Holmes isnt?
Holmes certainly isn’t worse defensively than Kanter.
Ohh, it hasn’t already :-p
I am so disappointed in this front office. They are 100% satisfied with losing.
#HereWeTshirt 😀
That’s a tshirt I’d wear to the games.
…if someone bought me a ticket.
Burn that ticket if someone buys it for you. Don’t spend your hard earned money on overpriced food, parking, etc once you’re in the arena. SMH at this team…..nothing will ever change.
You’re killing it, TerzoM!
This is perfect.
Thanks Kosta. I’ll see what else I can come up with ð
Marty, we need the “this is fine” meme with Monte’s face instead of Vlade. It’s already come full circle.
Ham on 1320. Wow. Just wow.
Anyone wondering about my question in the other thread should hear this.
I love me some ham, talking about Monte is gonna go all out be aggressive on that trade market, all picks are in play. Who can we get ham?
um…….Collins would be good and sabonis yeah sabonis.
FML.
Ham went all-in on Walton…full of excuses for him. He’s a good soldier.
Ham went full straw man on his professed lack of understanding as to why many fans might not be happy with Luke Walton.
No James, it’s not just because of the way he was hired without interviews.
No James, it’s not just because he was a Laker.
Not once in his rather lengthy monologue, did Ham acknowledge … I don’t know the slightly relevant factors such as Luke’s head coaching record… or his teams’ defensive performances! You know, things related to silly things like actual performance and job production!
Does anyone in the Sacramento local media have the temerity to think that actual job performance might be a wee bit relevant to peoples’ opinions of Luke on this matter?
Holy begeezus my brain hurts!
Short answer…..no.
Reason he didn’t bring up record or defense is because of how outlandish it is to bring back this head coach based on those IMPORTANT METRICS.
See what you don’t understand is….
JJHam’s performance as a propagandist for the Kings gives me a sad.
Like a good Vivek soldier, he put most of the blame on the roster that Vlade had built for Luke. Not Luke or Monte’s fault at all…
Also, he was talking like Bagley and Hield have trade value. I sure hope I’m wrong on that one.
YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE SMOKE (that Kings media is going to blow up your ass)!
KC already called out my twitter handle on the radio!
Well you are an annoying butthead so you deserve it!
Well played sir! And I’m not even a fan of Space Jam!
What specifically didn’t you understand?
Gaslighting the fans… another Vivek-era hallmark.
I’ve become so accustomed to the Kings media apparatus talking about me as if I was stupid.
The sad thing is, a sizable part of the fanbase eats it up like a baloney sandwich.
It was like that with Vlade too.
“He loves this city.”
“He loves this team.”
“He’s not doing this because he needs a paycheck.”
Yeah, but none of those things have anything to do with the fact that he was the worst GM in the league for his tenure.
Go easy on him, any of us would be thrilled with the lush five-figure salary he’s hauling in.
I would be thrilled for sure!
I just think I could manage to at least acknowledge the undeniable here and there!
But who knows? Truth is, I would probably have been fired by now if I were him!
No worries guys. Monte said we are going to the playoffs so it’s all good.
How they finished the season? Yes, 3-7 in their last 10 games! Come on, a bunch of no-name players were playing for a new contracts. Missing bullet point: We owe him $11 million.
And how many of those 3 wins were against OKC…
Blah, blah blah…no different than any other crappy GM we’ve had in place the last 15 years.
They’ve taken Geoff Petrie’s adage to the next level:
“If you want to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back to the orchestra…and then proceed to moon and shit all over them. Boo-yeah!!!”
Vivek wants us to be a Jazz Band.
Meanwhile, there’s the Utah Jazz, who have the best record in the NBA, without getting much lottery ping-pong ball luck in their draftings.
I say we rename the team:
“VIVEK’S DISASTROUS ATTEMPT AT RUNNING A BASKETBALL FRANCHISE”
I think that’ll all fit on a jersey.
The Sacramento Jizz.
This is a horrible image…..
I can’t speak to whether or not his heart is in it, but regardless, he’s publicly ankled himself to this clown, so everything will be filtered through that going forward.
We’ll see if Walton can make it a full season. Here’s to an 0-10 start, and a 70-2 finish.
0-10 is only one game worse than the longest streak we’ve had this season, and nothing happened there. Kings would need to start 0-20, maybe.
Whatever it takes!
Luke Walton will put on his resume’
2021-22 Sacramento Kings record: 70-12
2015-16 Golden State Warriors record 73-9
Yup. If Walton doesn’t lead the Kings to the playoffs (BREAKING: He won’t) Monte just made his bed with him. When Walton fails to improve this team, Monte will look the fool
Seriously, when Monte eventually fires Walton, will he admit that he was wrong?
My guess is he goes with Walton.
Replaced by Dumars.
That really would not surprise me at this point.
ððð this is too much. Y’all are crazy.
Don’t forget to call us girls
“… the excitement that this city is ready to explode with.”
That ship has so sailed, Monte. Not even sure I’d care if they miraculously won 50 next year.
The playoff blue balls is extreme but the only thing kings fans are going to explode with excitement over is the end of Vivek.
I was afraid “the strong finish” might encourage Luke to be kept. What a pile of shit. Stability is a fair rationale but not when Luke Walton has two losing streaks that equate to .25% of the entire season…. we had two separate 9 game losing streaks….what more evidence do you need that he cannot coach in the NBA. He cannot adapt like other coaches, he simply gets out-coached nearly every game. McNair has done nothing to prove his worth other than draft Hali which kinda fell into his lap.
My gut feeling is that this was a decision that was made a few months ago, and that ultimately, it’s all about the money.