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Is that “the eye test” or the “oy test?”
I mean, he wasn’t really a PG in college. I’m not sure why we would expect him to be one in the NBA. Maaayyybbbeee he has some secondary ballhandler upside as a combo guard, but he’s never showen anything close to the ballhandling or decision-making chops necessary to play PG in the NBA.
Yeah I haven’t understood all of the fuss over DC’s ballhandling/playmaking. He was drafted to be a Josh Hart/Caruso type. Long, athletic, high-motor, defensive-minded guard that makes the hustle plays, moves the ball, and helps on the glass. You’re not supposed to run your offense through him.
He’s an off-ball player. The biggest concern for me has been his 3pt shooting, which must be better for him to be a viable player.
The problem is Hart is 6-4, Caruso is 6-5 and DC is 6-2. And he has no shoulders.
wingspan significantly more important than head height for that role and he has that on par with those guys or better.
Good point.
This site has wingspan for all NBA players
Carter – 6’8.75″
Caruso – 6’6″
Hart – 6’8.25″
So considering head height and wingspan, they are all pretty equal.
Now he just needs to be able to hit his 3s and do something about his shoulders. And get past the logjam at SG to actually see some floor time.
LOL, Jerry on Doug McDermott:
“What are we doing here? The thing that bothered me the most…of all the talk of defense, defense, defense, and now you get an older guy who doesn’t play defense. Is it all bullshit?”
We love you, Jerry!
Vivek must hate JR at this point haha.
I don’t get it either. We can trade a player we aren’t even going to play for one of the best defensive players in the league for a song and dance even a short song and dance. Jared Vanderbilt is only 26 and at 6’8″ has a very high motor and never quites. He can rebound and protect the weakside rim. He is also a good passer. He doesn’t have an offensive game other than dunks but scores a lot on steals and great hustle. A different player than Issac Jones so both bring there skills. Just doesn’t make sense.
Just because you keep saying that the Kings should get Vanderbilt isn’t the same thing as saying that his team has any interest in moving him for whatever is being offered.
Let’s try something.
You should stop saying that the Kings should just get “one of the best defensive players in the league for a song and dance,” because no team can impose its shitty trade package on another team.
Will my demand be met? Will other unreasonable people support me? Can, no should one party be able to force its will on another in the easy manner that you suggest?
Regardless, stop thinking small. If you’re going to demand things, insist that the Kings trade a second-rounder to get Giannis, or world peace.
yeah just brutal to semi officially know it’s just more side speak from another puppet GM.
Depth Chart
PG: DS – Monk – DC
SG: Zach – Keon – Cliff
SF: DDR – Cliff – Doug
PF: Keegan – IJ – Dario
C: Domas – Maxi – Drew
Should the Kings even pick up DC’s rookie option(5.2 then 7.4) if they can’t trade him before the start of the season?
Why not?
That’s a lot of cash for a guy that looks destined for China
to be fair, I don’t think DC is thaaat bad. We’ll see how he performs in regular season, but even though his summer league as PG was disappointing, I’m not sure he’s out-the-league status yet. Even Davion to me seemed like he was a fringe nba player many times, but he seemed to have found some footing in Miami
Eh, it isn’t that much cash (especially since they’re yearly options) and I think it’s early to make that call. Ultimately, that kind of short-term, low-cost investment on young guys that COULD be useful (which I think DC may be as long as we stop trying to pretend he’s a PG) is one of the 2-3 strategies the Kings should be employing.
I like how Jerry subtly pointed out the Kings have a ton of 6’6″ and under off guards cosplaying as other positions. The reality is the depth chart looks more like this:
PG: Schröder
SG: LaVine, DDR, Monk, Keon, Nique, Carter, McDermott, TD
SF:
PF: Keegan, Jones, Saric
C: Sabonis, Eubanks, Maxi
When you’re right you’re right . Sadly !
The way I see it, we have some flexibility (SG, SF), some redundancy (SG) and at least 2 gaps (???):
PG Schröder, ???, Monk/Ellis, Carter
SG Lavine, DDR, Monk/Ellis, Carter
SF Murray, Lavine, DDR
PF ??? Murray, Jones/Raynaud
C Sabonis, Eubanks/Raynaud
*In theory* Ben Simmons could sort of fill both gaps … if he wants to play basketball.
… and I forgot Clifford!
Roster construction was difficult for Monte to comprehend and it seems as though Perry is following in that path.
It’s all about what Vivek wants at the end of the day. Thats why the same problem persists.
Monte was done in by his patience. He waited so long for the right deal to come along that the moment for the team to be competitive passed him by. I still believe Monte had an excellent eye for talent, understood the direction the NBA was heading, was a tidy manager of his cap sheet, and had a clear vision for the team. He was not perfect by any means (bad management of second rounders, didn’t have the ability to close deals), but I always felt he was a competent GM.
Contrast that with the utter incompetence of this offseason, Monte sounds pretty good to me right now.
Monte did what he was hired to do. Which was to keep re-tooling around Fox and end the playoff drought ASAP.
It’s why he was hired over Sachin Gupta, who would have torn this team down and built up from scratch. Vivek doesn’t have patience for that.
Amazingly, Monte had Hali fall to him in the late lottery. Would’ve been a good time to shift gears and build around the younger, better player. But again, Vivek.
Monte fulfilled his mandate as a vivek lackey, and when the player who they coddled and catered to predictably wanted out of this clown show, his hand was forced to sell way low.
Monte gets the blame, while the real clown car driver (vivek) remains in control, and has moved on to his next lackey.
I agree. The worst things about Monte’s tenure (trading Hali, trading for Lavine, signing DDR despite being a bad fit) I attribute to pressure from Vivek.
When I look at the trades for Sabonis, JV, and Laravia, I see moves made by a man who was trying to do his best within the parameters his boss had set for him. Monte knew the roster had problems, and could articulate those problems clearly in front of the media, but could only explore solutions that lead to competitive basketball in the short term.
No centers and two point guards? Trade one of them for an All-NBA center. No two-way wing depth? Take a flyer on a guy like Laravia who was on the outs in Memphis for reasons beyond his control. These moves demonstrate a savviness for acquiring talent when it can be acquired cheaply. They make sense when looked at through the lens of trying to win games immediately.
The problem is, the Kings never should have hired Monte to win immediately. They should’ve hired him to be the architect of a full teardown and rebuild. Before Fox forced his way out, Monte had clearly built a better roster than the one he had inherited. He was exec of the year, he ended the drought, for three straight years the Kings consistently won basketball games (!!!).
But in the end, Vivek couldn’t help himself but lean over from the passenger seat and jerk the wheel. Now we’re spiraling into the quarry of basketball ruin. Until he’s gone, nothing will ever change.
Well said.
I think much more vivek and MB issues during his tenure imo. Monte apparently was shot down by mb for a couple of PFs in Collins and Ingram, then was forced ddr and lavine on him by vivek
I would bet you that lineup won’t get you 35 wins next year.
This. They’re not making the play-in or winning 40 games with this team.
well, technically Keegan should be in that SF slot, everything else correct.
I guess I’ll never understand why the idea of Clifford having a decent portion of his minutes at SF is beyond consideration. It’d be swell if he was 6’8″, but he has enough strength and skill to not get pushed around by taller wings.
A shame, really. At fifth on the depth chart at a position that his physical attributes demand he play, I guess Clifford will never see the floor, even in mop-up time.
Shoulda been taller, rook! Who ever heard of a 6’5″ small forward?
Based on Kings free agency history, I question anyone that willfully signs with the team (not including players extensions, like rookie scale or what Fomas did recently. Take the money!!!)
I get the Kings overpay, but is it worth the torture?
maybe it’s their last chance at a good contract and they figure they can be traded anyway
Vivek and this FO are going to quickly find out that not even the play-in will be attainable next season.
Nuggets
Wolves
Thunder
Duds
Fakers
Clips
Mavs
Rockegs
Grizz
Spurs
That’s ten teams that are clearly better than the Kings.
Blazers
Jazz
Suns
Pels
I think we’re only clearly better than the Suns.
It could get ugly this season and hopefully it does and by trade deadline our core is dealt.
Landing a top 3 pick in next year‘s loaded draft is crucial.
The Jazz are going to be bad. Pelicans are only good next season if Zion is healthy and plays. But still, that’s bottom of the barrel stuff right there.
If Perry doesn’t do anything to make this team better(McDermott isn’t the God send) then I will not be on King’s Herald next year. It just isn’t worth it. We’ll see. For what it’s worth I care a lot on every person who comments on this page. GO KINGS!
Jack, I think I can speak for many here…don’t let the Kings ineptitude kill your fandom and love of this community. Many of us here are frustrated to no end with the team, but we love this community and banter. TKH is a special place for our little niche enclave. Don’t give up, amigo.
I’ve been apart of this online group since ’08…I think, which spans many rosters, GMs, owners, and even site domains. We are a special group. Keep bringing it.
Rangz, Kangz, disgruntled Fanz. It don’t mean shit cause we are family.
What Adamsite wrote is so true!! I was a Bulls fan in Chicago for thirty years. I used to read Sam Smith on the Bulls religiously. Sam was good. But I found nothing in Chicago to compare with the many knowledgeable fans who comment on TKH. And the humor is better than the best comics!
The only west team we have more talent than are the Suns imo. All these young teams that have been rebuilding/tanking are looking to take the next step. The west is getting a lot more crowded this year and the mediocre vivek kangz are getting squeezed out.
The Jazz. They traded some good talent (Sexton and Collins) for worse talent. They have Lauri and a bunch of young guys haven’t really looked too good. Kessler has had moments, and I like Collier, but still unproven.
At least the Suns have a number one option in Booker, promising Jalen Green. Outside of that, not much.
So true. The commenters on TKH are the only thing I like about this franchise anymore.
With you. I would have packed it in years ago if it were not for this community.
OK I’ll hang in there just to see what Perry and company will do this summer and because your comment directly to me was taken the right way has convinced me that family is more important than just one guy who appreciates all those who stick in there. GO KINGS!
the real Larry O’Brien Trophy was the friends we made along the way
I got tired enough of the persistent cellar dwelling and poor decision making that I decided that as long as Vivek was the Governor/Managing Partner, I would just fan elsewhere.
I picked the LA Clippers. I like what Steve Ballmer has done (they have not had a losing season since he’s been in charge. That’s pretty amazing). He sits in the stands and fans out in public. In the back room, he hired Jerry West, Lawrence Frank. He seems to let the folks he hired alone. And he seems to spare little expense in hiring who he could (Jerry West for example (and R.I.P.)). He built a great arena, and with the fans in mind. He didn’t buy the Clippers and build the Intuit Dome because he needs the money. He has the team because he wants it, he doesn’t need it. And he wants to win.
I even had an avatar name: FromSacToLAC for their online sites. I like the team enough, but their online community isn’t this community. I am back here, warts and all, because this site TKH/the old STR and all of you posters – are more fun. We are a sad sack lot commiserating about this dismal franchise – but I get more information and have more fun here than the Clipper folks could seem to muster.
The fun of sports sharing is the worry, joy, heartache, headache, confusion and hope that every team produces. That this franchise is back making a bull run on laughingstock is just par for the course.
So, I am here. With you, Jack. And Adamsite (who’s awesome). And all you others – the real Good, Bad and Ugly. In their own way, the Sacramento Kings are a big pile of poop – but dammit, they are our pile of poop. I want so much to see them win – but I don’t expect it more than a bit. My fan disappointment has a foot squarely in the apathy section of the bleachers. And that’s okay.
If you decide to stay, Jack; see you in the funny papers! And Light the Beam!
Great stuff as usual UTQ
Don’t threaten us with a good time, Jack.
Yeah but that’s only one player and we don’t know if he is any good or not. I will be dead and gone if that’s our future.
What are you all thinking about the Blazers (my back-up team when I can’t take the Kings anymore)?
The return of the injured Dame, together with the trade for Jrue, as mentors for Scoot and Shae? The trading down and taking a swing at Yang Hansen, and how he looked in Vegas? The young defensive core of Camara, Avdija and Clingan?
So different from the Kangz approach.
I think there’s a decent chance they finish ahead of us. I think Billups has done a good job getting them to play the right way on both ends of the floor.
I actually think they’re being slept on a bit. Obviously, they have to prove/earn it but I think they have a good young team who could make a little bit of noise this year. More development for Scoot, Shae, DC, and probably bench big minutes for Yang, with Camara and Avdija(who i think is really underrated), and now the addition of Jrue and Dame on the bench they should be fun. Very real and easy chance they’re better than us in the standings
I think they can finish above the Kings. I know for sure they are going to be a lot more fun than the Kings.
I’m rooting for Dario Saric to have a career year.
I’m rooting for him to have somebody, anybody’s career year other than his own.
I’m rooting to trade him for Jared Vanderbilt. One for one.
Kings don’t have the space to take on the difference in contract. The difference is about $8m this year.
We did it. We’re elite! ESPN.com Tier 1 worst personnel moves since 2020. ‘Franchise altering terrible trades’. We made #5: having both Fox and Haliburton and losing both within 3 years. ‘Just a couple of years after their best run in decades, the Kings once more possess an ill-fitting roster with no direction, and they’ve gone from two point guards to zero. Meanwhile, Haliburton… .’ You picked Fox/Sabonis over Hali. Then you couldn’t even keep Fox. As they say, ‘terrible.’
Expand it to seven years and drafting Bagley over Luka gets on the radar.
Expand it from 85-98, and then from 07-Current. So many awful trades, drafts and free agent signings. Zooming out and looking at the totality of ineptitude across multiple owners, GMs, coaches, and players, is quite the thought exercise. Hell, they even had a fan puke on the floor!!!
It was a physical and spiritual (well there were spirits involved) manifestation of Kanz fandom. He did what was needed!!!
Not going to lie but I love listening to Jerry as he is honest and knows a thing or two about the league
I also value this site as place where we aren’t being BS’ed about what the team is doing
I have a question, I here this narrative on various podcasts and on the radio (I know I need to get out more) about there are moves the team wants to make but can’t. They know the players they want. They know the roster is imbalanced and they want to change things. We all know this roster is crap, I kinda figured there would be moves, so now they they are goin to run it back?
Is this cos this roster is that bad and no one wants anyone on this roster, our front office is asking for stupid sh!t, or do they think if they wait long enough the front office will cave. Or is it that the new collective bargaining agreement makes it tough
Why couldn’t the Kings have been in on Collin Sexton as what the Hornets gave up wasn’t that much
So why resign McDermott, isn’t there a bargain basement power forward or wing player out there who might actually help this roster
All of the above?
It takes 2 teams to make a deal, free agents have to want to sign in Sac, other teams probably don’t want the Kings current players, and the asking price is probably too high by the Kings front office.
Caleb Houstan was a young 6’8 player that can shoot, he signed a 1 year vet minimum deal with the Hawks. He would have been better than McDermott. But Houstan would have wanted to sign with the Kings, and the Kings would have wanted him on the roster.
Personally, I don’t give a shit about the narratives. It’s about results.
They traded who they traded (JV for Saric – bad) and they signed who they signed (Sctoder – meh and McBuckets – bad). And made a tactical error with Keon, and lost control over his situation – bad.
We’ve become older and not much better, if at all. It may be that we’ve become worse, actually. The roster imbalance is awful, as Adamsite showed here above.
No narrative can explain away such an underwhelming offseason.
I 100% believe they have gotten worse. There is now zero depth behind Sabonis and Keegan. What kills me, is that they actually think they have gotten better and it’s not some kind of stealth tank. You don’t give out a contract like Schröder’s if you are gunning for the lottery.
I’m not sure what’s worse a bad team or a mediocre team with out any real interesting pieces
The front office seems to be delusionly self confident of late its like they know something the rest of the league doesn’t
There was a time when I’d get pissed off when the national media would slang this team off. Not any more, they deserve it
An ammendum to this is Bill Simmons just slagging off Fox, that now the Spurs have Harper they don’t need Fox any more. Harper could be great but he also might never ever learn how to shoot just cos he was on the Kings doesn’t mean he is some random guy. Who really knows how good he is but he is what a top 20-30 guy in the league is he not?
The McDermott re-signing really makes no sense. He doesn’t fit Perry’s wanted identity at all. At this point, are we even sure we got a new GM. It’s just the same shit.
As to player value, I’m guessing the only ones that migh peak other team’s interests are Sabonis, Keegan and Keon. The rest are unwanted, mainly due to their contracts.
Even Sabonis’ deal is brutal Veciene did a section on one of his last pods about it. He’s making # 2-3 money on the extension yet no one in the league really views him as that.
I can see the point, but I’m not sure I agree with that. This year he’ll be the 27th highest paid player in the league, and he is clearly a top 25 player. He also has a skillset that makes those around him better. The same can’t be said for the likes of LaVine, DDR, Monk, etc.
If anything, most players making over $40M annually are being viewed differently with the new CBA rules. This offseason’s free agency is a preview into the new spending decisions in the league. If Sabonis was put on the block or asked for a trade, I can think of more than a few teams that would be calling. I can’t say the same for DDR and LaVine.
I think all of the “Sabonis is too expensive” stuff is bullshit from GMs looking to drop the asking price.
He led the league in rebounds back-to-back seasons, he had more triple doubles two seasons ago than media darlings like Doncic and Jokic, he’s the best passing big man in the league outside of Denver, regularly leads the league in screen assists, runs in transition better than virtually any center in the league, he never misses a game, never takes a play off, competes hard on both ends, is a leader on/off the court, can be penciled in for 20-10-6 on 60% shooting every single night, and is in the heart of his prime.
You think Steph or SGA or Ja or Mitchell doesn’t want to come off a DHO with this guy? That JJJ, Chet, Mobley or Draymond can’t help smooth over some defensive questions? The idea that this guy can’t be stomached by another team is laughable.
pique:-)
In short they have a math problem…the players they have make too much for what the league values them for..or they don’t value them at all the way we do. If we wanted to put compensation with some of these players they would be gone.
foreshadowing what is probably going to happen at the deadline as they all want off this ride.
I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if DDR asks for a trade or buyout before the summer is over. He’s seeing a bunch of vets like Dame, CP3, Beal, etc choose their next and possible final destinations as NBA players. I imagine he wants that as well, rather than ending his career in Sac.
Its like the Lavine Deal, the Bulls tried forever to get rid of him and no only did the Kings trade for him they traded Fox, good lord!!
As an aside, I’m back to reading power rankings from the bottom up, as that is the fastest path to the Kings paragraph.
I’m back to my tradition of looking at mock drafts and seeing the Kings picking in the top 10 again. The world is crazier by the day but at least the KANGZ stay the same
Sounds about right and FanDuel agrees with our over/under at 35.5
It seems all the major sports books have the Kings finishing around 11th in the West. Those major sports books aren’t often wrong as they have shit ton of money tied up into their odds
OK, but we’re one 30-something washed up vet away!
Speaking of PR’s, I’m surprised we’re listed at 21 on this PR. It’ll be clear 25-30 ranking a month into the season.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear21. Sacramento Kings
Last ranking: 20
Free agency: SG Keon Ellis (option exercised), PF Trey Lyles (unrestricted), C Isaac Jones (option exercised), PG Markelle Fultz (unrestricted), SF Doug McDermott (re-signed), PF Jae Crowder (unrestricted)
Additions: SF Nique Clifford (draft), PF Dario Šarić (trade), C Drew Eubanks, PG Dennis Schröder (trade)
Departures: SF Jake LaRavia, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade)
Midsummer summary: This is the most top-heavy team in the league that has no business being top-heavy. Let’s be kind first. I’m a big fan of Clifford, and he takes LaRavia’s spot. Don’t be surprised if he is contributing early. The rest? I have concerns. Schröder might be the new starting point guard. He takes Fultz’s roster spot. But that creates a real logjam at guard with Ellis returning, and that means that Carter, last year’s lottery pick, might be the odd man out. None of these guards are going to touch the ball much anyway with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan continuing Chicago Bulls West. And then the backup big rotation is somehow even less inspiring than before, with Šarić and Eubanks replacing Lyles and Valančiūnas. If anything happens to Keegan Murray or Domantas Sabonis, the elevator plummets in the Capital City.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6508565/2025/07/23/nba-power-rankings-knicks-lakers-celtics-thunder-clippers/
That (re-signed) next to McDermott makes me throw up in my mouth
Why pick him over Crowder? Who’s going to introduce the rookies to the officials? /end sarcasm>
There could be 4-6 teams in the East that are worse than the Kings, and 2-4 teams in the West. Split the difference and it comes to 8 teams, which would but the Kings at 22.
Bkn, Was, Cha, Tor, Chi, Uta, NO, Phx, Por. Give me either NO, Phx, or Por finishing over the Kings while the other two stay snake bit. Maybe one of Chi or Tor.
The depressing thing is not whether they are 21st or 22nd or 23rd. It’s how broken they are and how sparse the rebuilding assets are compared to most of the aforementioned teams. There is no way up and no way down for this team. They are mired at 35-40 wins.
Somebody helped out. I just listened for over 20 minutes in what Scott Perry wants. One was more defense. Then he goes out and brings back Doug M. Why would he do that unless he has something up his sleeve. MORE DEFENSE! I just saw a trade where we give
the Lakers Saric and money to make it happen for Jared Vanderbilt who is one of the elite defenders in the league. Yes would have cost Perry 8 mil. but without Doug M. that’s 3.6 mil. You use only 4,4 mil from your MLE and you have Vanderbilt. So much better defensively than McDermott. And he is only 26. He would also fill McDermott’s spot on the team. Am I wrong in this situation?
Help me out on this one. I saw a trade where the Kings send Derozan a first and second for Nic Claxton. The starters are Schroder, LaVine, Murray, Sabonis and Claxton. I have no clue if this would work. What are some of your thoughts? Thanks.
Offensively the Claxton and Sabonis fit would be attrocious.
I’m not giving up a 1st round pick to get rid of DDR for Claxton. No way. That’s like trying to save a shit souffle by adding a pinch of salt.
I’ve seen nothing legitimate that the Lakers would do Vanderbilt for Saric. I’d do it if it was offered, but the Lakers aren’t exactly counting pennies, so I don’t know why they would do it. Also, if the notion is that Vanderbilt is going to play a lot with the starters, you’re going to have some serious spacing issues on offense.
First I wouldn’t start Vanderbilt but he would be a really good backup. The Lakers want Smart. They need money to do so. The cut Melton but still not enough. That is where this trade comes in.
They can sign Smart to a vet minimum. They don’t care if they go over the cap. They are not going to give away players, IMHO.
But Rob, Jack has demanded over and over that Vanderbilt can be had for any bullshit that Sacramento offers. Surely if he continues repeating it ad nauseam it will come true! You just don’t want it bad enough.
And by “it,” I mean “to live in a world of your own making.”
They signed Dougie McBuckets as an end of the bench guy. I don’t like it from the aspect that he is one of 6 wings, but overall, he’s on the 3rd team in the 11-15 slot. It’s just not a big deal. He just doesn’t move the needle, and that may be the reason for the dismay, but it’s otherwise, IMO, not a big deal.
Getting Vandy is a nice back up PF move to help with the Eubanks or Saric or Isaac Jones and he is mobile enough to play SF defense as well as PF/C coverage. I don’t think the other 3 (Eubanks/Saric/Jones) can do that and give Keegan some rest, defensively. Offensively – they can take their pick (DDR, ‘Nique, McBuckets, even Zach can sub in for Keegs).
Especially when Domas sits – who’s rebounding?
You’re killing my dream of landing a top 3 pick in next year’s draft. It’s the only thing that can save this franchise.
True that. I’d sell everything that could obtain future assets and current losses at this point (Murray, Ellis, and as much as it pains me, Sabonis). Nothing else on this roster is going to get you much.
Dealing Fox was the nail in the coffin for this permutation of the Kangz. Blow it up.
That’s just the Stark reality of the situation.
How hard was that to see?? You went with Fox over Hali, it didn’t work. Fox wanted out. You get some youngsters and picks for him at draft time. You start over. Whatever heat you catch after the fans watch The Hali Show (aka the playoffs) and dream of what might have been, you offset with kids, picks, and hope. Instead, you trade him at the deadline for…LAVINE!!! Ever watch Poker Face? The killer always guarantees they’re caught by botching the coverup/alibi. In hilarious ways. I wish this buffoonery was hilarious!
And most of those teams are openly tanking. The Kings might be the worst team in the NBA that is actively trying to win games.
Hasn’t that been their MO for the past 15 or so years?
(obligatory)
As long as Vivek is making his money he’ll be happy to be the weirdo participation award recipient.
Just read an article on Vivek. Most people in the NBA feel he is the worst owner in the league. Can’t he see this. It’s just killing our Kings. He can be a good owner and still stay out of the way and let the people he hired that know more in their little finger do their job. Why can’t he see this. I feel so sorry for many especially the fans who are the best in the league.
He’s a narcissist. He’s incapable of taking blame or admitting a mistake. Even his “NBA 3.0” is a self fulfilling tripping hazard to his belief in his infallibility and superior intellect. The Emperor has no clothes.
I’m starting to accept the theory that he knows what he’s doing, which is, namely, intentionally preventing the team from ever getting really good. If the team were ever to really get good, he’d have to pay the players accordingly and even <*gasps*> pay into the luxury tax. If the team remains mediocre it appears that there’s a large number of fans who are content with it and who’ll continue to buy season tickets. I don’t think it’s so much that Vivek thinks he knows more about basketball operations than the people he hired, I think it’s that he believes he knows more than them about how to maximize his profits.
I think that’s giving him way too much credit. More likely he’s just not very smart.
People can make a lot of money and not be smart. They could be gifted in a very specific area, or just be lucky in the right places at the right times.
And even if it were true that this is all according to plan… wouldn’t it still be dumb? Teams like Indiana and OKC are generating big revenue right now in smaller markets than Sac. The Warriors were irrelevant for years before they started making good decisions under West, and now they are a global brand.
Vivek is basically like Jerry Jones… but without any past success to hang his hat on. So I guess pretty much nothing like Jones, since that’s all he has.
Vivek is in a class of his own when it comes to buffoonery.
I go back and forth on Vivek’s mental state – is he smart but evil, or clueless but benevolent? I’m leaning more toward the former because 1) it’s hard for me to believe that a person could be that dumb, especially someone who’s supposedly a tech and business wizard, and 2) him aligning himself to that greedy sh!tstain Fisher shows that he has a seedy personality.
He could be smart (or lucky) in the tech world, but be dumb in other areas.
We know for a fact he is dumb when it comes to basketball. I mean this is the guy who wanted Monta Ellis over Steph Curry, and that franchise became historically good immediately after Vivek went to the Kings.
I think the other Dubs owners/FO likely knew he was an idiot, so although they don’t want the market competition in Sac, they not only relieved themselves of his presence, but ensured their Nor Cal rival would remain irrelevant as long as he’s in charge.
For them it was a win-win. And we now have over a decade of proof.
I thought the Warriors offered Curry or Ellis in the trade and the Bucks took Ellis as Curry still was unproven and he had issues with his ankles many thought he’d never resolve. You can’t blame Vivek soley for that
On March 11, 2012, Curry injured his ankle and was out for the remainder of that season. The Bucks and Warriors announced the Curry/Bogut trade on March 13, 2012. Many, if not most, Warriors fans were upset that they kept Steph instead of Monta.
Thankfully the Dubs had people smarter than the fans in charge.
The Kings? I honestly think there are more than a handful of people on this very site, that if they were put in Vivek’s position the Kings would return to relevance much sooner.
Bc with Vivek in his current role, it’ll probably be never.
Vivek was a known supporter of Ellis… to the point he even pursued him as owner of the Kings. … Point is smarter heads in the organization were allowed to do their jobs, and they were rewarded with a dynasty. If Vivek was controlling partner in GS, like he has been here… that dynasty never happens.
If that isn’t concrete enough for you, we have many more examples of his incompetence. From 4-on-5 to “Nik rocks” to shaka hands to the hiring of Vlade to making the same mistakes over and over and over again.
The guy is a moron.
That fucker made a billion dollars out of nothing. Ranadive is certainly fair game in regard to his stewardship of the franchise, but if you actually believe he’s not particularly bright, I would surmise that you are…not…particularly…
Let me know if you need me to finish that sentence for you.
Sure if your barometer of intelligence is how much money the guy made, then Vivek is a genius.. or a “game changer” or whatever he was billed as.
Plenty of examples of billionaires with questionable intelligence in other areas by the way.
And I gave several examples of why the guy is a moron as it pertains to the ownership of the Kings. Didn’t say anything about his family and I don’t think he’s part of some plot to keep the Kings in purgatory.
This is a guy who repeatedly makes the dumbest decision possible, and he continually repeats these mistakes. Over and over and over. Feels almost like he’s keeping the franchise hostage.
So yeah I think he’s an idiot. Go ahead and come to his defense if you want.
I was the same and defended this org for years. They ain’t worth it.
Having money and intelligence are hardly the same thing (gestures broadly) but you don’t find dumb or even average fucks who can develop a billion-dollar idea. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed your strawman very much.
Ranadive is shitty when it comes to basketball, but that’s a common failing for people like him. It is easy for people to assume that because they’re a genius at something that they’re a genius at everything. Genius doesn’t work that way. Almost nothing works that way.
The man has made a lot of stupid basketball decisions, no question. I think that McNair was a good hire, and without interference would have built something solid in Sacramento. Perry might be the same way, although he may just be one of those guys who gets jobs because they’ve had jobs. As we both know, it doesn’t really matter who Perry is because he will be undermined.
I do think a lot of Ranadive’s bad habits could be mitigated if he got rid of everyone in the front office that’s been around for twenty-years or more. They have zero basketball accomplishments to their names, and the god damned Maloofs hired them. That alone is a termination-worthy offense.
It’s going to be a long season unless the organization steers into the skid, lets the kids show what they’ve got, and if it results in a lottery pick, even better.
Lets put the tinfoil down for a moment, I don’t doubt the guy is really wants to win and he is really competitive. I also get that that if own a team you might want a say in how things get done. You also should realize that you hire staff to run things you should listen to them. Alas ego is a wonderful thing. Some times bad teams can run into great talents, look at the Bulls when they got Jordan, they have been awful ever since he left
Reinsdorf is just greedy and indifferent
James Dolan is a clown
Jordan left after 97-98 season. In the 27 seasons after that, they made the play-offs 12 times since. Advanmceds beyongd the first round 4 times and reached the ECF once (losing to the LBJ, Wade, Bosh Heat).
If that’s ‘awful’, what are the Kangz exactly?
Exactly! The Kings have made one cameo appearance in the playoffs in 12 years under Vivek.
And they traded their franchise cornerstone to do it
The Kings are in a class of their own when it comes to irrelevance.
Fair point haha My point was just suggesting that Vivek was not the only awful owner in the NB that Reinsdorf could keep him company
Don’t need to put the tinfoil down because I don’t use any. I’m legitimately wondering if Vivek is a smart a-hole or dumb decent guy. I’ve seen concrete evidence of his greed, supporting the idea that he’s the former. Haven’t seen much to indicate that he’s trying in earnest to build a real winner but just winds up taking the wrong route.
Just because you and most if not all of the fanbase have not liked the moves he has made doesn’t mean he isn’t trying. Which is a bit of an understatement I think its harder for small market teams to succeed but you need to smart dedicated/patient and a little lucky.
This ownership and management group seems not to have understood this
In short I think its incompetence and a lack of self awareness and not greed that’s more my point
Some small Kuminga news: He recently met with the Kings to hear their pitch. He wants a bigger role, as in starting. I really hope the Kings aren’t considering moving Keegan for him. Put me in the camp that Keegan is the better overall player than Kuminga. If they want to move DDR in some way to make room for Kuminga, I’m all for it.
https://www.si.com/nba/kings/sacramento-kings-news/jonathan-kuminga-met-with-kings-open-to-sacramento-report-01k11bgbc78e
Agreed. Surprisingly it sounds like the Kings have more leverage in this situation so if they move Keegan I would be insanely pissed.
I’m guessing the Warriors would be insisting on his inclusion. He’d absolutely thrive in their system.
Until Draymond ruins him.
I do have interest in Kuminga at the right price, but that price wouldn’t include Keegan Murray.
However, I would trade Murray’s confidence for Kuminga’s. A Keegan Murray who wants the ball when the clock approaches zero would be insane. He’s already good at so many important things, if he could learn to fearless and have no regrets? Man, that would be something to see.
But I’ll settle for him not trying to avoid contact on drives. Get those free throws, Keegs!
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