New Coach Candidate! Sam Presti and Rob Hennigan's coach.

[Clarity]

The ownership would still have had to pay him if they amnestied him.

Clay Bennett is hardly struggling to pay his bills.

Do you think Presti played eenie meenie minie mo one day between Perkins and Harden and landed on Perkins at the end and figured in the spirit of the game he had to choose Perk? You're better than the simple explanation you just gave.

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No, I think that franchise has always over valued Kendrick Perkins & asked way too much of KD & Westbrook.

Sam Presti's complete ignoring of post scoring for KD/Westbrook's entire tenure is another example of his incompetence.

Its way easier to go from 30 wins to 50 wins than it is to go from 50 wins to true title contender, Presti has no clue how to execute the latter.

[Sheeeeed]

Clay Bennett is hardly struggling to pay his bills.

Bennett could have all the money in the world, it doesn't mean he likes the concept of possibly paying 20 million + for someone to go away.

[Clarity]

Clay Bennett is hardly struggling to pay his bills.

Bennett could have all the money in the world, it doesn't mean he likes the concept of possibly paying 20 million + for someone to go away.

Fair point but its not like this wasn't coming. They chose this route.

[Sheeeeed]

Bennett could have all the money in the world, it doesn't mean he likes the concept of possibly paying 20 million + for someone to go away.

Fair point but its not like this wasn't coming. They chose this route.

They would have probably eventually have to go that route even if they did cut Perkins. Handing 3 max contracts, and giving Ibaka a contract close to 50 million combined with all the other contracts that fill their roster leaves little wiggle room to actually go out and sign an upgrade at Center.

[Warspite]

Presti has had almost 20 1st rd picks and has 3 players out of it.

Im still not sure Westbrook is a better fit than who was passed on. Dumars has drafted much better with much worse picks.

Presti knows how to draft Durant at #2 and got a allstar with the 4th pick. His trades have been horrible and he doesnt know how to improve a playoff team to title contender and his coaching hires are almost Dumars level.

[Clarity]

Bennett could have all the money in the world, it doesn't mean he likes the concept of possibly paying 20 million + for someone to go away.

Fair point but its not like this wasn't coming. They chose this route.

They would have probably eventually have to go that route even if they did cut Perkins. Handing 3 max contracts, and giving Ibaka a contract close to 50 million combined with all the other contracts that fill their roster leaves little wiggle room to actually go out and sign an upgrade at Center.

or Shultz couldnt have been a douche nozzle & never sold to that crook Clay Bennett & kept them in Seattle.

but I digress lol

[Pharaoh]

He nailed 4 draft picks and it hurt the team.

You can't pay 4 dudes near max money at the same time and field a dominant team...which is why it's all about the big 3 (Miami, Thunder, Celtics)

They basically chose Ibaka over Harden. Gave them a quality big but also left them little room to add a supporting cast...because dudes would rather go to Miami for the minium than OKC.

Presti needed to nail more late picks and get solid contributors, but every GM misses every now and then.

The coaching selections I blame on Bennett not wanting to spend....

Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka can only take them so far and IMO its far enough for Clay.

He doesn't seem like an owner that is driven to win a ring, especially when he can argue the team is "this close" without going into the tax

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[Clarity]

He nailed 4 draft picks and it hurt the team.

You can't pay 4 dudes near max money at the same time and field a dominant team...which is why it's all about the big 3 (Miami, Thunder, Celtics)

They basically chose Ibaka over Harden. Gave them a quality big but also left them little room to add a supporting cast...because dudes would rather go to Miami for the minium than OKC.

Presti needed to nail more late picks and get solid contributors, but every GM misses every now and then.

The coaching selections I blame on Bennett not wanting to spend....

Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka can only take them so far and IMO its far enough for Clay.

He doesn't seem like an owner that is driven to win a ring, especially when he can argue the team is "this close" without going into the tax

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Whats done is done, hindsight is always 20/20 but with Harden/Perkins that was an easy decision they just screwed up on.

The point about Bennett being content with just a really good playoff team may be valid, that would explain them ignoring their main need for basically Durant/Westbrook's entire tenure.

If that is the case, I hope KD & Westbrook bounce in a few years & go play somewhere with an owner who will give them the right tools to win a title. It reminds me of Lebron in Cleveland a bit, Gilbert refused to give Lebron what he really needed for 7 years.

[ElectricMayhem]

Thank you invisible and omnipotent masters that this did not happen.

[ImHeisenberg]

Thank you invisible and omnipotent masters that this did not happen.

What surprises me is that how many posters aren't in favor of the SVG hiring. As if Lionel Hollins or some other guy would have been better!?!

[ElectricMayhem]

Thank you invisible and omnipotent masters that this did not happen.

What surprises me is that how many posters aren't in favor of the SVG hiring. As if Lionel Hollins or some other guy would have been better!?!

I'm definitely more in favor of Hollins than you are, and Hollins was my No. 1 option, but only because I didn't think SVG was an option.

Even if much of what Hollins did was delegate, he delegated well and knew who to empower. His teams improved every year, he didn't take any guff from Iverson, and created a good basketball culture in Memphis. Still, I'm even more impressed with Van Gundy's work developing talent and putting in the work needed to have such a superior knowledge of the game. I don't know how anyone could be disappointed with SVG, but as always, those who are are the most vocal.

[Pharaoh]

Just wait until SVG hires a scout for every division in the league...

He said it at Sloan this year that the most important decision is who you want on your team...yet teams barely scout the rest of the league.

Stan's Plan? To have him or his guys watch every single play/game in an NBA season!

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[ImHeisenberg]

Thank you invisible and omnipotent masters that this did not happen.

What surprises me is that how many posters aren't in favor of the SVG hiring. As if Lionel Hollins or some other guy would have been better!?!

I'm definitely more in favor of Hollins than you are, and Hollins was my No. 1 option, but only because I didn't think SVG was an option.

Even if much of what Hollins did was delegate, he delegated well and knew who to empower. His teams improved every year, he didn't take any guff from Iverson, and created a good basketball culture in Memphis. Still, I'm even more impressed with Van Gundy's work developing talent and putting in the work needed to have such a superior knowledge of the game. I don't know how anyone could be disappointed with the more, but as always, those who are are the most vocal.

Well said- And I appreciate the points that you made as well. Probably the best argument for Hollins I've read on here.