A petition for the firing Billy King (please help us)

[FireBillyKing]

even if it was ferry or whoever else we hired would have to do what ownership wants,

im sure ownership didnt want to drastically overpay in trades. its one thing to make bold moves for big names and take gambles on older guys. but im sure ownership never said to massively overpay to aquire those guys

That's one of the most annoying arguments. I have heard several times that ownership mandated that King make these moves. That is just ridiculous. Mikhail Prokhorov did not get on the phone with Billy King and say "Trade for Gerald Wallace at any price and then pay him whatever he wants." Billy King is the one making the phone calls, figuring out deals, and making recommendations. Ownership may have told him to 'spend now and don't worry about the cap and future picks', but the actual moves that Billy King made were horrible. Another GM may have also spent a lot of money and traded picks, but surely not for this losing roster.

[MrDollarBills]

That Wallace deal was a panic deal by King sure and simple.

[SpeedyG]

Everyday I go online hoping I see the headline "Nets fire GM Billy King"

[stinger14]

Feel for Nets fans. King seems be confused and has no sense of direction for your team. I still think he should have done the 3-way with OKC and Charlotte. Lopez has a history of injuries, so King needs to get a deal done before something happens and nobody wants to touch him. Jack is playing well, but if you are going to rebuild, you need to get younger players like Lance. Good luck on getting rid of King

[NyCeEvO]

Everyday I go online hoping I see the headline "Nets fire GM Billy King"

And every day I cry a single tear knowing that he's still there.

[Paradise]

That Wallace deal was a panic deal by King sure and simple.

People forget his contact was set to expire in the summer of 2013. You could make make the argument most of his moves after Dwight opted were job related.

[Universe]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window and you're stuck overpaying.
If my boss was to tell me to go buy a '69 Mustang, but also told the seller we are looking to purchase the vehicle no matter what, the negotiations favor the seller. The same situation happened in Brooklyn, with high risk moves that lost valuable assets.
Nets hired a GM who was great at drafting and finding gems, and forced him to build a team through moves and money. Never a good combination when trying to build a championship team, unless you luck out and grab a LeBron James.
Should Billy be blamed? Yes. But others such as owners, Deron and bad breaks didn't help the situation. Still, we need a new GM moving forward.

[Prokorov]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window and you're stuck overpaying.
If my boss was to tell me to go buy a '69 Mustang, but also told the seller we are looking to purchase the vehicle no matter what, the negotiations favor the seller. The same situation happened in Brooklyn, with high risk moves that lost valuable assets.
Nets hired a GM who was great at drafting and finding gems, and forced him to build a team through moves and money. Never a good combination when trying to build a championship team, unless you luck out and grab a LeBron James.
Should Billy be blamed? Yes. But others such as owners, Deron and bad breaks didn't help the situation. Still, we need a new GM moving forward.

now one is blaming billy king for making shore sighted ill advised win now moves.

people are blaming king for not just overpaying, but massively overpaying and doing so in situation that dont make sense.

I can see trading for gerald wallace. i cant see trading a gauranteed lottery pick for gerald wallace when he is a pending free agent we were prepared to throw an enormous 4/40 offer to.

we could have easily gotten wallace with the pick that went to the hawks for joe johnson (#18 pick). which would have been an overpay, but a non lotto pick you can almost swallow.

Trading for joe johnson i can see, im fine with it, even happy with it. I cant see trading 100% expiring contracts for joe with 4/92 left on his deal AND giving up 2 draft picks. not getting any picks? fine i can see that. but giving up 2 picks when you should be getting picks is absurd.

we couldnt get 1 protected pick for joe now and he has just 1 year left. we gave up 2 when he had 4/92 left. that isnt an overpay, thats just an insaley horrific move.

[Universe]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window and you're stuck overpaying.
If my boss was to tell me to go buy a '69 Mustang, but also told the seller we are looking to purchase the vehicle no matter what, the negotiations favor the seller. The same situation happened in Brooklyn, with high risk moves that lost valuable assets.
Nets hired a GM who was great at drafting and finding gems, and forced him to build a team through moves and money. Never a good combination when trying to build a championship team, unless you luck out and grab a LeBron James.
Should Billy be blamed? Yes. But others such as owners, Deron and bad breaks didn't help the situation. Still, we need a new GM moving forward.

now one is blaming billy king for making shore sighted ill advised win now moves.

people are blaming king for not just overpaying, but massively overpaying and doing so in situation that dont make sense.

I can see trading for gerald wallace. i cant see trading a gauranteed lottery pick for gerald wallace when he is a pending free agent we were prepared to throw an enormous 4/40 offer to.

we could have easily gotten wallace with the pick that went to the hawks for joe johnson (#18 pick). which would have been an overpay, but a non lotto pick you can almost swallow.

Trading for joe johnson i can see, im fine with it, even happy with it. I cant see trading 100% expiring contracts for joe with 4/92 left on his deal AND giving up 2 draft picks. not getting any picks? fine i can see that. but giving up 2 picks when you should be getting picks is absurd.

we couldnt get 1 protected pick for joe now and he has just 1 year left. we gave up 2 when he had 4/92 left. that isnt an overpay, thats just an insaley horrific move.

All of that is true, but it bends back to knowing we were looking for "talented" players to compete right away. No GM has to make a move and it was obvious Billy was on the lookout to do so. The Gerald Wallace trade was facilitated to please Deron Williams into re-signing with us when realistically, if Deron Williams really wanted to compete, he would have informed the Nets he was going to re-sign and be patient during the rebuild. Dallas put the pressure on the Nets and it backfired big time.

Heck, it was even reported Deron wouldn't re-sign if with got Anthony Davis, so again his hand was forced and it blew up in his face.

[NyCeEvO]

I just signed the petition. I don't expect management to listen but at least they are aware of its existence and can read the responses.

[Paradise]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window

What ownership wanting a title within five years has nothing to do with King being a complete moron.

Portland was having a complete fire sale. Yet, he sent a 2012 lottery pick for a guy who isn't even a Top 15 player. Even if you justify him speficially targeting Gerald Wallace...that doesn't change the fact he gave up a LOTTERY draft pick for him when we had our 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 draft picks all at our disposal. We honestly could've gotten Gerald Wallace and kept the lottery pick.

Nobody asked about Joe Johnson except us. Danny Ferry had NO leverage and would've gladly agreed to a simple salary dump but Billy decides to throw in multiple pick swaps and had the audacity to hide that out of the official press release of the trade.

[Universe]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window

What ownership wanting a title within five years has nothing to do with King being a complete moron.

Portland was having a complete fire sale. Yet, he sent a 2012 lottery pick for a guy who isn't even a Top 15 player. Even if you justify him speficially targeting Gerald Wallace...that doesn't change the fact he gave up a LOTTERY draft pick for him when we had our 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 draft picks all at our disposal. We honestly could've gotten Gerald Wallace and kept the lottery pick.

Nobody asked about Joe Johnson except us. Danny Ferry had NO leverage and would've gladly agreed to a simple salary dump but Billy decides to throw in multiple pick swaps and had the audacity to hide that out of the official press release of the trade.

Again I'm not saying he isn't a moron, but we don't know the back story behind the deals. He ended up even being right in his assumption.

King said it was difficult to give up the pick, but "in meeting with our scouts, we felt the player that we may draft beyond the protection would be somebody that would probably take a couple years (to develop), and at this point, we're trying to speed the process up a bit and start winning (more).

"I can understand the fanbase (wanting us to keep the pick), but I'd rather try to balance the roster, add a piece and still have cap flexibility," King said.

As for Joe Johnson, that's another move facilitated to please Deron Williams. The actual trade was completed when Deron was meeting with management of the Dallas Mavericks. Also, he spent the entire year talking about how the Jazz never made a trade to make their team better, so it was either head into Brooklyn without a "star" or panic and make a move.

“In the perfect world, we’d get the players we need for me stay here,” Williams said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play in the new arena. Brooklyn, I just think it’d be a great place to play. That’s what I’m hoping for. That would be the best-case scenario.”

“We have to get pieces that would help build a championship. I know it’s not going to happen in one (season)... well, I guess it could if the right guys come.”

Yes Billy King has done an incredibly terrible job, but the biggest downfall of this franchise still is Deron Williams.

[Paradise]

Again I'm not saying he isn't a moron, but we don't know the back story behind the deals. He ended up even being right in his assumption.

King said it was difficult to give up the pick, but "in meeting with our scouts, we felt the player that we may draft beyond the protection would be somebody that would probably take a couple years (to develop), and at this point, we're trying to speed the process up a bit and start winning (more).

"I can understand the fanbase (wanting us to keep the pick), but I'd rather try to balance the roster, add a piece and still have cap flexibility," King said.

That quote right there shows why he is a complete buffoon. Davis, Beal, Drummond, Barnes were all considered immediate impact prospects.

As for Joe Johnson, that's another move facilitated to please Deron Williams. The actual trade was completed when Deron was meeting with management of the Dallas Mavericks. Also, he spent the entire year talking about how the Jazz never made a trade to make their team better, so it was either head into Brooklyn without a "star" or panic and make a move.

I didn't have a problem with acquiring Joe Johnson. Most Net fans welcomed the idea of a Johnson/Williams backcourt but appeasing Deron or not. There was no reason to throw in a pick swap in 2017. It also makes it look alot worse he did this deal with Danny Ferry...who is considered his 'best friend' and Duke alumni. He got completely bamboozled by his BFF.

“In the perfect world, we’d get the players we need for me stay here,” Williams said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play in the new arena. Brooklyn, I just think it’d be a great place to play. That’s what I’m hoping for. That would be the best-case scenario.”

“We have to get pieces that would help build a championship. I know it’s not going to happen in one (season)... well, I guess it could if the right guys come.”

Yes Billy King has done an incredibly terrible job, but the biggest downfall of this franchise still is Deron Williams.[/quote]
I think we all can agree on that but Deron wanted a contender. Ownership wanted a contender. Net fans wanted a contender. Nobody told him to mortgage our future to do it. He could have atleast have put some protection on those draft picks. Every team does it except Billy King.

While Deron is responsible for being such a massive failure as a franchise caliber player, he has become injury prone and that simply isn't entirely his fault. Same with Brook. A GM is supposed to take in to account that injuries happen and chemistry sometimes doesn't work out. An exit plan should always be in place in case it doesn't work and rebuilding becomes the next phase of action. But King doesn't think...like, at all.

[MrDollarBills]

Deron acted smug and talked big about wanting to compete but when players were actually brought in he dogged it and disappeared big time. **** him

[Prokorov]

All of that is true, but it bends back to knowing we were looking for "talented" players to compete right away. No GM has to make a move and it was obvious Billy was on the lookout to do so. The Gerald Wallace trade was facilitated to please Deron Williams into re-signing with us when realistically, if Deron Williams really wanted to compete, he would have informed the Nets he was going to re-sign and be patient during the rebuild. Dallas put the pressure on the Nets and it backfired big time.

Heck, it was even reported Deron wouldn't re-sign if with got Anthony Davis, so again his hand was forced and it blew up in his face.

Again, if you want to sign wallace... to appease deron williams that is fine. that doesnt mean you give a lottery pick for wallace when he is a free agent at the end of the year. especially when you have several other picks at your disposal to trade for him. id be fine overpaying for wallace if we needed to. but we didnt just overpay for him, we overpaid for him by an astronomical level that is so bad it will go down as one of if not the worst trade in league history.

[Universe]

That quote right there shows why he is a complete buffoon. Davis, Beal, Drummond, Barnes were all considered immediate impact prospects.

Hence why he made it top 3 protected.

I didn't have a problem with acquiring Joe Johnson. Most Net fans welcomed the idea of a Johnson/Williams backcourt but appeasing Deron or not. There was no reason to throw in a pick swap in 2017. It also makes it look alot worse he did this deal with Danny Ferry...who is considered his 'best friend' and Duke alumni. He got completely bamboozled by his BFF.

You answered your own thought. It was strictly to please Deron.

While Deron is responsible for being such a massive failure as a franchise caliber player, he has become injury prone and that simply isn't entirely his fault. Same with Brook. A GM is supposed to take in to account that injuries happen and chemistry sometimes doesn't work out. An exit plan should always be in place in case it doesn't work and rebuilding becomes the next phase of action. But King doesn't think...like, at all.

It isn't entirely Deron's fault but just like King, he holds the same amount of blame as everyone involved with putting us where we are. Yes King is a terrible GM thus far for the Nets, but I don't understand how fans still support Deron after what he's done. He's brought absolutely nobody (unless you count Okur and AK) to help the franchise and is still collecting the biggest cheque he possible could.

[Prokorov]

The problem with Billy King was everyone knew his intention. Once we struck out in free agency, we were forced to make trades. When an owner goes out and says "Nets will win a championship in five years", the leverage you had in any trade goes out the window

What ownership wanting a title within five years has nothing to do with King being a complete moron.

Portland was having a complete fire sale. Yet, he sent a 2012 lottery pick for a guy who isn't even a Top 15 player. Even if you justify him speficially targeting Gerald Wallace...that doesn't change the fact he gave up a LOTTERY draft pick for him when we had our 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 draft picks all at our disposal. We honestly could've gotten Gerald Wallace and kept the lottery pick.

Nobody asked about Joe Johnson except us. Danny Ferry had NO leverage and would've gladly agreed to a simple salary dump but Billy decides to throw in multiple pick swaps and had the audacity to hide that out of the official press release of the trade.

Again I'm not saying he isn't a moron, but we don't know the back story behind the deals. He ended up even being right in his assumption.

King said it was difficult to give up the pick, but "in meeting with our scouts, we felt the player that we may draft beyond the protection would be somebody that would probably take a couple years (to develop), and at this point, we're trying to speed the process up a bit and start winning (more).

"I can understand the fanbase (wanting us to keep the pick), but I'd rather try to balance the roster, add a piece and still have cap flexibility," King said.

As for Joe Johnson, that's another move facilitated to please Deron Williams. The actual trade was completed when Deron was meeting with management of the Dallas Mavericks. Also, he spent the entire year talking about how the Jazz never made a trade to make their team better, so it was either head into Brooklyn without a "star" or panic and make a move.

“In the perfect world, we’d get the players we need for me stay here,” Williams said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play in the new arena. Brooklyn, I just think it’d be a great place to play. That’s what I’m hoping for. That would be the best-case scenario.”

“We have to get pieces that would help build a championship. I know it’s not going to happen in one (season)... well, I guess it could if the right guys come.”

Yes Billy King has done an incredibly terrible job, but the biggest downfall of this franchise still is Deron Williams.

you arent getting it....

no one is complaining about King because he made trades to appease deron williams. no one is blaming king for having to overpay in those trades.

people are complaining because he didnt just overpay, he MASSIVELY overpaid to the point where you could argue he might even have been doing his friend ferry a favor. it is mind boggling how much he gave up. inexcusable regardless of how forced kings hand was.

[Universe]

What ownership wanting a title within five years has nothing to do with King being a complete moron.

Portland was having a complete fire sale. Yet, he sent a 2012 lottery pick for a guy who isn't even a Top 15 player. Even if you justify him speficially targeting Gerald Wallace...that doesn't change the fact he gave up a LOTTERY draft pick for him when we had our 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 draft picks all at our disposal. We honestly could've gotten Gerald Wallace and kept the lottery pick.

Nobody asked about Joe Johnson except us. Danny Ferry had NO leverage and would've gladly agreed to a simple salary dump but Billy decides to throw in multiple pick swaps and had the audacity to hide that out of the official press release of the trade.

Again I'm not saying he isn't a moron, but we don't know the back story behind the deals. He ended up even being right in his assumption.

King said it was difficult to give up the pick, but "in meeting with our scouts, we felt the player that we may draft beyond the protection would be somebody that would probably take a couple years (to develop), and at this point, we're trying to speed the process up a bit and start winning (more).

"I can understand the fanbase (wanting us to keep the pick), but I'd rather try to balance the roster, add a piece and still have cap flexibility," King said.

As for Joe Johnson, that's another move facilitated to please Deron Williams. The actual trade was completed when Deron was meeting with management of the Dallas Mavericks. Also, he spent the entire year talking about how the Jazz never made a trade to make their team better, so it was either head into Brooklyn without a "star" or panic and make a move.

“In the perfect world, we’d get the players we need for me stay here,” Williams said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play in the new arena. Brooklyn, I just think it’d be a great place to play. That’s what I’m hoping for. That would be the best-case scenario.”

“We have to get pieces that would help build a championship. I know it’s not going to happen in one (season)... well, I guess it could if the right guys come.”

Yes Billy King has done an incredibly terrible job, but the biggest downfall of this franchise still is Deron Williams.

you arent getting it....

no one is complaining about King because he made trades to appease deron williams. no one is blaming king for having to overpay in those trades.

people are complaining because he didnt just overpay, he MASSIVELY overpaid to the point where you could argue he might even have been doing his friend ferry a favor. it is mind boggling how much he gave up. inexcusable regardless of how forced kings hand was.

I do get it and the assumption that King "helped out a friend" is crazy. I don't think you get the situation we were in or the Hawks though.

Everyone stating that Hawks would just give Johnson away for free because of his contract, yet the Hawks had just posted 40-26 season with Johnson helping lead the team with nearly 19 points per game. It was also their fourth consecutive playoff appearance after missing the playoffs eight consecutive years before that.

We traded for one of the best players/scorers on a playoff team and got burnt. Yes it was an overpayment, but it was also a gamble and a panic move so we could secure our best player as well. The funny thing about it is, we are now seeing the same situation with Brook Lopez. He is the new gamble that could either backfire for a team, or strike gold.

[Prokorov]

I do get it and the assumption that King "helped out a friend" is crazy. I don't think you get the situation we were in or the Hawks though.

Everyone stating that Hawks would just give Johnson away for free because of his contract, yet the Hawks had just posted 40-26 season with Johnson helping lead the team with nearly 19 points per game. It was also their fourth consecutive playoff appearance after missing the playoffs eight consecutive years before that.

Actually, i think it is you who dont understand the situation the hawks and nets were in. the hawks were against the tax, and desperate to move smith or johnson (by far the leagues worst contract at the time). Ferry wanted a mini rebuild. the nets had TONS of ELITE assets. they had expirings and better expirings with buyout options. nets also were under the cap and had 2 first round picks that year.

A BAD gm would have gotten joe johnson for just the expirings

an AVERAGE GM would have gotten a pick back from atlanta

We traded for one of the best players/scorers on a playoff team and got burnt. Yes it was an overpayment, but it was also a gamble and a panic move so we could secure our best player as well. The funny thing about it is, we are now seeing the same situation with Brook Lopez. He is the new gamble that could either backfire for a team, or strike gold.

the difference is no one in their right mind is giving an unprotected first and pick swap for brook lopez. and brook lopez doesnt havea 4 year 92M contract.

we traded for a player with enormous negative trade value, and we were the ones to give up draft picks in the deal. it was one of the biggest overpays if the past 15 years. it was so bad king tried to hide the pick swap originally. the fact that we would have to GIVE SOMEONE ELSE a first round pick to take johnson with 1/2 the contract he had when we obtained him goes to show what an overpay it was.

no team in the league would even give atlanta just expirings for johnson. ferry was screwed if king didnt bail him out. meanwhile we had all the assets to get other all-stars with our picks and expirings

[Universe]

I do get it and the assumption that King "helped out a friend" is crazy. I don't think you get the situation we were in or the Hawks though.

Everyone stating that Hawks would just give Johnson away for free because of his contract, yet the Hawks had just posted 40-26 season with Johnson helping lead the team with nearly 19 points per game. It was also their fourth consecutive playoff appearance after missing the playoffs eight consecutive years before that.

Actually, i think it is you who dont understand the situation the hawks and nets were in. the hawks were against the tax, and desperate to move smith or johnson (by far the leagues worst contract at the time). Ferry wanted a mini rebuild. the nets had TONS of ELITE assets. they had expirings and better expirings with buyout options. nets also were under the cap and had 2 first round picks that year.

A BAD gm would have gotten joe johnson for just the expirings

an AVERAGE GM would have gotten a pick back from atlanta

We traded for one of the best players/scorers on a playoff team and got burnt. Yes it was an overpayment, but it was also a gamble and a panic move so we could secure our best player as well. The funny thing about it is, we are now seeing the same situation with Brook Lopez. He is the new gamble that could either backfire for a team, or strike gold.

the difference is no one in their right mind is giving an unprotected first and pick swap for brook lopez. and brook lopez doesnt havea 4 year 92M contract.

we traded for a player with enormous negative trade value, and we were the ones to give up draft picks in the deal. it was one of the biggest overpays if the past 15 years. it was so bad king tried to hide the pick swap originally. the fact that we would have to GIVE SOMEONE ELSE a first round pick to take johnson with 1/2 the contract he had when we obtained him goes to show what an overpay it was.

no team in the league would even give atlanta just expirings for johnson. ferry was screwed if king didnt bail him out. meanwhile we had all the assets to get other all-stars with our picks and expirings

And it all goes back to Deron Williams. When you are against a deadline, you overpay. Yes Atlanta was in a tax situation, but they were also in a winning situation. Winning basketball games does what? Bring in more money. Also, yes we should have got him for expiring contracts, but we don't know what others offered. Add the fact he was being traded in the same conference to a team that "looked" on the rise, picks were included to sweeten the pot.

You could tell the Nets weren't fully sure what was going to happen, hence the Gerald Wallace trade of that years pick (no point trading future picks if Deron doesn't re-sign). They decided to go all in for Johnson and it backfired. Easy to criticize now but it's hardly was getting someone with "enormous negative trade value" at the time.

I'm not sure what you do not get about this situation. Were you not a New Jersey Nets fan? Did you not watch year after year, players pass on us? I personally am a fan of rebuilding, and we were in the perfect position to do so, but you can't put the full blame on someone for being forced to make moves.