Retooling the Sacramento Kings: The Maloof-less edition

[tru6playa]

Well, all signs point to the Maloofs exiting Sacramento and attempting to destroy an NHL team and their respective city. So with the news of the potential ownership change in the upcoming weeks, I have a renewed interest in the Sacramento Kings. This thread is aimed towards answering what potential organizational moves (management, coaches, and players) will allow us to be playoff contenders in the near future.

I should preface this post that I have barely followed this team this season. I attended three home games and watched about 25 televised games. I lost most my interest; however, I've been revived and look forward to this discussion.

I feel like Petrie must be replaced, as he has too many negative ties with the Maloof regime. Plus, this team has been terrible for too long under his control. I do feel he still has a decent eye for young talent via he draft. However, I'm ready for a new face, who will bring in new ideas. Options? I honestly have no clue who would be available. Obviously, PJ comes to mind. I just don't see him actually wanting to come to Sacramento as a GM.

Ryan McDonough (Celtics).
Tom Penn - worked under K. Prichard.
Steve Kerr - I never liked his Shaq trade.
Travis Schlenk, Warriors' assistant GM - Vivek may bring him over and give him a chance.
Dennis Lindsey, Spurs' assistant GM.

See link for other options - http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/18472570/postups-listing-the-best-executive-free-agents-on-the-market

This brings us to our head coach - SMART HAS TO GO. Options?

Scott Skiles - Tough on players...I feel like DMC and Skiles would clash far too often.
Nate McMillan - Interesting option. He has good career numbers.
Jerry Sloan - too old and prob not interested in our mess.
Brian Shaw - Interesting option.
Van Gundy Brothers - Stan already spurned us once. Jeff would have much better options to choose from.


Roster:

Per HoopsHype:

John Salmons: $7.5, $7.0 (T/O)
Marcus Thornton: $8.1, $8.6
Chuck Hayes: $5.7, $5.9
Tyreke Evans: $6.9 (Q/O)
Jason Thompson: $5.6, $6.0, $6.4, $6.8
DeMarcus Cousins: $4.9, $6.5 (Q/O)
Travis Outlaw $3.0 $3.0
James Johnson $3.9 (Q/O)
Cole Aldrich FA
Jimmer Fredette $2.5, $3.2 (T/O), $4.4 (Q/O)
Patrick Patterson $3.1 (T/O), $4.3 (Q/O)
Toney Douglas $3.1 (Q/O)
Isaiah Thomas $0.8 (T/O)


Realistic FA Options:

Jarret Jack - A nice vet PG.
Anthony Morrow - I have always wanted a 3pt bomber off the bench.
Josh Smith - We'd have to max him out. Not sure he'd want to play in Sac
Iggy - I'd love to have him...but I would not give him max money.
Brandon Rush - Perhaps he'd come cheap given his injury? He may exercise his PO.
David West - a nice vet to plug in at PF, which we have a glut of.
Blair - No thanks
Milsap - Doesn't excite me.
Andrew Bynum - I'd be interested even with his injury.
Al Jefferson - No thanks

I'm interested in trading our draft pick, Thorton, Hayes, Jimmer, Salmons, and Outlaw.

I want to keep Tyreke @ 10 million, DMC (Hopefully he can be tamed), JT (I always like his attitude).

PG: Jack/Thomas
SG Tyreke/Thornton
SF: Iggy/Salmons
PF: JT/Patterson
C: DMC/FA

Is that a playoff team?

Discuss.

[AnDrOiDKing4]

Nate McMillan would be great. Scott Skiles would be nice also but we can kiss DMC good bye if that happens.

Stay away from Jarret Jack, he is not the PG we need, he doesn't take care of the ball and does tend to get jump shot happy.

I don't have answers but we need to hit with the next draft pick, no more goofing around, thankfully we should have a real gm and staff in place by then.

[SacKingZZZ]

Right now my two top HC choices would be Avery Johnson or Byron Scott. I think both ride that line of being strict but friendly.

No to Scott Skiles thank you much. Way too strict and he's another Smart who loves that 12th man a little too much. A little worrisome honestly knowing how much Vivek likes them role players. Like them to an extent guys, this ain't war, this ain't an army.

[tru6playa]

Nate McMillan would be great. Scott Skiles would be nice also but we can kiss DMC good bye if that happens.

Stay away from Jarret Jack, he is not the PG we need, he doesn't take care of the ball and does tend to get jump shot happy.

I don't have answers but we need to hit with the next draft pick, no more goofing around, thankfully we should have a real gm and staff in place by then.

I have been watching Jack play on the Warriors and have come to respect his game. I just think he's a solid vet, who would do well with our team. I see no other options for PG (Unless we are looking towards the draft- and I'm not familiar with the collegiate talent, outside the top 10-15 overly discussed prospects), unless we stay with IT and Douglas. I like aspects of IT and TD game, I just feel they are both best suited off the bench.

[tru6playa]

Right now my two top HC choices would be Avery Johnson or Byron Scott. I think both ride that line of being strict but friendly.

No to Scott Skiles thank you much. Way too strict and he's another Smart who loves that 12th man a little too much. A little worrisome honestly knowing how much Vivek likes them role players. Like them to an extent guys, this ain't war, this ain't an army.

Nothing wrong with role players - as long as they are small, but important pieces to a successful team. Look how important Scott Pollard was to us, which is a perfect example of a great role player.

I'd be happy with either Avery or Byron.

[tru6playa]

Trade options? Affalo? Bledsoe?Deng and Pau Gasol.

I thing Deng would cost too much (Tyreke) and Gasol is too expensive. However, I think Gasol could possibly reestablish his career in Sacramento and perhaps gel our team together like Vlade did.

If LA took on salary (Salmons/Hayes), I'd be interested in Gasol. What would it take? Hayes/Salmons/1st (protected/or 2nd) for Gasol? I don't pretend to be good at manufacturing salary cap-compliant trades.

Jack/IT/Douglas
Tyreke/Thorton
???/Outlaw
Gasol/PP
DMC/JT

[ADoaN17]

What do you think will happened with Shareef Abdur Rahim? He was suppose to be GM in the making but I think the new ownership would want to start over.

I like Byron Scott but most Cavs fans said he had horrible rotations.

[tru6playa]

What do you think will happened with Shareef Abdur Rahim? He was suppose to be GM in the making but I think the new ownership would want to start over.

I like Byron Scott but most Cavs fans said he had horrible rotations.

Well, he doesn't excite me much. I feel like he needs more experience...but not like I'm an expert on the matter.

[KF10]

Van Gundy Brothers - Stan already spurned us once. Jeff would have much better options to choose from.

Stan Van Gundy is a legit candidate for the Kings after the Magoofs sell the team to the new ownership group imo.

What Stan did to the Kings was inexcusable i.e. Stan courted the Kings heavily for the coaching gig back in 07 but once Orlando called Stan that the HC position is open, he flew back to Orlando and GTFO of Sacramento.

Fast forward in a 2009 interview by Stan:

Van Gundy agreed to become the Magic’s coach, signing and faxing a copy of his contract back to Orlando from a Sacramento Kinko’s.

Van Gundy did not keep the Kings abreast of the developing situation in Orlando, however.

“I’m not happy with the way I handled the whole thing,” Van Gundy said before the Magic faced the Kings on Tuesday night.

“I was not forthcoming on that day and I should have been when things started to break in Orlando.

“I was totally acting in my own self interest.”

A lot more content here:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/200 ... agic-coach

http://aroyalpain.com/2012/05/21/stan-v ... -go-again/

Now, right now, with the Maloofs out of the way, I could see the new ownership go after Van Gundy if he's still available.

[tru6playa]

Van Gundy Brothers - Stan already spurned us once. Jeff would have much better options to choose from.

Stan Van Gundy is a legit candidate for the Kings after the Magoofs sell the team to the new ownership group imo.

What Stan did to the Kings was inexcusable i.e. Stan courted the Kings heavily for the coaching gig back in 07 but once Orlando called Stan that the HC position is open, he flew back to Orlando and GTFO of Sacramento.

Fast forward in a 2009 interview by Stan:

Van Gundy agreed to become the Magic’s coach, signing and faxing a copy of his contract back to Orlando from a Sacramento Kinko’s.

Van Gundy did not keep the Kings abreast of the developing situation in Orlando, however.

“I’m not happy with the way I handled the whole thing,” Van Gundy said before the Magic faced the Kings on Tuesday night.

“I was not forthcoming on that day and I should have been when things started to break in Orlando.

“I was totally acting in my own self interest.”

A lot more content here:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/200 ... agic-coach

http://aroyalpain.com/2012/05/21/stan-v ... -go-again/

Now, right now, with the Maloofs out of the way, I could see the new ownership go after Van Gundy if he's still available.

In hindsight, he made the correct, more beneficial career move. He would have been Maloofed in Sacramento.


I really feel we are a key player and quality coch away from making a GS Warriors-type jump in the standing. Perhaps I'm overly optimistic for our team...perhaps the euphoria from the relocation committees vote has clouded my judgment. LOL

[YC42Balla]

I like the direction the Warriors went in: Clear the staff, change the logo/uniforms (retro), and begin a new, fresh, era of Basketball. Can't wait for new owners that actually care about the team, the fans, and the city of Sacramento!

Anyone else tired of the current Kings logo? I want to go back to the simple retro design, before the Magoofs took over. The one prior to 1994 was pretty sick; however, I'd like to keep the black/silver/purple color scheme, as I like the black away jerseys.

[ICMTM]

I'd just like a consistent plan and a stable team!

[bibby1023]

My top options for the GM job would be either assistant GM from the Spurs or Thunder. I like what each team has done both in the past(spurs) and present (thunder). I feel like what the assistants learned from each of the general managers they worked under can be extremely useful in turning around this terrible mess of a roster.

As far as head coaches go my top options would be either Brian Shaw or either Van Gundy. Not sure how good the chances are at landing one of these guys. I'm just sick of signing a bunch of randoms with not much experiencing aka Theus, Smart, Musselman...Can we please just get a guy in here with experience for once!

[perezident]

I think its time we find a high profiled coach who is motivated to revamping the whole Kings attitude toward winning and professionalism. Who is willing to change the culture the Maloofs had around our team for years. Someone who won't settle with mediocre talent and who holds management accountable with bringing in guys who actually fits the system management bought into from the coach's philosophy.

A couple guys come to mind:

Jerry Sloan
Larry Brown
Mike Dunleavy
Rick Pitino
Jeff Vangundy

If we're looking for younger guys who have a heap of potential and looking to grow with the young team we have then:

Brian Shaw
Sam Cassell
Mario Ellie
Darrell Armstrong
Aaron McKie
Eric Snow

Or we can go with guys who've had some head coaching experience and are considered good coaches:

Avery Johnson
Byron Scott
Lawrence Frank
Terry Porter
Sam Mitchell etc

As for GM's I'm open to anyone who sense who isn't afraid of pulling the trigger to making the team better. Someone with a great sense of finding and recognizing talent. Another good caliber guy who can really attract some stars to the team.

Phil Jackson
Lenny Wilkens etc

[tru6playa]

If we did go with young and unexperienced coach, I wouldn't mind taking a gamble with a Patrick Ewing-type coach. I know he's had a few interviews (Knicks and Magics), but I'm not sure what his pros and cobs are as a coach.

I'm not even sure a Ewing-type coach would be able to get through with DMC. I just believe that so much of the Kings success will run through DMC, whether that be from his game play for us or receiving talent via a trade of DMC.

[SacKingZZZ]

I would love to see Ewing get some time with Cousins. I think Cousins could learn a lot from Ewing but I think he should be a candidate only if they want to toil around the lotto for a few more years and stay "young". I think it all depends on how the owner wants to proceed, and what the GM is instructed to do. I just really hope they don't blow it up and start from scratch, I'd like to see some salary moved out for need or space and them look elsewhere when it comes to re-signing Tyreke Evans unless they have a plan for him and the team and he's cheap enough.

Petrie has actually done a decent job of putting talented players on the team, just hasn't remotely started to put a real team together until this deadline with that Rockets deal. I'd like to see them pick up some veteran players this summer that will strengthen the core of this team.

I think there will be major opportunities to add significant pieces to the team this summer. In free agency my two top guys to look out for are Tony Allen and David West. Maybe the Kings could get one to bite on a sign and trade with Jason Thompson who needs to be moved sooner than later so when he starts losing minutes at PF/C in favor of either talent or need they don't trade him for nothing or can't trade him at all. West/Cousins could be a Memphis style combo where they'll be tough and tough to stop. As good as John played this year he's got to be amnestied, if he is, the Kings have all the space they need to get to that next step. Say they draft a SF in Porter or Muhammad and you're set. Maybe dump Jimmer too if he's not going to play, I think the Kings could find a team to take on his salary. Bring back Douglas and Aldrich too. I'd also watch the waiver wire and see if the name "Hedo" is on it at some point. Welcome to the playoffs next year Kings.



PG: IT/Douglas/Jimmer
SG: Allen/Thornton
SF: Porter or Muhammad/Hedo/Outlaw
PF: West/PPat
C: Cousins/Hayes/Aldrich

This would be a lineup that could control the clock, and not have to jack up shots hoping more go in than out.

[bibby1023]

^^ So are you assuming that Reke decides to sign else where?

[Inigo_Montoya]

This was discussed on the general board a few days ago but for another team- how would people feel about poaching a Euro coach? I'm fairly unimpressed by the current crop of available ex-head coaches.

[bibby1023]

This was discussed on the general board a few days ago but for another team- how would people feel about poaching a Euro coach? I'm fairly unimpressed by the current crop of available ex-head coaches.

I'm not too educated on European coaches. Is there a Euro Phil Jackson with a lot of success we can pry from a league over there? When was the last coach to come over and coach in the NBA? There's only a select 3-4 coaches I'd be happy with. One of the Van Gundy's, Brian Shaw, and Sloan (although unlikely)

[Inigo_Montoya]

I'm no expert either but Zeljko Obradovic is the guy who was brought up as a possible Pistons head coach. Here's the thread with some discussion of his pros and cons viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1246610

And I don't believe that there has ever been a European head coach in the NBA so it would be a significant risk from the ego-management perspective.

Sloan would be my first choice but only if he made it clear that he would be looking to stick around for at least 3-4 seasons. Given his age and the fact that we have Demarcus I'm not sure how likely that would be.