This whole thing is just weird.
The "PDA pushing for Karl rumor" makes me think that he wanted Karl to replace MM. Which makes sense in a vacuum. So then, why wasn't he hired right away? I'd say either (1) he wanted to tank and grab a pick before rebuilding with GK or (2) the rest of the FO wasn't on board with the hire, whether about money owed or if he wasn't Mullin's first choice.
The Cousins's agents leaks (both of them) make zero sense whatsoever. The best I can think is some sort of internal power struggle. Assuming PDA wanted Karl, would someone else leak that info to make him look bad? Or is PDA really that dumb to think he could go after his star player's agents?!?
My money is on a combination of internal power struggle or push-back from Vivek on signing a new coach to a big contract so quickly. Or probably a mix of both.
Oh, and Vivek & Co. is 100% worse than the Maloofs *in terms of basketball decisions.* yes the Maloofs went broke, had zero loyalty to Sacramento, and likely purchased the team with the intent to relocate. But when they inherited Petrie / Adelman, they recognized that those dudes were good, wrote the checks, and stepped aside into the enthusiastic cheerleader role for about 5 years, and only started getting involved when it came time for a rebuild.
Vivek is in over his head and is driving this team into the ground at a frightening speed. Organizational dysfunction resulting in total deadlock and a lack of a coherent vision, with the only hint of future ideas being terrible, half-baked ones. Playing favorites in the front office and allowing a toxic and bitter culture to take hold. An apparent inability to take command in a crisis situation, but just enough initiative to gum things up. This organization is bush league.
Also, Vivek did not save basketball in Sacramento. He was gift-wrapped the team when an owner was needed.
I hope I'm wrong. But I'd hate if KJ, Stern, and Sac moved mountains to keep this team only to have it turned over to Vivek "James Dolan 2.0" Ranadive.