One AND ONLY Cousins trade rumors thread

[MizzouKing]

And now the reports are saying we're re-infatuated with Rondo and looking to trade Rudy as well. SERIOUSLY? WTF??? Is this a bad joke? It's looking like a bad pattern:

1) New coach comes in. Finally, Reke can have the coach he deserves!!! Nope, Reke gets traded.
2) Boogie likes the new coach, matures beyond all expectations, and team overachieves. Finally, we are on track! Nope, coach gets fired.
3) After a lost season, chemistry is building between Boogie, Rudy, and DC. Finally, we are going to get somewhere! Nope, new coach wants to get rid of Boogie & Rudy, then put DC on the bench.

Is vivec the freakin anti-christ?!?!?

 

[Bricklayer]

Cindy Westphal ‏@GrammyWeeze 26m26 minutes ago
I asked Paul what he was finding so amusing this morning. He said,"Aw, nothing. Just reading Sactown Royalty."

bam!

 

[rainmaker]

You're taking all these bloggers at their word without any real proof from the horses (Cousins and Karl's) mouth. Who said Cousins wanted out too? When has he ever said he wanted out of Sac? Where are you getting your information?

A) These aren't bloggers

B) If your expectation is either Cuz is going to go on camera and publicly demand a trade or Karl is going to go on camera and publicly state "I'm shopping Cuz behind Vlade's back and looking to push him out", you don't know how the NBA works.

As an aside, another reason for firing Karl ASAP is this directly undermines Vlade, Vivek's new man and quickly makes him obsolete only weeks after his hire. With Vlade repeatedly saying we're not trading Cuz, to have Karl go behind his back and shop him while garnering support for pushing him out works directly against Vlade. If Karl wins out, Vlade loses any control he has and it's clear to all that Karl runs this team and has no respect for Vlade and his position.

How's this for culture, Vivek?

 

[Bricklayer]

Our record clearly indicates that the status quo sucks. Keep Karl, if and only if the deal is right for DMC, pull the trigger. All these posts totally ruling out a trade remind me of the folks that wanted to live in the past and keep Mitch Richmond.

You have no clue what you are talking about. Richmond was nearing the end. This is trading Webber, not trading for Webber.

 

[Blastoff]

You're taking all these bloggers at their word without any real proof from the horses (Cousins and Karl's) mouth. Who said Cousins wanted out too? When has he ever said he wanted out of Sac? Where are you getting your information?

Directly from Carmichael Dave's mouth this morning. DMC's people requested a trade and presented a list of "preferred destinations" a month ago.

 

[bajaden]

Well, exciting times, no? Certainly not the usual DDOS! Personally, I'm not sure what to make of the whole situation. Hard to put a positive spin on it, regardless of which side of the fence your on. I'am, and have been from day one a huge Cousins fan. No one has defended his antics more on this forum than me. So I'm not in the camp of trading him. At the same time, just how do you fire Karl at this point? He has something like a 12 or 13 mil buyout. That folks, is a very very bitter pill to sallow. And, after the smoke clears, your without a head coach. I'm trying to see beyond kneejerk reactions here.

So lets assume your not willing to fire Karl, and your not willing to trade Cousins, then what is left? I mean, put your anger aside, take a step back, take a deep breath, and ask yourself, is there another way to resolve this? My first thought is to lock Karl and Cousins in a steel room and not let them out until they come to some sort of resolution. I mean, Karl wants to be the all time winningest coach in NBA history, and Cousins wants to win. Seems like common ground to me. Karl has had these kind of disputes with star players in the past, and despite personal differences, they managed to co-exist, and win.

If I'm Vlade, I tell Karl, were not trading Cousins, so enough already. I tell Cousins the same thing, and I tell both of them, your getting paid big bucks, so how about being professionals and figure it out. Let us also not forget about the agent involved here. Dan Fegan is known for creating these kind of situations when he wants his client to play somewhere else, and make no mistake, he's involved in some way. He's probably my least favorite agent in the NBA, so I'm a little biased. This has his fingerprints all over it.

 

[Bricklayer]

Save us Mark Mastrov ... you're our only hope.

Perhaps.

I have been considering where Karl is drawing his power source from. He's one old coach, his front office toadie is gone. Yet he feels secure enough to think he can operate a coup and get Cuz dumped? He's got a huge ego, maybe that's enough. Maybe he thinks the big contract has given him dictatorial powers. But if Vlade and Vivek both don't want to trade Cousins, where is Karl getting this idea he can make it happen unless maybe he's perverted some of the amateur minority owners to create voices and pressure.

 

[Henkel]

You're taking all these bloggers at their word without any real proof from the horses (Cousins and Karl's) mouth. Who said Cousins wanted out too? When has he ever said he wanted out of Sac? Where are you getting your information?

Carmichael Dave reported that Fagan or one of his people approached the Kings front office about a trade. These people work for Cousins and one has to assume did so with his knowledge. Chris Mannix was also on the show and said the Kings have been listening to offers for Cousins. Throw in the situation with Cousins and Karl, which has been reported and confirmed by several sources, and you have the indications I was speaking of. And be dismissive all you want but Woj and Stein qualify as more then "bloggers".

 

[John Galt]

From Ham's latest article:

Karl is in a similar situation. He needs the Kings. A firing at this point would spell the end of his illustrious career. He would leave the game with an ugly moniker of a conniving coach that lost a power play against a star player.

- See more at: http://cowbellkingdom.com/dysfunction-reigns-supreme-in-sacramento/#sthash.KG0HSx3e.KVsXoMpA.dpuf

Karl deserves to end his career this way. Get rid of him

 

[Chubbs]

Ok, I normally resist the obvious, but this would be the ultimate I TOLD YOU SO moment with George Karl. Why I was urging caution while people just saw the career win total. He has always been a diva, been trouble, and had all the wrong personality traits for Cuz.

Now the one hesitation with the normally ultra-reliable Woj is that his reporting on the PDA departure certainly seemed to be coming from PDA himself. A hope here might be its the same source this time. And PDA might well be right, but shorn of his front office ally Karl might still be tamed now.

As for the that ****ing old man, he hasn't earned any of this. He's nto a Sacrmento King at all. He's a user. A new old tumor on the franchise. But his very act of negotiating a 4 year deal makes him essentially unfireable. We may have committed the Bill Russel mistake all over again.

My thought when hiring Karl was dick Motta.

 

[Blastoff]

My thought when hiring Karl was dick Motta.

Yup.

 

[Letsgokings13]

**** George Karl. You aren't coming in here calling shots and destroying our team. **** off old hag

 

[kingjatt]

Perhaps.

I have been considering where Karl is drawing his power source from. He's one old coach, his front office toadie is gone. Yet he feels secure enough to think he can operate a coup and get Cuz dumped? He's got a huge ego, maybe that's enough. Maybe he thinks the big contract has given him dictatorial powers. But if Vlade and Vivek both don't want to trade Cousins, where is Karl getting this idea he can make it happen unless maybe he's perverted some of the amateur minority owners to create voices and pressure.

He's empowered by the notion that Vivek won't eat 11 million plus the cost/embarrassment of hiring a new coach.

 

[Henkel]

He's empowered by the notion that Vivek won't eat 11 million plus the cost/embarrassment of hiring a new coach.

Plus that might not be enough at this point. If I'm Cousins firing Karl solves some immediate problems but is indicative of larger ones.

 

[VladFather]

He's empowered by the notion that Vivek won't eat 11 million plus the cost/embarrassment of hiring a new coach.

He could be mistaken in that though. The 11 million is a sunk cost at this point. Trading Cousins could easily cost the Kings much more than 11 million in lost ticket sales, merchandise sales, advertising revenue, and one other important thing, WINS. While Vivek isn't flushed with money, he surely understands sunk costs and has shown he isn't afraid to fail and admit mistakes.

I think firing Karl can EASILY be spun by a PR perspective as a new regime with Vlade at the helm, investing in our franchise center. Trading Cuz looks amateur hour and undermines Vlade as being the one in charge. Now we just have to see if they have the balls to do such a bold move.

 

[rainmaker]

Aaron Bruski: Echoing the @carmichaeldave similar report, sources have reported multiple instances of Pete D polling people ‘Karl or Cousins’ for months.


What a mess. Despite Vlade coming on, this whole thing has remained just as toxic an environment as it was earlier this season. Goes to the top of the ladder. Vivek.

Saying "we're not going to trade Cuz" while sitting courtside at Warriors games isn't going to fix this, Vivek.

 

[fansinceday1]

He's empowered by the notion that Vivek won't eat 11 million plus the cost/embarrassment of hiring a new coach.

Boom. Exactly.
First thought that came to mind.

 

[John Galt]

Does everyone think Karl will sit back and just bank Vivek's paychecks during his last healthy years, when he's a couple seasons from passing Phil Jackson on the all time wins list? If we fire him and someone else picks him up, then hopefully the Vivek money stops flowing right then. Hard to think Karl will retire on this note, but maybe. I'm sure rooting for the Kings to fire Karl, hire Thibs, and we all move on.

 

[itzcoatl]

Boom. Exactly.
First thought that came to mind.

It's a big contract for sure, but could we not pick up Thibs for a bargain given he's still under contract wih Chicago?

 

[New Era]

I just don't see them firing Karl. I think the damage is irreparable at this point. I think they have 2 options: 1. Trade DMC or 2. Keep them both and hope to God they win and everything works out

 

[Kingster]

Vlade is the one who said that he has tremendous respect for Karl. Now he's going to fire Karl? Not going to happen. Heck, Vlade couldn't even fire PDA, the weasel-snake hybrid. He's not firing Karl. Vlade was brought on to get everybody on the same page. Apparently, some haven't read the memo.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

i am so f'n done with this team if they chose a old stubborn coach on the brink of retirement over a superstar Center just entering his prime

 

[HndsmCelt]

He's empowered by the notion that Vivek won't eat 11 million plus the cost/embarrassment of hiring a new coach.

I think you are right, but deep pockets or even a team of lawyers might prove him wrong on this.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

anybody else think this FO/ownership not noobs and give them some more time to fluck things up? we should be talking about the upcoming season instead we're talking about the franchise player trade rumors. such is life for a kings fan(not for much longer if cousins is traded)

 

[The_Jamal]

Aaron Bruski: Echoing the @carmichaeldave similar report, sources have reported multiple instances of Pete D polling people ‘Karl or Cousins’ for months.


What a mess. Despite Vlade coming on, this whole thing has remained just as toxic an environment as it was earlier this season. Goes to the top of the ladder. Vivek.

Saying "we're not going to trade Cuz" while sitting courtside at Warriors games isn't going to fix this, Vivek.

Yep. Any organization, no matter what field or how large, is a reflection of the person in charge. And it is becoming abundantly clear that Vivek is winging this as we go along.

Its Deja Vu all over again. Why did we hire Vlade if he wasn't on the same page with Karl? Did Karl say he loved Boogie to get the job and is now leveraging the fact we just gave him a mega deal and is betting that we we won't fire a 3rd coach in 6 months? And if we knew we were going to fire PDA, why the hell did we hire a coach BEFORE the GM again?

Frankly, just getting sick of this. If Vlade and Karl aren't on the same page, end the relationship before we waste another 3 years. Let Vlade establish HIS FO with HIS guys. At least then, we'll know that there aren't any hidden agendas.

 

[Gary]

A) These aren't bloggers

B) If your expectation is either Cuz is going to go on camera and publicly demand a trade or Karl is going to go on camera and publicly state "I'm shopping Cuz behind Vlade's back and looking to push him out", you don't know how the NBA works.

As an aside, another reason for firing Karl ASAP is this directly undermines Vlade, Vivek's new man and quickly makes him obsolete only weeks after his hire. With Vlade repeatedly saying we're not trading Cuz, to have Karl go behind his back and shop him while garnering support for pushing him out works directly against Vlade. If Karl wins out, Vlade loses any control he has and it's clear to all that Karl runs this team and has no respect for Vlade and his position.

How's this for culture, Vivek?

I totally get how the NBA works, and that most stuff is leaked by bloggers and columnists. And it does make sense that this is coming close to the draft where a lot of trades happen. Just saying that I will believe it when I see it. I will give Vlade the benefit of the doubt after he stated Cuz is not being shopped yesterday.

 

[jcwkings]

i am so f'n done with this team if they chose a old stubborn coach on the brink of retirement over a superstar Center just entering his prime

It is beyond repair imo. Cousins has had it with this franchise and keeping him will just prolong the inevitable, you will just see the "detached" Cousins we saw after his all star snub a couple of years ago. Unless something is resolved, you pretty much have to trade him, keeping him will just lower his value day by day. I hate it as much as all of you but the writing is on the wall. Implosion is the only option imo.

 

[macadocious]

I would think there could be some language in Karl's contract that allows them not to pay him for "conduct detrimental to the team"

Regardless, it's not our money. I don't care if Vivek and Co. are paying Malon, Karl, Smart, Westphal and Corbin as long as we get rid of this bullcrap we are dealing with.

 

[Bricklayer]

Aaron Bruski: Echoing the @carmichaeldave similar report, sources have reported multiple instances of Pete D polling people ‘Karl or Cousins’ for months.

Yep. Not the first time I've seen that.

Now, here is my attempt at a ray of sunshine: PDA was still at the heart of that, may have even encouraged it. Consider this timeline:


1) Karl is hired
2) PDA is still GM at that point
3) Karl with PDA, or PDA recruiting Karl, pushes Karl or Cousins narrative
4) Cousins knows this, as do agents, pissed, asks for trade
5) Vlade comes out and say Cousins untradeable
6) Cousins responds with a lol
7) PDA leaves/is fired, maybe even for this activity
8) Vlade again says Cousins not going to be traded
9) PDA hired by Denver, Woj delivers column on the move straight from the rodent's mouth
10) All of a sudden story breaks about Karl trying to force out Cousins, story is by Woj
11) Cuz respons with snake in a grass emojii

Now where do you think #10 would come from given all the above?

My strong strong bet is this is Pete, feeding information to Woj, about a real event that already happened with the Kings while Pete was here. Its something Pete had intimate knowledge of. It was something Cousins already knew. Something CarmichaelDave etc. may have had hints of behind the scenes. And something Valde and Vivek have known about and been dealing with for months.

Now the positive of that is that this crap would not be new news to Cousins, would not be new news to Vlade or Vivek. And yet Vlade/Vivek have continued to insist that Cousins is not going to be traded. The storm may have already been weathered internally with the big question being whether Boogie feels any desire to forgive and forget.

 

[Nelson999]