1. I have to give credit to all posters, who kept criticizing Vlade without getting too emotional, when the majority of users backfired on them. You guys were right. Vlade goes down as one of the worst GM's in league history and as Viveks PR coup to keep the fanbase quiet. All the talk how Vlade is real or about trust or has peoples skills just looks like a very bad joke now. He absolutely and in the worst manner possible backstabbed one of the most talented players of the league. All the talk about a changing culture and how this culture will make us more attractive to FA's feels so crooked now, that I simply want to throw up. Vlade and Vivek just destroyed any credibility they had left and FA's will absolutely consider the DMC backstabbing, when negotiating with the Kings. Not only did he pull the chair under DMC, he pulled the chair under the whole team fighting like mad for a Playoff spot and he pulled the chair under Joerger, who didn't want to coach a rebuild and was happy, that SAC had the main pieces in place. Now Joerger is forced to coach a rebuild or is the next guy, who gets canned.
Vlade couldn't find any trades to make the team around DMC better. He screwed up the FA signings beyond believe and now he traded DMC (and it doesn't matter at all if Vivek forced his hand, if you trade him you have to get a better return than Buddy Hield and a protected first rounder).
2. Our offseason makes an aweful lot more sense now. We basically drafted a possible DMC replacement in Papa and already stockpiled young players to go full tank mode for the next seasons. Willie's emergence also helped the cause. Like Detroit with Drummond we didn't believe it's possible to win with a slow true big man, who will get attacked in the pick&roll. What Vlade and Vivek did, was to keep DMC long enough to get the season ticket subscribers in the Golden 1 center. Now we will follow the Warriors blueprint with Willie as the low usage rim runner in the middle. The true joke is, that Vlade managed to screw up this laughable plan already with his Philly deal, whcih basically proves he got no clue, what he is doing out there.
But from here on out it's uptempo basketball with lots of 3 point shots in SAC. Of course because we are the #Kangz that's with a coach known for slow, defense first, big man basketball.
3. With the new plan clearly visible I ask myself, why I should continue to follow this franchise. If I want to watch just another Warriors clone I can simply watch the Blazers or Celtics. What made SAC so appealing to me was it's history, my own cherished memories of the early 2000's and the fact, that they had the guy on the roster, that felt like the last true loyal "one career, one team, against all odds" kind of star. A big guy of the mold of the 90's. I wanted this team to succeed with DMC so bad, because I wanted to watch one of those great american "from zero to hero storys", that give people around the globe so much hope. I know to feel that way is childish and naive, but what's fandom without a little naivete?
4. I feel bad for DMC. He must be furious and all those cheap excuses how the NBA is a business get old fast. Not only did he get backstabbed by people he showed nothing but loyalty - he also got traded to just another bad situation for him. I will watch the Pelicans closely, but I don't expect this to work. As far as I know Alvin Gentry is one of the worst coaches possible for DMC. And until proven the opposite I'm still not a believer in a two big man approach. This can end really bad for DMC.