1) Papa - Does not fit the current meta. Has had at least one blow up arguing with coach Joerger caught on film ( when I find it again I will post) after a bone headed move. Where there is one, likely there are more. Not a good look for Papa.
2) Richardson- Was struck with injuries sadly at the most inopportune times. Further, was stuck behind our biggest logjam i.e. SG. Which leads me to:
For the last several seasons we have been completely inept at SG. Just awful. Vlade ( whom by the way I am not star struck by or nostalgic for, because he is our GM to me. Period. The rest is separate.) loaded up on promising players at the 2. The creme rises to the top, by virtue of talent or good health. Sucks for Malichai and I wish him the best.
Since this thread was supposed to be about Papa, I'll try and get back on track. Difficult with all the nonsense posted since the trade deadline passed.
Vlade must have seen something he liked in Papa. Well enough to take him 13th. Rumor was others were interested in him. Now that may have been smoke and mirrors by rival GM's. Baiting Vlade into grabbing the big man. Doesn't matter.
Now, I know what my eyes told me watching Papa. He along with many other bigs who would have been perfect even 5 years ago, better realize that the slow lumbering big banger is no longer welcome in todays NBA. Not unless you are damn good at what you are ( Steven Adams, Deandre Jordan) . I have no ill will against Papa, but he was a mistake to draft. Now, was the mistake with Vlade for seeing something that wasn't there? Or was the mistake with Papa? Yeah, he slimmed down some which I applauded. However, there HAD to be something else to turn Vlade off from his project Big. That brings me back to the blowup.
Papa has been starved for opportunities to show what he can offer after so much time developing in the G-League. He gets a few minutes and makes a bone headed pass to Buddy after 3 minutes played. Once pulled, he proceeds to jaw with THE COACH, as if he has earned that right. As if he is a superstar who made a rare mistake. This was very recent and I will keep looking for the footage. Feel free to look yourself. It's out there and I doubt it was a one off.
The fact is, Vlade came to the conclusion he made a mistake ( as every GM does, including the infallible R.C. Buford, the "great" Danny Ainge, etc).
Where Vlade separated himself from the Pete D'Alessandro's is he owned it by cutting bait and moving on, rather than hoping year after year his mistake would save face for him and have a miraculous AHA! moment.
Now I will speak personally and will keep it strictly Kings related because we all have trials and tribulations that other posters could not care less about ( some might ).
Tensions are high. We suck! Not a revelation for anyone on this board,because, we knew we would. This is what a true tear it down and build it back up in someone's specific vision rebuild feels like. Sadly, we have a LONG way to go before G1C is rocking like the ARCO THUNDER days of yesteryear. I do not think Vlade is the best GM, nor do I think he is the worst. I do think he is doing what he thinks is best, while also having to shift ( prior to the Boogie trade which would place the Papa pick before then) to a fluid situation he stepped into, to clean up as best he can, because he feels a connection. Again I will reiterate I am not a Vlade apologist and could point out many things done that I do not like.
I will say this to close my rant that will probably be taken the wrong way, as I think we have a very informed and intelligent bevy of posters here. If you are criticizing Vlade for not giving Papa more time to miraculously become an outlier in today's league, then I do not see how you can choose this very hill to make your stand, and cut bait with Vlade as GM. He gave a timeline. Let him see it through. If the team we all love does not look exorbitantly better at the end of next season, you have every right to proclaim no confidence in his leadership. Hell, I'll join you.
