I think the recent moves by Vlade to dump Hill, Malachi and Pappa would indicate the lack of a clear plan unless you can make the case Hezonja’s option not being picked up was an unforeseen event that required this move because the Kings felt they had a high chance of signing him.
Every other player their contract status and availability was well known prior to the Hill signing and picking up Pappa’s option.
I don't quite agree! Here is my reasoning why!
I come from the same country as Vlade and I follow the club that Vlade and Bogdan have grown at and gone onto bigger and better things. That club has been known as a production line of talented players that are not playing in Europe and the NBA. It has been like that until recent financial trouble where it can barely field a competitive team.
This is a very similar approach to what San Antonio have and obviously what Vlade is trying to implement here. Now here are the basic key principles of the system
- System is built on a team first culture. There is no place for players with big egos who this they are the alpha dogs. It's a TEAM effort.
- The players have to be fundamentally sound and capable of doing many things on the court. There is no such a thing as a dedicated specialist. Everyone practices to be multi skilled player. Dribble, pass, shoot, set screens, roll, rebound, read the defenses, move the ball, find the open men.
- A group of young players is identified and signed by the club (in NBA this will obviously have to be a draft)
- Those young players are not given big minutes in games initially to develop. On the contrary, the kids sit on the bench, work extensively in practices and learn of the veterans and they get a minute or two here and there and certainly not every game. Young players that don't fulfill the expectations of the team are moved on despite them being some of the most talented younsters in Europe. The whole package is taken into account and young core is identified to move forward with.
- Once players develop and prove they can handle their own against those very veterans in practice, they are integrated into the team in smaller roles and their roles increase once they become more and more comfortable. Mistakes are pointed out and not forgiven, that is why players get yanked for stupid mistakes (sometime this can get too physical.....see the clip of Vujosevic choking Bogdan and yanking him from the game because he didn't do what the coach asked for)
- Once those young players become core of the team, older players are phased out either to bench roles or moved on to other clubs.
- No matter at what stage the team is in, they go our to win every game. That continues to grow the culture and the system in place.
- Every player that has left the club has publicly said they owe their career to Partizan and that system. You had players signing from all over Europe to be developed into the best player they can be. Joffrey Lauvergne was cut buy his Spanish side mid season, signed with Partizan. Within a year he was their captain and moved on to Russia before moving to and currently playing in the NBA. He has a tattoo of Partizan's logo on his arm.
Take Bogdan for example. Year 1, he sat on the bench and barely played but he worked in practice, watched and learned from those veterans that were out there playing. Twice a day practices, sometimes 8-9 hour days. Year two, he was integrated into the line up with spot minutes. Year 3, he was a regular, playing solid minutes and by year 4 he was the star of the team and the rising start of European basketball.
Now while some of the logistics are different between the NBA and Europe, the principle of the system remains the same. Everything that Vlade and the Kings have done since trading Cousins has been in line with this system and vision. Bring in young players, work with them for a while. Determine if they are part of the core going forward or not. If they are, cut your ties and move on with those that you have chosen to move forward with. Keep adding young players each year and repeat the process.
People saw him draft two PGs and then sign Hill and say there is no plan. There has been a plan. The thing that has happened is that those young kids became ready quicker than what was originally planned which is actually a good thing. You are at a point where you are ready to move on that veteran and hand over the reigns.
To me there is a clear system. People have not seen the system in the NBA up close so they sensasionalize it and say Kings are a rabble, don't know what they are doing, throw the skirt over their heads and run around like headless chooks telling everyone Kings are dumb. I see the system and have recognized it from the very start. It is why I am NOT fussed by Joerger's rotations because I know what the team is trying to achieve. That is why I am not against the signings as I see purpose behind them.
Randolph would also have been moved but there is not a young kid ready to play extended minutes at his position. Come next season, don't be surprised if Randolph is bought out or traded half way through the year. I can see the outcry now but it still would have been a solid decision of what the Kings are trying to do. Its not popular with the crowd but there is a method behind it.