Hiring Vlade was a PR move following the fiasco of PDA. He wasn't shrewd calculating or cold-blooded. He was fortunate. I don't understand the urge to rush to his defense. He is terrible at his job. He is the worst GM in the NBA and a laughingstock. Don't kill the messenger. I am just delivering the message others would rather deny.
What is trending upward besides the luck of #2? This is an outrageous comment. The team statistics last season were dreadful (TS%, rebounds, point differential, pace, etc) . He drafted Justin Jackson (who needs to show dramatic improvement in order to not be out of the league in 1-2 years) and Harry Giles, who couldn't even make an appearance in the last month of the season, over two years after his last ACL. Fox was a no-brainer at #5. Mason, a guy I like, still has a lot to prove.
What is trending upwards where this GM is concerned besides incompetence? If Vlade was PDA, every Kings fan would be trashing this guy. But because he has soft spot in most fans heart, he gets a pass. He doesn't get a pass in my book. I am relatively heartless in these matters.
But if you will review my posts you will notice I ALWAYS give players and Kings-related personnel the benefit of the doubt until it is not longer warranted. I have been strong advocates and supporter of:
- Buddy
- Fox
- Boggy
- Skal
- Mason
I don't slam guys through normal growing pains. But when a player or front office individual displays repeated instances of incompetence they will garner Blobian wrath. Why should I be sympathetic to this GM because he is "nice" or "accomplished" as a player? I don't care about nice. I care about winning. I am winner. I know how to win. I also know how to identify losers. I realize adversity is part of the process. Adversity is normal. But at some point you have to display an edge you possess. You have to show your wares, the advantage you possess that you can exploit. This is all so simple. In this context I have DEFENDED this GM....
I was one of the only fans on this board who recommended and commended the trade of George Hill to CLE for cap space. I wanted to dump him and create minutes for Fox and Mason. I wanted the ball in the hands of a better shot creator in Boggy. I gave Vlade credit for that trade when most fans were wanting to hold out for a 1st round pick. Those saying 1st round pick or no deal had NO idea what they are talking about! Where are they now? They pulled a disappearing act, that's where.
Yet in the context of his most recent trade, Vlade has been awful. How much of a better position would we be in to chase Parsons and the #4 if Vlade did NOT guarantee the second year of a washed up back pack toting dope fiend?!?! If the second year of the 2/24 was not guaranteed on Z-Bo we'd have $12M in cap space to chase Randle, Gordon or accept bad contract. We could more readily take Parsons into our space and take Luka/Bagley, Luka/Bamba or whoever your heart desires.
Vlade is not a visionary. He's a clueless fraud. I wrote in my season preview Z-Bo was was a problem waiting to happen with his "black hole" tendencies, coach favorability and matador defense. I thought Hill would give us the same scoring as DC with better defense, but I will be honest I did not pay a lot of attention to him on the Jazz. But if I was going to give a 31 year old PG 2/40 guaranteed I would have watched every clip on Sports Vu offensively and defensively. I would have been meticulous in my analysis. I would NEVER have guaranteed the second year. You want the second year guaranteed? Sorry NO deal! Yet Vlade caved because he is terrible at his job. Again, don't kill the messenger!
If you concluded DC was worse than G-Hill by half the cost you SUCK at talent evaluation. Who wants to argue this? If you take Jackson over Kuzma you suck at talent evaluation. You take the guy from the elite school when this is promise of nothing. It is a lazy. DC helped the Pacers to a near 1st round upset of the Cavs. He was clutch in that series. I defended DC when he was with us against the posters on this board who were always quick to point out his bad games. The guy had speed and nice shooting. Far less can be said about Hill who choked away Game 1 with a bricked FT that led to a series sweep.
George Hill is not a player to whom you ascribe star potential. Vlade ascribed star potential with the size of the contract and ended up with egg on his face. He remedied the mistake but it cost us Shumpert's contract in 2018-19. This is PDA-level BS. Vlade sucks at his job. Who wants to say otherwise?
Here's another issue ALL KINGS FANS should ponder: I can't speak to the validity but let's presume it to be true. Mike Bratz was allegedly fired for endorsing and advocating for Papa G. Mike Bratz is gone. Out of job. Meanwhile the guy that took his recommendation still has a job? What's up with that? Canning Bratz for his misevaluation and other considerations may have been justified. But what about the guy who took his advice. No consequences for him? Can we at least agree if he is not on thin ice he should be?
I wrote a month ago the next logical step when you are the worst at your job is to make another horrible decision, that is, to draft Michael Porter Jr. When you are the worst at your job, you make the worst decision possible. Yet I also predict that there is enough sensibility and prudence surrounding Vlade to save him from himself, to make the smart decision, to take Marvin Bagley. I stand by this, I think we will be okay, yet my confidence is wavering.
I have a lot more to say (since I always do where this team is concerned
) but I end with this: If Vlade approves prescient with MPJ and the turns into a perennial all-star, he will NOT be vindicated. He will be lucky. He is stupid to take him whether the player succeeds magnificently or fails miserably. I am betting we don't go down this road by I am only willing to bet Monopoly money.
