ESPN: Chris Wallace leader for Kings GM

[funkykingston]

If Ranadive wants to get rid of Petrie, then fine - Geoff has earned that with his moves over the last few years. But at least bring in someone with a better track record. And I'm not talking about eclipsing Geoff back when he was deserving of his Exec of the Year awards, I'm just talking about Petrie as he stands currently. How many people would say with absolute certainty that Morway, Layden or Wallace would be an improvement if they stepped in today?

I wouldn't.

In fact, just in terms of talent evaluation I'd still take Petrie, warts and all above the other three. And given what absolute debacles the last two draft days have been that's saying something.

Where's the young, analytics driven assistant GM who came up as a scout? Where's the former player with an eye for talent? Are these retreads really the best possible options?

 

[Bricklayer]

Where's the young, analytics driven assistant GM who came up as a scout? Where's the former player with an eye for talent? Are these retreads really the best possible options?

They may be there, we don't know. And those of course will be shots in the dark if we take them. Guys like Wallace and Layden were unknown entities once too. Its kinda like the draft. Just being a draft pick and thus not having exposed your incompetence in he NBA yet doesn't automatically mean you are going to be good. We could sign the equivalent of TRob as our new GM.

Of course that likely beats somebody who has already established that incompetence at this level, but at this point I am squinching my eyes and looking for any stretch of competent GMing form any of these guys. Show me a 3yr period when you were good at any point in the last 20 years, and you're hired!

 

[Kingster]

So if Vivek were being analytical, he'd compile a list of every single draft pick over the last 10 years, rank their relative success relative to their draft position, then determine which scout/assistant gm was most responsible for the most successful picks. He'd also do the same with trades. Then he'd have an elite group to choose from. The problem is how to do you really know who is responsible for the draft pick or the trade? Is it the scout? Is it the assistant gm? The head gm? The owner? When the pick or trade is good everybody raises their hand to take credit. When the pick or trade is bad everybody points the finger at somebody else. We have the same problem in assessing Petrie and how the Maloofs may or may not have affected the picks and trades of the Kings. I don't know what the answer is to finding the truth of the matter, but that may be part of the reason that Vivek is taking so long.

 

[pshn80]

Considering what he has had to look at, maybe hasn't taken such a long time.

One thing missing from all the posts above the suggestion of a recommended candidate who is available. Maybe there isn't any.

Brick, I initiatially thought that photo you posted above was of George Maloof it now I'm wondering, what do you look like. I'm still on the Brick for GM bandwagon. Give Vivek a call.

 

[Bricklayer]

Brick, I initiatially thought that photo you posted above was of George Maloof it now I'm wondering, what do you look like.

Hey! That's damn insulting!!!

 

[Darth Divac]

I'd be happy with Schlenk, and I guess D'alessandro wouldn't be bad, but most of these guys are underwhelming and/or inexperienced.

 

[Rockmeister]

hey! That's damn insulting!!!

lol

 

[Section 101]

Considering what he has had to look at, maybe hasn't taken such a long time.

One thing missing from all the posts above the suggestion of a recommended candidate who is available. Maybe there isn't any.

Brick, I initiatially thought that photo you posted above was of George Maloof it now I'm wondering, what do you look like. I'm still on the Brick for GM bandwagon. Give Vivek a call.

Brick just has a man crush on George. He can't resist posting his picture.

 

[pshn80]

Yesterday's Wallace interview by "ownership" is he only one done by "ownership". The rest have been by Vivek. Is that seem correct? What is the significance of that? If any.

 

[Turgenev]

Didn't Knicks fans used to chant "Fi-re Lay-den!" at the Draft or Draft Lottery?

If not mistaken, there used to be a fire layden website where you could purchase such things as fire layden mugs...

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Agreed. Schlenk or the guy from the Nuggets please.

cosign!

 

[Livinthedream]

What do we know about Schlenk that let's us know that he will be good for this team, or that he's better than the rest? I know nothing about him myself. I know something about the rest, but don't know what was truly going on behind the scenes that may have had some impact on their track record, good or bad.

Vivek has a lot more information that he is working with than we do on this board, and it's obvious he's going through all of it. Why else would one guy have been interviewed 3 times already and so many others explored as well. Vivek is being very careful and methodical about this decision and I can't blame him. I won't say that I automatically trust that Vivek will make the right decision, but I will feel that he used everything at his disposal to pick the GM he does pick. And I can live with that.

 

[Kingsfan23]

What do we know about Schlenk that let's us know that he will be good for this team, or that he's better than the rest? I know nothing about him myself. I know something about the rest, but don't know what was truly going on behind the scenes that may have had some impact on their track record, good or bad.

Vivek has a lot more information that he is working with than we do on this board, and it's obvious he's going through all of it. Why else would one guy have been interviewed 3 times already and so many others explored as well. Vivek is being very careful and methodical about this decision and I can't blame him. I won't say that I automatically trust that Vivek will make the right decision, but I will feel that he used everything at his disposal to pick the GM he does pick. And I can live with that.

I think for some its just a matter of disliking the other candidates who have seriously been discussed.. I know nothing about Shlenk other than he's some young analytics guy, which unfortunately makes him a savory candidate out of the apparent field so far. This says more about the options we have heard about to date than Schlenk.. I trust vivek knows what he's doing here

 

[Bricklayer]

I think for some its just a matter of disliking the other candidates who have seriously been discussed.. I know nothing about Shlenk other than he's some young analytics guy, which unfortunately makes him a savory candidate out of the apparent field so far. This says more about the options we have heard about to date than Schlenk.. I trust vivek knows what he's doing here

I think that's kind of it. I am not eager to see a totally unproven guy get the job...until you see what all of the "proven" candidates being tossed around have proved. At that point it might be better to take the risk that your unproven guy might suck than the certainty that your proven guy is going to suck as always. Also may be why Vivek wants to do a two-tier system. If you can't find one guy you really trust, hire two guys you don't and hope they cancel out each other's worst traits.

 

[sdballer]

What do we know about Schlenk that let's us know that he will be good for this team, or that he's better than the rest? I know nothing about him myself. I know something about the rest, but don't know what was truly going on behind the scenes that may have had some impact on their track record, good or bad.

Vivek has a lot more information that he is working with than we do on this board, and it's obvious he's going through all of it. Why else would one guy have been interviewed 3 times already and so many others explored as well. Vivek is being very careful and methodical about this decision and I can't blame him. I won't say that I automatically trust that Vivek will make the right decision, but I will feel that he used everything at his disposal to pick the GM he does pick. And I can live with that.

I think there are a number of GM responsibilities (managing personalities/conflicts, discipline, etc.) that the general public knows little to nothing about. And its likely that Vivek has more knowledge on these areas than the rest of us. The problem is that a GM's ultimate responsibility is to put a winning product on the floor and that is a very public measurement.

There are a ton of factors (owner meddling, finances, injuries) that can influence a GM's ability to meet that goal but some of the names being looked at by Vivek have consistently demonstrated outright incompetency in putting together a winning team.

At the end of the day, as a fan I don't care about the behind the scenes stuff and most fans don't. If we bungle this hire and some of these names bring the same level of performance that they have to other stops, what Vivek did in keeping the team won't matter. We will lose the fans. This hire needs to work.

Now it's possible these guys would be second in command guys as they are experienced enough to help guide a young GM hire without letting their own inadequacies get in the way, but that is the only way some of these guys should even get near this franchise.

 

[ESP47]

I'd rather have Kenny Smith than these guys who have failed and set their ex franchises back a decade. We already know they're terrible. Kenny Smith can't be any worse because he hasn't even had a chance to screw up yet.

 

[NewArena]

I'd rather have Kenny Smith than these guys who have failed and set their ex franchises back a decade. We already know they're terrible. Kenny Smith can't be any worse because he hasn't even had a chance to screw up yet.

We don't even know the position Kenny is being considered (if it all) for.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'd rather have Kenny Smith than these guys who have failed and set their ex franchises back a decade. We already know they're terrible. Kenny Smith can't be any worse because he hasn't even had a chance to screw up yet.

Unfortunately I've heard Kenny Smith talk about basketball.

If it comes to that, keep Petrie.

 

[Fresno King]

How about a Schlenk-Petrie two tiered system? I'm a believer that Geoff was handcuffed for the past few years. The Jimmer draft was on the Maloofs. He drafted Tyreke and Cousins, which was good. He drafted T-Rob, saw his mistake, then traded him for Patterson, who looks good to me. He was the architect of the best teams in franchise history. Every GM makes mistakes. Petrie is still a good one in my book.

 

[Mass]

How about a Schlenk-Petrie two tiered system? I'm a believer that Geoff was handcuffed for the past few years. The Jimmer draft was on the Maloofs. He drafted Tyreke and Cousins, which was good. He drafted T-Rob, saw his mistake, then traded him for Patterson, who looks good to me. He was the architect of the best teams in franchise history. Every GM makes mistakes. Petrie is still a good one in my book.

What about the Salmons' trade? We didn't need it in order to draft Jimmer. What about Hayes' signing? Or Outlaw's? The Hickson/Casspi and 1st rounder trade? Yes, he drafted Cousins but he was the BPA. He drafted Tyreke, but it wasn't a slam dunk. Curry was there for example.
Petrie had a great run in the early 2000s, but he's been awful since then, expecially in the last years. And I don't buy in the "handcuffed theory". Of course he was on a tight budget, but he spent the money he had in the worst possible way.
He must go, I have no faith in him. Just hire Shlenk or D'Alessandro, and see wh at they can do.

 

[ParniValjak]

I think this will be the two tier system that has been rumoured. What I believe will happen is thhe following. Vivek will hire Wallace as the resident of basketball operations. This probably would not be a bad thing because he does have a defensive focus and whether by luck or design, he did build the current team in Memphis.

I think our new general manager will be Travis Schlenk. He is the analytics guy, has done a LOT of scouting work for Golden State and has solid reputation. Vivek would have seen this guy closely and he must think highly enough of him since here is in the mix. I suspect Schelnk would be responsible for the drafting as he has seen a lot of these guys and apparently he is the guy behind Golden State's drafting in the last couple of years.

This could work as each guy on paper complements each other. I can't say I am too thrilled BUT I do know that we simple cannot make a mistake with this one. We have used up all of our second chances and it is absolutely crutial time for the franchise. We are literally at the cross roads.

 

[ParniValjak]

How about a Schlenk-Petrie two tiered system? I'm a believer that Geoff was handcuffed for the past few years. The Jimmer draft was on the Maloofs. He drafted Tyreke and Cousins, which was good. He drafted T-Rob, saw his mistake, then traded him for Patterson, who looks good to me. He was the architect of the best teams in franchise history. Every GM makes mistakes. Petrie is still a good one in my book.

He might have been handcuffed but he still blew all of the salary cap space we had two years ago (enough for two maximum contracts) on Thornton, Hayes and Outlaw. Not to mention signing Brooks when blind freddy could see it won't work, and of course trading for John Salmons which further tied up the cap space. He still had some 25 million to spend which is not a small change. It is close to 50% of the salary cap and he chose to blow it on Hayes, Thornton, Outlaw, Salmons and Brooks. Not to mention failed experiments of Hickson (cost us a 1st rounder too) Johnson and many other scrubs in the last couple of years. And I didn't even go back to the Mikki Moore days

 

[Rug King]

There may not be anybody better than Petrie available to us. He has done many great things for the Kings in the past but he has to go anyway. We need to clean house and start fresh with new attitudes.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

What about the Salmons' trade? We didn't need it in order to draft Jimmer. What about Hayes' signing? Or Outlaw's? The Hickson/Casspi and 1st rounder trade? Yes, he drafted Cousins but he was the BPA. He drafted Tyreke, but it wasn't a slam dunk. Curry was there for example.
Petrie had a great run in the early 2000s, but he's been awful since then, expecially in the last years. And I don't buy in the "handcuffed theory". Of course he was on a tight budget, but he spent the money he had in the worst possible way.
He must go, I have no faith in him. Just hire Shlenk or D'Alessandro, and see wh at they can do.

westfail asked for salmons. the magoofs were told by the league to spend more money (outlaw) (sharing wasn't meant for way to make $$$) so they spent foolishly.

i don't blame him for trading the casspi. lets face it dude, was selfish and wasn't happy here. what hurts is the 1st round thrown in! however the hayes signing is questionable.

 

[jalfa]

westfail asked for salmons. the magoofs were told by the league to spend more money (outlaw) (sharing wasn't meant for way to make $$$) so they spent foolishly.

i don't blame him for trading the casspi. lets face it dude, was selfish and wasn't happy here. what hurts is the 1st round thrown in! however the hayes signing is questionable.

why did Outlaw's contract have to be that long, though? it's not as if we had been bidding against anybody for his services. and no, there was nobody who could've predicted that Hickson would be that bad, but why did Petrie have to throw a firstrounder into a trade that recluttered the big man rotation after just having successfully uncluttered it by trading Landry midseason (in a move that significantly improved the team by simply giving Westphal less toys to play with).

 

[ParniValjak]

why did Outlaw's contract have to be that long, though? it's not as if we had been bidding against anybody for his services. and no, there was nobody who could've predicted that Hickson would be that bad, but why did Petrie have to throw a firstrounder into a trade that recluttered the big man rotation after just having successfully uncluttered it by trading Landry midseason (in a move that significantly improved the team by simply giving Westphal less toys to play with).

Outlaw signed a 5 year deal with the Nets for MLE. After one season, the nets used an amnesty clause on him and we bid on him on the amnesty waivers for $3 million per season. Team that bids on the amnestied player has to honour the remaining length of their deal, in this case 4 years. We are half way through it!

 

[jalfa]

Outlaw signed a 5 year deal with the Nets for MLE. After one season, the nets used an amnesty clause on him and we bid on him on the amnesty waivers for $3 million per season. Team that bids on the amnestied player has to honour the remaining length of their deal, in this case 4 years. We are half way through it!

shouldn't have bid on him. there was really no reason to think that anybody would've been willing to have him on the pay roll for that long, with the way he played in New Jersey. it looks like Petrie didn't do his homework on that and just assumed Outlaw would be able to approximate what he did in Portland and that, therefore, there'd be any competition for him.

 

[VF21]

westfail asked for salmons. the magoofs were told by the league to spend more money (outlaw) (sharing wasn't meant for way to make $$$) so they spent foolishly.

i don't blame him for trading the casspi. lets face it dude, was selfish and wasn't happy here. what hurts is the 1st round thrown in! however the hayes signing is questionable.

I don't think it was foolish. I think it was calculated and spiteful, another attempt to sour the fanbase to further erode the team popularity to the point where there wouldn't be an outcry when their nefarious dealings with other cities were revealed. Luckily for us, it didn't work.

 

[sidney]

I don't think it was foolish. I think it was calculated and spiteful, another attempt to sour the fanbase to further erode the team popularity to the point where there wouldn't be an outcry when their nefarious dealings with other cities were revealed. Luckily for us, it didn't work.

I may be wrong, but I believe that bid for Outlaw put the payroll just barely over the league minimum that offseason. I'm quite sure those were the orders Petrie had from above. Still a bad choice.

 

[Mass]

westfail asked for salmons. the magoofs were told by the league to spend more money (outlaw) (sharing wasn't meant for way to make $$$) so they spent foolishly.

i don't blame him for trading the casspi. lets face it dude, was selfish and wasn't happy here. what hurts is the 1st round thrown in! however the hayes signing is questionable.

Petrie was the GM, I don't care if Westfail asked for Salmons. A GM shouldn't do everything a coach asks for. He should consider all the financial aspects of a trade, and the Salmons trade really didn't make any sense. Everybody thought this was a horrible move for us, as soon as the trade was made. Then, it's not like Popovich is asking for a certain player... It was Westy...
The Outlaw signing was just awful, and the need of spending money is not an excuse for GP. Why did he bid on Outlaw? He could just sign any FA who wasn't able to find a team, give him a 1 year deal and that's it. We wouldn't have a long term deal right now.
I blame him for the Hickson trade too. Sure Casspi had to go, but why waste a 1st round pick? Like you said, Heyes signing is more than questionable. Brooks just makes no sense. And I could go on and on if I look at GP's recent moves. He's lost his magic, let's face it. We can't keep giving him excuses because of the glory days. Those days are gone, and GP won't be able to build another good team today. It's time to move on.