Amick: TNT's Kenny Smith enters Sacramento Kings' GM search

[ESP47]

Yah I just changed my post. I had never heard that term before and I work with a lot of African Americans. Both sides of the argument imo are kinda dumb. It looks like a couple over sensitive people vs. someone that said something marginally stupid.

Anyhow, if it's a front office job I am not sure what job he would be looking for. Maybe Jerry's position? Like someone said above though I wouldn't give him more than an assistant coach job.

I'm with you Gary, it's not even a big deal but one thing I've noticed over the years is that people act overly sensitive on public forums. Whether it's because they want to seem like they hold some sort of higher moral standard or not is up for debate.

Then again you've been apart of this forum for a long time so you know it's ran pretty tightly. You have to take the good with the bad. I used to frequent this 49ers forum that was ran the same way. Well after a few years the mods stopped policing the forum so closely and now it's over ran with memes, face palms, epic fails and one upping jokes. It's hard to find anything of substance about the team on there anymore.

 

[AaronPDX]

Just to keep it real, I felt disclosure was required in this scenario. Vivek has been contacting me as well, and we've been talking. We've been discussing the GM job as well. Just wanted to be up front with everyone here. Thank you, thank you very much.

 

[Dime Dropper]

As for the topic itself, I trust Vivek not to rush into anything, and as a result I expect Smith isn't going to end up being the GM (I still haven't read the article, but going by other posts it seems this was never the situation). I don't mind him having a role in the organisation as long as it's not one that offers significant decision making - unless he turns out to be much more basketball savvy than he appears.

 

[Gary]

As for the topic itself, I trust Vivek not to rush into anything, and as a result I expect Smith isn't going to end up being the GM (I still haven't read the article, but going by other posts it seems this was never the situation). I don't mind him having a role in the organisation as long as it's not one that offers significant decision making - unless he turns out to be much more basketball savvy than he appears.

Basically what everyone else has been saying including myself. He seems like a good enough guy and has good basketball knowledge so I figure if it's either Jerry's job or another front office job then it wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Darth Divac]

Kenny Smith: Mediocre broadcaster, garbage NBA player,

WE PASSED ON KJ FOR HIM. THIS IS ALL I REMEMBER HIM BY.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

i think id rather just continue to enjoy Kenny on Inside the NBA

 

[SCKingsfan]

i think id rather just continue to enjoy Kenny on Inside the NBA

Agreed, with the small caveat that I'd replace "enjoy" with "endure."

 

[Kingsfan23]

Its sad, the names coming up.. As much positive will and turnaround has been generated by new ownership and the new coaching staff, we are almost guaranteed at this point to be unenthused with the front office hires

 

[rainmaker]

The draft is about two weeks away, we still don't have a GM in place and Vivek is wasting time interviewing Kenny Smith?

If he's considering the TNT route, at least interview Kerr. Only positive I see about Smith is he's said a few times we screwed up by taking the ball out of Reke's hands and he needs the ball to be successful, which actually puts him ahead of a few members of the previous regime and a few around here.

But with a rookie head coach, I do not support going after a rookie GM. Sorry, we need more experience. And if he's being looked at as being a prt of the 2nd tier, which is possible given the quote, that is something our future GM should be deciding, not Vivek. The GM should interview and hire who works below him, not the reverse. Just as a coach picks his staff, a GM picks who works below him in the FO.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

But with a rookie head coach, I do not support going after a rookie GM. Sorry, we need more experience.

Bingo

 

[bajaden]

If in fact Vivek does not consider Smith as a serious candidate, then he better get his PR guy out there and put the kabosh on this thing. This doesn't make the new Kings org look brilliant. Just the opposite. So maybe the substance is not there, just the perception, in which case they should obliterate that perception very fast imo.

I guess you must really dislike Kenny Smith. I have no feelings about one way or the other, and I'm not going to give an opinion until I know the details. Its possible that Vivek may have some other job in mind for Smith. As a quote by Amick sort of implies

"Ranadive has been looking to have a two-tier structure of sorts, with a widely known name at the top joining forces with a respected executive in the front office."

This is a similar concept to the one used by the Warriors, breaking down the GM position into two or three positions. So until the framework is finished, its hard to be critical. Its like looking at someone with the pieces of a building kit scattered all over the floor, and criticizing the final product before you see it. As for the rest, I doubt that Vivek feels he has to prove to anyone that he's brilliant, and I doubt he cares what his critics think. Most very successful men think outside the box. If they listened to their critics, they probably wouldn't be successful.

 

[kingjatt]

Its sad, the names coming up.. As much positive will and turnaround has been generated by new ownership and the new coaching staff, we are almost guaranteed at this point to be unenthused with the front office hires

How so? have the kings come out and said anything themselves about potential hires and reports? about any frontrunners? Vivek and Co have a quarter billion into this thing and didnt become wealthy men by handing over there entities to people who they whole-heartedly felt couldnt do the job, They know this is a critical time for the kings thus they are leaving no stone unturned in regards to finding a GM. No need to go doom and gloom yet the man just got official control of the team 9 or 10 days ago, give it some time.

 

[rainmaker]

I guess you must really dislike Kenny Smith. I have no feelings about one way or the other, and I'm not going to give an opinion until I know the details. Its possible that Vivek may have some other job in mind for Smith. As a quote by Amick sort of implies

"Ranadive has been looking to have a two-tier structure of sorts, with a widely known name at the top joining forces with a respected executive in the front office."

This is a similar concept to the one used by the Warriors, breaking down the GM position into two or three positions. So until the framework is finished, its hard to be critical. Its like looking at someone with the pieces of a building kit scattered all over the floor, and criticizing the final product before you see it. As for the rest, I doubt that Vivek feels he has to prove to anyone that he's brilliant, and I doubt he cares what his critics think. Most very successful men think outside the box. If they listened to their critics, they probably wouldn't be successful.

The problem I have with that is shouldn't a GM be making those decisions? You think it's a good idea for Vivek to attempt to fill out the 2nd and/or 3rd tier of our FO without our future GM having any say?

I'd love for someone if possible to point out where that blueprint has been successful, where the new owner hires a rookie head coach, the rookie head coach starts putting his staff into place, the new owner starts filling out the FO, all before a GM is put in place. I honestly haven't seen it done this way before, so I'd rest easier if someone can point to where this route has been successful.

I'm not saying it won't work and I hope it does, but I have no history to go on which shows we should be anything near confident about this approach.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Kenny Smith: Mediocre broadcaster, garbage NBA player,

Come on now: he stayed a couple of years too long, but the first eight years of his career, he was 14 and 6, on .485 shooting. I'll take that from a point guard. He even finished Top 10 in assists one year. Do you happen to know who the last King was who finished Top 10 in assists? Because I'm pretty sure it was him.

I mean, nobody's going to make the case for Kenny Smith over Kevin Johnson in hindsight; it probably shouldn't have even been made back then. But, let's not act like dude couldn't play: we're not talking Douby over Rondo here.

 

[Kingsfan23]

How so? have the kings come out and said anything themselves about potential hires and reports? about any frontrunners? Vivek and Co have a quarter billion into this thing and didnt become wealthy men by handing over there entities to people who they whole-heartedly felt couldnt do the job, They know this is a critical time for the kings thus they are leaving no stone unturned in regards to finding a GM. No need to go doom and gloom yet the man just got official control of the team 9 or 10 days ago, give it some time.

I do trust Vivek, I think he's definitely a brilliant guy.. I'm not putting any validity into this Kenny Smith tidbit at all.. I'm just talking about every name we have been associated with and/or interviewed (besides the ones seemingly out of reach), as well as who I see potentially available on the landscape, and yes I am doubtful about the situation. However I am a fan on the ground level without intricate knowledge of what is going on. But, yes, hopefully in the end we will be content

 

[ElRey]

Let's not get too freaked out here...it's more likely Kenny Smith is interested in getting involved with the Kings , than the Kings being interested in him. I think Pete D'Alessandro is going to be our next GM.

 

[Gary]

Come on now: he stayed a couple of years too long, but the first eight years of his career, he was 14 and 6, on .485 shooting. I'll take that from a point guard. He even finished Top 10 in assists one year. Do you happen to know who the last King was who finished Top 10 in assists? Because I'm pretty sure it was him.

I mean, nobody's going to make the case for Kenny Smith over Kevin Johnson in hindsight; it probably shouldn't have even been made back then. But, let's not act like dude couldn't play: we're not talking Douby over Rondo here.

Didn't JDUB finish in the top 10 assists per game in his rookie year?

I am not understanding all the Kenny Smith hate. I remember him and he seemed to be popular when he was here briefly. I don't want him as a GM but I don't mind him in a front office job learning the ropes.

CORRECTION: It was his second year and he finish with 7.3 APG which was 12th in the NBA..

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Didn't JDUB finish in the top 10 assists per game in his rookie year?

Nope: J-Will's first season in the Top 10 was after the trade to Memphis.

 

[Fear the Putin]

Let's not get too freaked out here...it's more likely Kenny Smith is interested in getting involved with the Kings , than the Kings being interested in him. I think Pete D'Alessandro is going to be our next GM.

dunno how legit this is, but...

Ken Berger ‏@KBergCBS 3h
A person familiar with the discussions confirms USA Today report that TV analyst Kenny Smith is meeting with the Kings regarding GM job.

 

[Gary]

yah I had to look it up. He averaged 7.3 in his second year and that was only good enough for 12th.

 

[pshn80]

Its sad, the names coming up.. As much positive will and turnaround has been generated by new ownership and the new coaching staff, we are almost guaranteed at this point to be unenthused with the front office hires

But I think that was a given to start with ...... We, the board, will be and always have been unenthused by the FO, etc etc etc. I'm enjoying Ranadive and his process.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

yah I had to look it up. He averaged 7.3 in his second year and that was only good enough for 12th.

Indeed. That was an unusually strong season for point guards: and I don't think anyone anticipated Nick Van Exel and Eric Snow having career seasons.

 

[jaysoonii]

You guys need to realize that the ownership group isn't just looking to hire for one position.. Clean sweep of the franchise means every position is replaced with new talent. We don't know what Kenny Smith is getting contacted for.

 

[Bricklayer]

dunno how legit this is, but...

Ken Berger ‏@KBergCBS 3h
A person familiar with the discussions confirms USA Today report that TV analyst Kenny Smith is meeting with the Kings regarding GM job.

I am going to choose to ignore this and read in "front office position" instead of "GM".

Kenny F-ing Smith. You would have to be kidding me. This is not a serious candidate.

Two tier BTW is how you could get guys like Schlenk or D'Ambrosio involved despite their lack of experience, but the question is why they would want to come here and be the #2 man rather than stay where they are in the same role (or in D'Ambrosio's case maybe even get promoted to GM this offseason). Should be noted that Bird has often been in a two tiered system in Indy, which is why I have said you don't know what was him vs. what was Walsh or Moray or whoever.

 

[rainmaker]

But I think that was a given to start with ...... We, the board, will be and always have been unenthused by the FO, etc etc etc. I'm enjoying Ranadive and his process.

That's not true. Please don't speak for others.

And if you can't see why some would prefer a Budord, a Bird, a Prichard type compared to a TNT host, I really don't know what to say.

 

[Kingster]

I guess you must really dislike Kenny Smith. I have no feelings about one way or the other, and I'm not going to give an opinion until I know the details. Its possible that Vivek may have some other job in mind for Smith. As a quote by Amick sort of implies

"Ranadive has been looking to have a two-tier structure of sorts, with a widely known name at the top joining forces with a respected executive in the front office."

This is a similar concept to the one used by the Warriors, breaking down the GM position into two or three positions. So until the framework is finished, its hard to be critical. Its like looking at someone with the pieces of a building kit scattered all over the floor, and criticizing the final product before you see it. As for the rest, I doubt that Vivek feels he has to prove to anyone that he's brilliant, and I doubt he cares what his critics think. Most very successful men think outside the box. If they listened to their critics, they probably wouldn't be successful.

I find it absurd that Kenny Smith would be considered. He's a player who happened to get a TV gig. Wow, what general management qualifications. It's as if TV exposure has miraculously conferred upon its recipient the ability to assess talent, negotiate, strategize, and manipulate the salary cap. I don't think so. If Smith wants to be a PR guy for the Kings, fine. He's shown himself to be an appealing character on TV who talks a good game. But I'm not going to put style over substance when it comes to GM duties, and at this point Smith has shown himself to be nothing but style. If he wants to go to work at a real job for the next several years as a scout and/or assistant GM where he proves himself, fine. But until then I can only view him as a bad joke.

 

[Heuge]

Kenny Smith: Mediocre broadcaster, garbage NBA player,

Both of these comments are quite off base. He is part of an emmy winning sports broadcasting team. He was a contributing member of a really nice championship team.

As for him as a part of this organization. Yes, please. He seems like a sound NBA mind. Probably not GM material, but truly you never know until you try.

 

[pshn80]

That's not true. Please don't speak for others.

And if you can't see why some would prefer a Budord, a Bird, a Prichard type compared to a TNT host, I really don't know what to say.

Trust Ranadive, we have to anyway. If there are differences in the qualifications of those you cite, I'm quite sure that Ranadive can handle without my help. Hey, I understand the feelings but this task is out of my hands and I do trust the man.

 

[gunks]

Maloofian move if there ever was one.


I'm hoping its just a smoke screen.

 

[NoBonus]

All that needs to be discussed about Kenny Smith: