Bee: Hart creates buzz among fans, players

[NewMonkey]

I don't blame Hart for wanting to play. If he doesn't get to play somewhere soon, he's likely to lose his chance to play in the NBA. I still don't understand why it's OK for us to whine about our jobs and want to work somewhere else, but it's not OK for NBA players to do the same thing.

The automatic response is, "It's because they make so much money." Tell it to the Chinese/Vietnamese/El Salvadorian woman who made your shoes/wallet/pants for 20 cents an hour.

If I whine about my job (which I do) I'm not going to criticize someone else for doing the same thing.

 

[BigSong]

Actually I continue to have some sympathy for Jason Hart here.

His career is circling down the drain. He absolutely NEEDS to get on court and play for someone, anyone. And we simply aren't going to let him do that here. So why exactly are we holding him hostage? If we were playing him, or even threatening to play him, then sure, suck it up, you're under contract, you play our role. But we're not playing him, obviously have no interest in doing so, and have not 1, but 2 kids ahead of him in the pecking order. We are going to have to pay him the money anyway, so keeping him here when we have absolutely no need of him is...inconsiderate. Meanwhile we could save ourselves a few bucks by just biting the bullet. At this point what Jason is suggesting doesn't hurt us in the least, and may even be of slight benefit. Meanwhile it helps him a lot.

As an aside, Chris Webber is saving the Sixers $5-$10 million. They also did not want him on that team with the direction they are heading. They hardly got screwed by that buyout.

As a further aside, Lawrence Funderburke once demanded his freedom in the midst of our best ever season because he was not going to play. He a jerk too? The key here is the not playing at all, not being active. That's clearly detrimental to the player who is going to be a FA, and on the other hand serves no purpose for us either. If he's still here at the trading deadline, we should really let him go.

seriously how many ways are you gonna spin this to make yourself feel better.

sorry VF.

 

[DocHolliday]

You know I understand his point of view, but I don't know what he's complaining about. He is not the first person that's ever had to deal with it. It's also a well known fact expiring contracts are covetted by teams, and they don't want to trade you, unless it's another expiring contract. He's there as a fail safe anyway, so they won't waive him either.

If they are going to pay him, they might as well have him there as a *just in case*.

 

[fnordius]

I still don't understand why it's OK for us to whine about our jobs and want to work somewhere else, but it's not OK for NBA players to do the same thing.

Their job isn't like our job.

Let's flip it around for a moment. Let's suppose that your boss wanted to let you go last summer -- didn't need you, and realized that your paycheck would be better put to use elsewhere -- but was forbidden by your employment contract from doing so. You knew that, and could have left, but decided that the money was too good.

Now you've decided that it's boring, just showing up, sitting there for an hour and a half, and collecting a $20,488 paycheck afterwards. You want to work somewhere else, but you don't want it badly enough to give up that paycheck. So you wait until you cannot leave without being guaranteed every cent you would ever earn under your employment contract, then start making a big stink about wanting to go elsewhere. You approach your boss and say, "Boss, I've thought about what you said 7 months ago, and decided that I should work someplace where I'm needed, instead of just sitting around and collecting pay. So cut me a check for $942,000 and I'll go clean out my desk."

Can you understand how your boss might not be thrilled?

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Their job isn't like our job.

Let's flip it around for a moment. Let's suppose that your boss wanted to let you go last summer -- didn't need you, and realized that your paycheck would be better put to use elsewhere -- but was forbidden by your employment contract from doing so. You knew that, and could have left, but decided that the money was too good.

Now you've decided that it's boring, just showing up, sitting there for an hour and a half, and collecting a $20,488 paycheck afterwards. You want to work somewhere else, but you don't want it badly enough to give up that paycheck. So you wait until you cannot leave without being guaranteed every cent you would ever earn under your employment contract, then start making a big stink about wanting to go elsewhere. You approach your boss and say, "Boss, I've thought about what you said 7 months ago, and decided that I should work someplace where I'm needed, instead of just sitting around and collecting pay. So cut me a check for $942,000 and I'll go clean out my desk."

Can you understand how your boss might not be thrilled?

I agree. Not to mention we all might complain about our jobs a little here or there but none of us goes on the radio let alone national media to do it. In fact we are usually pretty careful to make sure to do it only to friends/family or other unhappy coworkers so it won't get back to our bosses because if it did they'd likely fire us... without the severance pay. Just look at the recent phenomenon of people being fired for blogging anonymously about their job without mentioning their employer by name and tell me its the same thing.

 

[VF21]

I don't blame Hart for wanting to play. If he doesn't get to play somewhere soon, he's likely to lose his chance to play in the NBA. I still don't understand why it's OK for us to whine about our jobs and want to work somewhere else, but it's not OK for NBA players to do the same thing.

The automatic response is, "It's because they make so much money." Tell it to the Chinese/Vietnamese/El Salvadorian woman who made your shoes/wallet/pants for 20 cents an hour.

If I whine about my job (which I do) I'm not going to criticize someone else for doing the same thing.

He's part of a TEAM. He exercised an option to stay here with the team. So what happens? The team doesn't utilize him in a manner he thinks befits his talents, and he starts to whine to the press?

If he loses his chance to play in the NBA, it's solely because there are too many other players out there with better skills.

If I want to work somewhere else, I go out and find another job. If Hart wanted to work somewhere else, he could have opted out for this season. He didn't, though, because he didn't want to risk not getting the $1.4 mil. He made the choice.

 

[Bricklayer]

seriously how many ways are you gonna spin this to make yourself feel better.

sorry VF.

How many ways are you? The anti-ites spend 90% of their sad little time trying to find ways to spin Webb as demon to make THEMSELVES feel better. Justify the trade. Justify their sad little prattling hatred.

I on the other hand just watch the league. Webb didn't force his way out of a team that wanted him. He was an impediment to a team that did not want him. In the way. Not fitting their plans. Eating minutes they wanted to give to kids. So they bought him out. You want guys who have screwed teams who actually wanted them you look to the Zos and JJs of the world. Philly was about as mutual a parting as you could get.



As for Hart, he exercised an option to return to a team with no backup PG. And it really isn't like any other job since you are eternally auditioning for your next paycheck. When you are a free agent just taking the money isn't enough if you are not allowed to audition -- that sitting around at your desk playing Minesweeper and collecting a paycheck doesn't look so golden anymore when you are 28 and you know that unless you are given some actual work to prove yourself with your next job will be a McDonald's. Up until the trade deadline, keeping him around could have use, depending on our plans. But after it...for everybody's sake it would be better to waive him the next day. You don't want the rep among players or agents, and you don't need the unhappy chafing presence in the lockerroom.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Up until the trade deadline, keeping him aorund could have use, depending on our plans. But after it...for everybody's sake it would be better to waive him the next day. You don't want the rep among players or agents, and you don't need the unhappy chafing presence in the lockerroom.

But the trade deadline is still a month away which is why a lot of us have absolutely NO sympathy for the guy. By going public with all this he is going to be branded as a malconent by every other GM in the league consequently harming his trade value - teams that might take him as a throw in aren't going to want him if he's going to sit around and pout the rest of the season.

I agree that after the trade deadline if he's still on the team with no role he should probably be waived. But I'm not writing his checks and it wouldn't surprise me if the people who are hold him to his contract if a buyout in their favor can't be reached.

As far as Webber goes, he didn't take his situation public nor did he hold out. I think he handled his situation honorably even if he did force the buyout internally by not wanting to settle for a reduced role. He doesn't belong in this particular discussion as far as I'm concerned.

 

[creAtivetfh]

1. Marty didn't write this article; Sam did.

2. Hart is the one who needs to keep quiet.

3. Hart's agent called Grant and blathered on the radio so you cannot blame the Bee for their coverage of this topic.

4. This isn't exactly a big surprise. Hart has made numerous comments in the press to indicate his displeasure so he's fair game IMHO.

i thought it was "Marty Mac's World" or whatever?

 

[BigSong]

How many ways are you? The anti-ites spend 90% of their sad little time trying to find ways to spin Webb as demon to make THEMSELVES feel better. Justify the trade. Justify their sad little prattling hatred.

I on the other hand just watch the league. Webb didn't force his way out of a team that wanted him. He was an impediment to a team that did not want him. In the way. Not fitting their plans. Eating minutes they wanted to give to kids. So they bought him out. You want guys who have screwed teams who actually wanted them you look to the Zos and JJs of the world. Philly was about as mutual a parting as you could get.



As for Hart, he exercised an option to return to a team with no backup PG. And it really isn't like any other job since you are eternally auditioning for your next paycheck. When you are a free agent just taking the money isn't enough if you are not allowed to audition -- that sitting around at your desk playing Minesweeper and collecting a paycheck doesn't look so golden anymore when you are 28 and you know that unless you are given some actual work to prove yourself with your next job will be a McDonald's. Up until the trade deadline, keeping him around could have use, depending on our plans. But after it...for everybody's sake it would be better to waive him the next day. You don't want the rep among players or agents, and you don't need the unhappy chafing presence in the lockerroom.

webb ended up being an impediment that cost them 30-35 mil, missed a lot of games and in the end gave little back to Philadelphia. one of your major arguments in keeping Webb or in Billy Kings for signing was that Webb was a huge ender that could be used. didnt exactly work out that way though did it. trading for webb didn't exactly turn into some fantasy positive, no matter which way you are apt to sell it.

 

[VF21]

Did I miss something? Did this turn into yet another discussion of Chris Webber? Why is it that every reference to him has to end up this way?

The vast majority of those of us who objected to the trade have LONG since moved on, except when it's brought up inevitably by those who supported it. Why?

Of course, if the alternative in this case is talking about Jason Hart, I honestly don't even know why I even returned to the thread...

...

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I miss TDOS.

 

[Viking]

I miss TDOS.

it'll probably come earlier this year

nice signature btw

 

[VF21]

Okay, just to clarify...

Amick wasn't quoting us and doing a poor job of it. The quote does come from another Kings message board.

 

[emar]

For years, I have visited these boards almost every day. I have only found a couple of occasions to post, but after listening to the KHTK interview with Bill Neff, I feel compelled to post my thoughts on Grant Napear's comments...

- I know he is employed by the Kings, but there is no way that he knows for a "fact" that the Maloofs have never told a coach who to play...unless, of course, he's with them 24x7...
- I know many may not agree, but the argument that these guys make millions, does NOT change that they are competitive and have emotions. It's a tired argument that IMO holds very little water.
- Grant continues to ignore is that Hart was never given a chance. I am not a Hart supporter, but all of Grants arguments were ridiculous. Every team "should" allow all the members to compete and then play the best ones. I know that politics are almost always involved, but just admit it and stop making excuses. I feel bad for Hart and the situation sucks regardless of the amount of money he makes.
- Grant said they couldn't cut/waive Hart because they have to have 12 men on the roster. I'm pretty sure they have more than that...so again, another invalid argument. That is fine if they don't have plans for him in the future and don't want to play him...but why wouldn't they just release him.

Anyway...I guess we know the Kings aren't very good when we are having these kinds of discussion However, I just couldn't resist putting in my 2 cents...

 

[VF21]

Glad to see you post, emar. Although it means by extension that I have to thank - in a way - Howdy Doody for lighting the torch.

Grant never allows facts to get in the way of a good rant. And if he's later shown in black and white his error, he most likely will forget it ever happened so he won't have to admit he might have been wrong.

Feel free to jump in again!