Bee: Kings talk to Rambis, mull options

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/204860.html

Kings talk to Rambis, mull options
No further interviews, additional candidates scheduled yet
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, June 4, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3

LAS VEGAS-They picked a table in the back room this time, a fitting location change from the day before when Stan Van Gundy was the head-coaching candidate being interviewed in the booth near the front.

After all, the Kings are getting ever so deeper into their coaching search.

Surrounded by a dome-shaped ceiling and red lighting that bounced off the walls within the casual setting of the Palms Casino's 24/7 Café, suit-wearing Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis was joined by Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and basketball vice president Wayne Cooper for a noon lunch Sunday that marked the beginning of his second interview.

The question now is whether the Kings' powers-that-be are ready to give the green light on a replacement for Eric Musselman. But after a weekend that marked the only second interviews as yet to take place, the Kings' brass clearly has plenty to chew on.

"The day is done, as they say," Petrie said on Sunday evening. "It went well. (Rambis) was very prepared, very knowledgeable and very interested -- both Stan and Kurt were. We're going to assess where we are here for a little bit and decide where we're going to go from here."

While Rambis could not be reached for comment, Van Gundy said from his Miami-area home that he has been given no indication of where he stands.

"The ball's in their court," Van Gundy said. "Now we just see what happens. It's a little nerve-wracking, but now we just wait and see."

Petrie said there are no more interviews scheduled as yet. And while Detroit assistant Terry Porter is now available to interview after his team's season ended Saturday night, Petrie continued to acknowledge only the immediate in regards to whether the former Kings assistant with deep Portland ties to Petrie would be involved.

"There's been nothing there on that from Day One, and if there is we'll let you know," he said.

Porter, however, told people in Detroit before the Pistons were eliminated that he anticipated being interviewed, to which Petrie said, "I don't know anything about that."

As for Petrie, he said he is leaving today to return to Orlando, Fla., where a workout is being held involving a couple dozen players and numerous teams in preparation for the June 28 draft.

Two sources with knowledge of the process said on Saturday that Kings assistant Scott Brooks is still being considered, though he does not have a second formal interview scheduled. The sources did not want to speak on the record because of the ongoing interview process.

It is not known which, if any, of the other six candidates who have been interviewed remain in the running, though at least one has a secondary option available.

Former Kings assistant Elston Turner said he has been asked by former Kings coach and new Houston coach Rick Adelman to join his staff. Turner was Adelman's assistant in Sacramento for six seasons before he was let go with Adelman following the 2005-06 campaign.

About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.

 

[Packt]

The fact it's taking them so long to settle on a coach is telling of the strategy they have in mind for next year. It might be more of a be competitive and make changes here and there as pieces become available, than a tear it apart and rebuild.

If your roster is going to be drastically different in 18 months, all you need is someone to stand in for games and for practice. Once you collect your players, that coach gets first swing at trying to make it work, and if they can't you move on.

 

[ParniValjak]

The fact it's taking them so long to settle on a coach is telling of the strategy they have in mind for next year. It might be more of a be competitive and make changes here and there as pieces become available, than a tear it apart and rebuild.

If your roster is going to be drastically different in 18 months, all you need is someone to stand in for games and for practice. Once you collect your players, that coach gets first swing at trying to make it work, and if they can't you move on.

Not sure thats correct!

IMO all is means is that they want a coach who will be able to take the new pieces and mould them into a team that will be able to content in a few years time and still be good enough to maybe take them all the way.

I don't think this notion of hiring anyone while rebuilding is the right way to go. There is no reason why a very good coach can't get the youngster to develop and them mould them into a team that he can take into the play offs and hopefully to the championship. Byron Scott wasn't signed by Hornets to be there only for the rebuild.

Petrie and Maloofs want a long term coach and not someone who will be here until the team is rebuilt.

 

[Kingster]

The fact it's taking them so long to settle on a coach is telling of the strategy they have in mind for next year. It might be more of a be competitive and make changes here and there as pieces become available, than a tear it apart and rebuild.

If your roster is going to be drastically different in 18 months, all you need is someone to stand in for games and for practice. Once you collect your players, that coach gets first swing at trying to make it work, and if they can't you move on.

Well, let's put it this way: I don't think a lot of time should have spent in the interview process on Artest and Bibby and their respective roles on the team. It would have been wasted breath. More attention should have been spent on developing player's skills. Watching a tape of last year's Kings might have been the most irrelevant things they could have done in the interview process because, like you say, most of those players will probably be gone rather soon. That said, they aren't going to dump the coach when they get new players.

 

[VF21]

Well, let's put it this way: I don't think a lot of time should have spent in the interview process on Artest and Bibby and their respective roles on the team. It would have been wasted breath. More attention should have been spent on developing player's skills. Watching a tape of last year's Kings might have been the most irrelevant things they could have done in the interview process because, like you say, most of those players will probably be gone rather soon. That said, they aren't going to dump the coach when they get new players.

How could you possibly know what happened in the interviews?

 

[rings4Kings]

With Donovan backing out of his deal with the Magic, if we want SVG we better make an offer to him right away!

 

[Ryle]

With Donovan backing out of his deal with the Magic, if we want SVG we better make an offer to him right away!

Van Gundy is gone......Even if the Kings offer he will still wait to hear from Orlando simply because that is where he would rather be. Closer to his home and kids in Florida and a way better roster than what Sac could offer.