Cousins agent the reason Karl hasn't been hired?

[HereWeBoogie]

ummmm Ailene Voisin just glossed right over this in her article yesterday as if it were common knowledge.

what in the F!

Full Article:
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ailene-voisin/article7972893.html

 

[VF21]

FYI - Dan Fegan, Cousins' primary agent, is also the primary agent for .... Coby Karl, which could be why she's not putting much credence into the speculation.

 

[Glenn]

Cousins' agents said he would clash with Karl so the Kings are not exploring hiring Karl? Really?? They back off that easily? I don't believe that or perhaps I don't believe the story the way it is told.

This is getting to be a classical way info comes out when it appears some of the info came from the FO. It doesn't make sense. It sounds like a lie. It sure doesn't sound like straightforward information. I don't believe it and I really don't know what would be a believable interpretation. My head begins to spin and I am left with the idea that the FO is incompetent. That perception is piling higher and higher. These are the guys we are betting our future on.

 

[VF21]

Something to think about: IF Dan Fegan is behind the reluctance to hire Karl, the last thing he would want is for that information to become public. Why? Because it makes him look like he's saying his client (a a dynamic, demanding personality who wants nothing more than to win) cannot work with a coach like George Karl (a a dynamic, demanding personality who wants nothing more than to win).

If this is the case, one would think Fegan might be rethinking the situation, especially in light of what his client is going through right now. If Fegan is the roadblock, he needs to step back and give the green light. It could not possibly be any worse than what's happening right now.

 

[CurseOfTheSalmons]

FYI - Dan Fegan, Cousins' primary agent, is also the primary agent for .... Coby Karl, which could be why she's not putting much credence into the speculation.

How do you know this?

 

[VF21]

How do you know this?

I saw it on a list of Fegan's clients. There are several lists around, though, and not all of them have the same players listed. Not sure why. I'll try to find it again. It could well be it was an old list and Karl, who is currently playing in Europe somewhere, is no longer represented by Fegan.

 

[beb0p]

On one hand, Vivek is an overbearing control freak who is not afraid to exercise his emperor-like power in reigning this team and has a "my way or the high way" approach.

On the other hand, he allows one player's agent to have the ultimate veto power over the coaching hire.

Okay.

.

 

[Glenn]

Something to think about: IF Dan Fegan is behind the reluctance to hire Karl, the last thing he would want is for that information to become public. Why? Because it makes him look like he's saying his client (a a dynamic, demanding personality who wants nothing more than to win) cannot work with a coach like George Karl (a a dynamic, demanding personality who wants nothing more than to win).

If this is the case, one would think Fegan might be rethinking the situation, especially in light of what his client is going through right now. If Fegan is the roadblock, he needs to step back and give the green light. It could not possibly be any worse than what's happening right now.

Doesn't make sense, does it? There is also the possibility that info is not being passed on to us reliably although of all the components of this flustercluck, I trust Voisin the most.

I'll pay for a couple adult beverages if anyone is curious as to whether Cousins and Karl can get along over a drink. It seems like much of Cousins' career has been peppered with assumptions about his personality and I think this is selling Cousins short. If his agent is assuming a fight of some sort or another with Karl, he may be absolutely wrong and then what does Cousins gain by having this high powered agent? He is gaining nothing by being coached by Corbin and although I doubt there will be a clash between Cousins and Corbin, Cousins' continuing frustration may end up with a clash somewhere else.

His time spent with Corbin as a coach is a total waste of his time and seems to be a choice of his agent based on the same old crap/assumptions that have plagued him from day 1 in the NBA.

 

[ParniValjak]

Is this a leak by Kings in response to Sam Amick's story on George Karl where it sounded like that Karl has spoken to people in our front office and thought that he is on our shortlist when we hire a coach in the summer?

The timing of it is somewhat predictable!

 

[randymoss1881]

You expect me to believe they give a damn now about what cousins wants. If he had that much input Malone would still be here. And speaking of Malone wasn't he considered a hot head or demanding personality just like Karl. Not buying this. Also cousins would lobby for me to coach if it ment getting that "substitute teacher" out of here. Nice try FO.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I think the article hints that this was the "perception around the league," not a leak from the Kings or Cousins. Still, very puzzling.

 

[Letsgokings13]

It's always something. I have pre-mature hair loss because of this team and organization. I've been balding since I was 18.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I'm not buying it.

However, the next question is - who leaks that? Like, who leaks it if its a lie? who leaks it if it's the truth? None of it makes sense.

 

[Tetsujin]

I'm not buying it.

However, the next question is - who leaks that? Like, who leaks it if its a lie? who leaks it if it's the truth? None of it makes sense.

We're talking about a bunch of weasels who immediately put out a bunch of vague "You still want Malone? Oh yeah? Well Malone didn't like (insert one of the few successful things about the PDA regime here), so there!" statements to the press before Malone had probably even cleared out his locker. The Weasel, Mullin, and Vivek's amazing crew of PR geniuses were all probably falling over each other trying to tell Sam Amick first.

 

[pshn80]

On one hand, Vivek is an overbearing control freak who is not afraid to exercise his emperor-like power in reigning this team and has a "my way or the high way" approach.

On the other hand, he allows one player's agent to have the ultimate veto power over the coaching hire.

Okay.

.

To me a more likely scenario is that Ranadive does not want to give a coach, Karl, the freedom and authority that a coach like Karl would demand.

 

[Spike]

To me a more likely scenario is that Ranadive does not want to give a coach, Karl, the freedom and authority that a coach like Karl would demand.

I think it's PDA who doesn't want that. Karl would probably want his job as well.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I think it's PDA who doesn't want that. Karl would probably want his job as well.

Didn't someone (Bruski, perhaps?) report that PDA wanted Karl but Vivek wanted to wait for Mullin to come around?

I'm sure anyone can spin this to fit whatever narrative they please.

 

[LPKingsFan]

We're talking about a bunch of weasels who immediately put out a bunch of vague "You still want Malone? Oh yeah? Well Malone didn't like (insert one of the few successful things about the PDA regime here), so there!" statements to the press before Malone had probably even cleared out his locker. The Weasel, Mullin, and Vivek's amazing crew of PR geniuses were all probably falling over each other trying to tell Sam Amick first.

Well, what we do know is that one of them told Amick that Karl is on list to be considered this summer:

Even Karl admits he's not sure how to read all the tea leaves when it comes to all those prior relationships and how they affect his chances at the Kings job, but he's still hopeful that Sacramento might be the next coaching stop. As for the Kings' plans, a person with knowledge of their situation told USA TODAY Sports that – barring an unexpected playoff push by Corbin — Karl is likely to be among the candidates who receive consideration this summer. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the coaching search process.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/01/21/george-karl-still-wants-to-coach/22119067/

 

[chasen4r1]

If we hire Karl this summer, while I'll be pleased with the hire, I'll simultaneously be so pissed because he was willing to join on THIS SEASON. Why tank a full year when we could have had our future coach earlier on, rather than the substitute teacher.

 

[kingjatt]

Karl is not the puppet that the FO wants, thats why he hasn't been hired.

 

[steelevt]

If we hire Karl this summer, while I'll be pleased with the hire, I'll simultaneously be so pissed because he was willing to join on THIS SEASON. Why tank a full year when we could have had our future coach earlier on, rather than the substitute teacher.

Draft pick? All I could come up with. If we go after someone else like gentry or another asst coach or a coach under contract this year that hypothesis is wrong but if it's Karl, that is the only thing that makes sense. Karl has a history of turning teams around and even making playoffs after a slow start. If he does the same thing here we could lose that pick. Why not wait until we mathematically keep the pick or til the offseason. Then the fo can say "hey we heard you. We hired coach Karl. It is your team!"

 

[One and Done]

Just please don't hire VDN. Please.

 

[Chubbs]

This front office is just dirty.

Who and why would anyone leak that cousins is to blame for not hiring Karl?

I don't believe it for a second.

But that's where we are at. I just don't trust anything coming out of the organization.

I'm really not sure I even understand what Voisin is implying.

 

[Bricklayer]

1) I am NOT convinced George Karl is really a great idea/sure thing here. George Karl is Pace!!! George Karl has never coached a low post big man system. Kemp was a runner. Camby a jumpshooter. Melo is the closest thing. Or even Payton.

2) I also AM concerned about Karl's personality vis a vis Cuz. Malone had the relationship right to reach Cuz. A partnership. A friendship. Karl is a big personality, who has a bad habit or airing dirty laundry in the press. He's a big entity and big ego. All of which makes him perfect to stand off from the front office idiots. But also makes him stand off from the players and pick at them. He's had his conflicts.

3) If Dan Fegan is involved in picking the next head coach, then good. Cousins SHOULD be hiring the next coach. They should never have fired his last one, but Cousins owns the franchise now, not the paceteers. If Cuz is too loyal a personality to realize that, Dan Fegan is not. And everything depends on the next coach being Cousins approved.

4) all of the above said, I have absolutely no trust for the stuff coming out of the front office on this topic. They consistently conveniently blame everyone but themselves for all the unpopular crap they keep on pulling.

 

[lawlman91]

If we hire Karl this summer, while I'll be pleased with the hire, I'll simultaneously be so pissed because he was willing to join on THIS SEASON. Why tank a full year when we could have had our future coach earlier on, rather than the substitute teacher.

Draft pick

 

[lawlman91]

1) I am NOT convinced George Karl is really a great idea/sure thing here. George Karl is Pace!!! George Karl has never coached a low post big man system. Kemp was a runner. Camby a jumpshooter. Melo is the closest thing. Or even Payton.

2) I also AM concerned about Karl's personality vis a vis Cuz. Malone had the relationship right to reach Cuz. A partnership. A friendship. Karl is a big personality, who has a bad habit or airing dirty laundry in the press. He's a big entity and big ego. All of which makes him perfect to stand off from the front office idiots. But also makes him stand off from the players and pick at them. He's had his conflicts.

3) If Dan Fegan is involved in picking the next head coach, then good. Cousins SHOULD be hiring the next coach. They should never have fired his last one, but Cousins owns the franchise now, not the paceteers. If Cuz is too loyal a personality to realize that, Dan Fegan is not. And everything depends on the next coach being Cousins approved.

4) all of the above said, I have absolutely no trust for the stuff coming out of the front office on this topic. They consistently conveniently blame everyone but themselves for all the unpopular crap they keep on pulling.

I want Cousins to be happy, but not coaching the team, even "shadow coaching". The dynamic is just very... uneasy.

 

[hrdboild]

The fact that this little nugget was dropped into an Ailene Voisin article and it's filed under the Opinion section of the Bee suggests to me there's at least at 50% chance this is complete fabrication. It's possible there's a little bit of smoke along these lines, but Voisin has been known to play loosely with the facts before when it suits her agenda. More interesting to me than the snippet quoted above was the name dropping of Nate McMillan (who's on the exact opposite end of the "Pace" spectrum than our front office) and Scott Brooks (is he even close to being on the hotseat?). I'd be intrigued if Nate McMillan were actually a candidate since he's always been a favorite of mine. But again -- Voisin. Anything new or surprising in her articles should be accompanied by an entire salt shaker. Possibly the pepper too.

 

[Spike]

Didn't someone (Bruski, perhaps?) report that PDA wanted Karl but Vivek wanted to wait for Mullin to come around?

That sounds familiar, but I can't place the article...

 

[Spike]

1) I am NOT convinced George Karl is really a great idea/sure thing here. George Karl is Pace!!! George Karl has never coached a low post big man system. Kemp was a runner. Camby a jumpshooter. Melo is the closest thing. Or even Payton.

2) I also AM concerned about Karl's personality vis a vis Cuz. Malone had the relationship right to reach Cuz. A partnership. A friendship. Karl is a big personality, who has a bad habit or airing dirty laundry in the press. He's a big entity and big ego. All of which makes him perfect to stand off from the front office idiots. But also makes him stand off from the players and pick at them. He's had his conflicts.

3) If Dan Fegan is involved in picking the next head coach, then good. Cousins SHOULD be hiring the next coach. They should never have fired his last one, but Cousins owns the franchise now, not the paceteers. If Cuz is too loyal a personality to realize that, Dan Fegan is not. And everything depends on the next coach being Cousins approved.

4) all of the above said, I have absolutely no trust for the stuff coming out of the front office on this topic. They consistently conveniently blame everyone but themselves for all the unpopular crap they keep on pulling.

I am concerned, but I'd rather that it be Karl simply because the man knows how to win, and win quickly. He probably realizes that his own personal window for success is short and may be willing to concede a little more than in the past. Even if he is "the pace guy", I trust Karl as a coach more than I trust the FO. Karl's a smart enough dude with enough cachet to be able to quickly get some roster changes done. Karl will not bow down to the FO. He will not "showcase" DWill just because PDA really likes the way he dunks.

Personally, my guy would be JVG. Based on who's available, he's my #1. I know the FO doesn't live in my world, so I'm not getting too bent out of shape, other than random tweets trying to match up Vivek/JVG. I think JVG knows how to run a system based off of DMC, and, well, there's this:

If that doesn't say, " I care about you" then I don't know what does.

 

[MizzouKing]

To me a more likely scenario is that Ranadive does not want to give a coach, Karl, the freedom and authority that a coach like Karl would demand.

And the problem I see is that pretty much ANY successful coach with a good track record will not be taking orders from Pinky and the Brain. That leaves us with a fantastic personal growth opportunity for our owner and (lacking that) a very diluted coaching pool.

 

[Chubbs]

The fact that this little nugget was dropped into an Ailene Voisin article and it's filed under the Opinion section of the Bee suggests to me there's at least at 50% chance this is complete fabrication. It's possible there's a little bit of smoke along these lines, but Voisin has been known to play loosely with the facts before when it suits her agenda. More interesting to me than the snippet quoted above was the name dropping of Nate McMillan (who's on the exact opposite end of the "Pace" spectrum than our front office) and Scott Brooks (is he even close to being on the hotseat?). I'd be intrigued if Nate McMillan were actually a candidate since he's always been a favorite of mine. But again -- Voisin. Anything new or surprising in her articles should be accompanied by an entire salt shaker. Possibly the pepper too.

Brooks would have to be fired if OKC doesn't make the playoffs. And that's certainly a real possibility.

Okc has won 4 straight, 7 of 10, and has lost a game to the 8 seed Suns since they've gone 8-2 over the last ten.

The only team seeded 4-8 they gained a game on was Houston in that time.

It's tough in the west.