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Eight is enough
Kings will be moving forward without him
By Sam Amick
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Coach Rick Adelman sits alone before the start of Game 6 of the playoffs Friday against the San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena, in what turned out to be his final game with the Kings. Sacramento Bee/Randy Pench
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He wasn't their guy. Not then. Not now.
When there was a news conference announcing the hiring of Rick Adelman as the Kings' coach in September 1998, the Maloofs were minority owners and didn't have full control of the team. And when there was another conference Tuesday, with Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie standing at a podium in the lobby of the team's practice facility, it was made clear they want no part of Adelman in the future.
They are, as has become the catchphrase in Kings-land, moving forward. And leaving Adelman behind. After eight seasons and eight playoff berths, Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof decided eight is enough. Petrie - the former teammate of Adelman's whose management history with the coach spans 14 years between Portland and Sacramento - said he was on board with the decision.
"It became apparent to me that it just wasn't going to work for any of the parties," Petrie said.
"We mutually agreed that we were going to part together, and we leave with fond memories of outstanding players and teams that he's coached and shared with community.
"The objective perspective ... is that Rick enters a fairly rare category of coaches that won a ton. But as time wore on at the end, it wasn't enough to continue."
The move forward without Adelman was a long process, to be sure, but Joe Maloof said in a phone interview that it all happened quickly Tuesday afternoon. After telling The Bee early Monday that he hadn't spoken to Gavin Maloof and didn't know how long it would be until a decision was made, the process began.
"(Gavin) called me, and we started talking about it," Joe Maloof said. "I got with Geoff, and that's how it was made. I hadn't talked to Gavin, and there was no decision made (as of Monday).
"After Geoff spoke to Gavin and I, and he talked to Rick, it really was just time to move on. I don't know if it was really one thing (that made up their minds), or a culmination, but it was just time. It ran its course."
While Adelman's contract doesn't expire until late September, he was relieved of any Kings duties as of Tuesday. The same goes for assistant coaches Elston Turner, T.R. Dunn, Bubba Burrage and Pete Carril.
The Maloofs had longed for a coach with more of a defensive approach, leading Adelman to frequently defend his case as a capable defensive coach throughout his last season. Adelman and his assistants scoffed at the notion that defense never was emphasized during practice, and - on more than one occasion - Adelman cited the downfall of New York Knicks coach Larry Brown as evidence that so-called defensive geniuses aren't the cure-all to success.
But as it turns out, one defensive mishap in particular may have played a role in Adelman's departure.
Following the Kings' Game 2 loss in the first round to San Antonio - in which Brent Barry was left alone in the corner to hit a high-bouncing three-pointer and force overtime - the Maloofs were extremely frustrated at the missed assignment. It only emphasized an element that had pained them for so long.
And while their general sense was that change was needed, there were other factors from this season as well, including the use of power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and point guard Jason Hart and the development of rookie swingman Francisco García.
While Joe Maloof said it's no secret the next coach likely will have a reputation for defense and winning, he said the process has not yet begun. Petrie confirmed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, the Kings had not spoken to any potential candidates.
Two possible leading candidates are coaches with unique ties to Adelman. Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, who succeeded Adelman in Portland and Golden State, hasn't been a head coach since 1999 and wants another chance. And Washington coach Eddie Jordan, whose firing - not supported by Petrie at the time - made way for Adelman in 1998, is entering the final year of his contract and seeking an extension the Wizards might not want to offer.
Petrie also said Kings players were not consulted in the decision, namely small forward Ron Artest. After the Kings lost to the Spurs, Artest endorsed Adelman and joked he would give up his salary to bring back the coach.
"I had a lot of good times with coach, and he's a wonderful coach," Artest wrote via e-mail. "I look forward to the following season and preparing to win a championship next year."
Adelman didn't return calls from The Bee, but he was at the practice facility early in the day, where he ran into second-year shooting guard Kevin Martin. The player and his former coach had a heart-to-heart talk. Still, Martin was disappointed with the decision.
"It's definitely not the best day of my basketball career," Martin said. "I really thought he would (return), despite all the rumors you hear. I thought he would just because of how we turned it around and this new group we've got."
Martin said Adelman was justifiably disappointed.
"Of course he's going to be down, because he's parting ways with an organization he's been with for eight years," Martin said. "That's the kind of respect I have for the man now, because he didn't have to say some of the things he said in there today about me. He's not my coach anymore."
Or anyone else's.
Eight is enough
Kings will be moving forward without him
By Sam Amick
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 10, 2006
See additional images
He wasn't their guy. Not then. Not now.
When there was a news conference announcing the hiring of Rick Adelman as the Kings' coach in September 1998, the Maloofs were minority owners and didn't have full control of the team. And when there was another conference Tuesday, with Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie standing at a podium in the lobby of the team's practice facility, it was made clear they want no part of Adelman in the future.
They are, as has become the catchphrase in Kings-land, moving forward. And leaving Adelman behind. After eight seasons and eight playoff berths, Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof decided eight is enough. Petrie - the former teammate of Adelman's whose management history with the coach spans 14 years between Portland and Sacramento - said he was on board with the decision.
"It became apparent to me that it just wasn't going to work for any of the parties," Petrie said.
"We mutually agreed that we were going to part together, and we leave with fond memories of outstanding players and teams that he's coached and shared with community.
"The objective perspective ... is that Rick enters a fairly rare category of coaches that won a ton. But as time wore on at the end, it wasn't enough to continue."
The move forward without Adelman was a long process, to be sure, but Joe Maloof said in a phone interview that it all happened quickly Tuesday afternoon. After telling The Bee early Monday that he hadn't spoken to Gavin Maloof and didn't know how long it would be until a decision was made, the process began.
"(Gavin) called me, and we started talking about it," Joe Maloof said. "I got with Geoff, and that's how it was made. I hadn't talked to Gavin, and there was no decision made (as of Monday).
"After Geoff spoke to Gavin and I, and he talked to Rick, it really was just time to move on. I don't know if it was really one thing (that made up their minds), or a culmination, but it was just time. It ran its course."
While Adelman's contract doesn't expire until late September, he was relieved of any Kings duties as of Tuesday. The same goes for assistant coaches Elston Turner, T.R. Dunn, Bubba Burrage and Pete Carril.
The Maloofs had longed for a coach with more of a defensive approach, leading Adelman to frequently defend his case as a capable defensive coach throughout his last season. Adelman and his assistants scoffed at the notion that defense never was emphasized during practice, and - on more than one occasion - Adelman cited the downfall of New York Knicks coach Larry Brown as evidence that so-called defensive geniuses aren't the cure-all to success.
But as it turns out, one defensive mishap in particular may have played a role in Adelman's departure.
Following the Kings' Game 2 loss in the first round to San Antonio - in which Brent Barry was left alone in the corner to hit a high-bouncing three-pointer and force overtime - the Maloofs were extremely frustrated at the missed assignment. It only emphasized an element that had pained them for so long.
And while their general sense was that change was needed, there were other factors from this season as well, including the use of power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and point guard Jason Hart and the development of rookie swingman Francisco García.
While Joe Maloof said it's no secret the next coach likely will have a reputation for defense and winning, he said the process has not yet begun. Petrie confirmed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, the Kings had not spoken to any potential candidates.
Two possible leading candidates are coaches with unique ties to Adelman. Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, who succeeded Adelman in Portland and Golden State, hasn't been a head coach since 1999 and wants another chance. And Washington coach Eddie Jordan, whose firing - not supported by Petrie at the time - made way for Adelman in 1998, is entering the final year of his contract and seeking an extension the Wizards might not want to offer.
Petrie also said Kings players were not consulted in the decision, namely small forward Ron Artest. After the Kings lost to the Spurs, Artest endorsed Adelman and joked he would give up his salary to bring back the coach.
"I had a lot of good times with coach, and he's a wonderful coach," Artest wrote via e-mail. "I look forward to the following season and preparing to win a championship next year."
Adelman didn't return calls from The Bee, but he was at the practice facility early in the day, where he ran into second-year shooting guard Kevin Martin. The player and his former coach had a heart-to-heart talk. Still, Martin was disappointed with the decision.
"It's definitely not the best day of my basketball career," Martin said. "I really thought he would (return), despite all the rumors you hear. I thought he would just because of how we turned it around and this new group we've got."
Martin said Adelman was justifiably disappointed.
"Of course he's going to be down, because he's parting ways with an organization he's been with for eight years," Martin said. "That's the kind of respect I have for the man now, because he didn't have to say some of the things he said in there today about me. He's not my coach anymore."
Or anyone else's.
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