Jason Levien hiring David Thorpe?

[=LarryLegend=]

The Kings recently hired long time NBA agent Jason Levien as their new assistant general manager, a bold out of the box move. Don't be shocked if Levien tries to convince the Kings to bring on NBA trainer David Thorpe to join him in Sacramento as their development coach. If anyone can get Thorpe into the league it would be his very good friend Levien. Teams have been at Thorpe for years, the Kings situation might be just the one that gets him interested.

I am a huge David Thorpe fan, I think he and Coachie have really developed Kmart.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10952

 

[Sptsjunkie]

The Kings recently hired long time NBA agent Jason Levien as their new assistant general manager, a bold out of the box move. Don't be shocked if Levien tries to convince the Kings to bring on NBA trainer David Thorpe to join him in Sacramento as their development coach. If anyone can get Thorpe into the league it would be his very good friend Levien. Teams have been at Thorpe for years, the Kings situation might be just the one that gets him interested.

I am a huge David Thorpe fan, I think he and Coachie have really developed Kmart.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10952

That would be fantastic for both sides, although I would miss his articles on ESPN if he had to stop doing them. Hopefully this does appeal to Thorpe. I mean as of next year, the Kings could have 8-9 players 26 and under for him to work with, including one of his current and best students.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

I always thought Thorpe came out as very bland and relative uninformative (maybe just to me though) in many of his articles--but I guess as a scout, he just doesn't reveal too much information about a player's tendencies/weaknesses. It even shows in his chats--a word to three words long usually. But suffice to say he's a good trainer, and we would be better off to have him here.

 

[Jespher]

Count me in as a supporter of Thorpe's player development skills.

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

I don't know what to think of Thorpe. On one hand, you have success stories like KMart and he generally knows what he's talking about on ESPN. But then on the other hand you have complete duds like Tyrus Thomas (who can't figure out when to stop shooting... you're not a jumpshooter idiot) and Luol Deng (who has regressed badly since training with Thorpe), and sometimes Thorpe drops the most bizarre analysis... I remember once he compared Joakim Noah to Dirk Nowitzki

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I don't know what to think of Thorpe. On one hand, you have success stories like KMart and he generally knows what he's talking about on ESPN. But then on the other hand you have complete duds like Tyrus Thomas (who can't figure out when to stop shooting... you're not a jumpshooter idiot) and Luol Deng (who has regressed badly since training with Thorpe), and sometimes Thorpe drops the most bizarre analysis... I remember once he compared Joakim Noah to Dirk Nowitzki

I like Thorpe, he doesn't say much in his chats, but makes good use of the words he does use. His articles are usually more informative.

As for his clients, the same can be said of any trainer. I think largely this is on the players. Tyrus Thomas has been criticized already by Del Negro for being lazy and giving inconsistent effort. A good trainer can only do so much. However, with success stories like KMart and Haslem who appear to be hard workers, it is nice to see him get good results from the players who put in the effort.

I also like that JL and him are on the same page about talent. I could see Petrie, JL and Thorpe having good chemistry and finding the right players for each other and devleoping them well.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

From Thorpe's chat on ESPN today

"Dave (Tampa): Coach Thorpe, I read yesterday that a good friend of yours just got hired as an assistant GM in Sacramento, and he's going to bring you there as the development coach. Please say it isn't so. Please.

David Thorpe: It isn't so. I would have considered that move 15 years ago, but I do not plan to ever sit on an NBA bench. I have, in my opinion, the best set of jobs any basketball coach has ever had. "

Also in the chat he mentioned Eddie Jordan being a very good coach and a great fit "for a team out West." Take that for what it's worth.

 

[LPKingsFan]

From Thorpe's chat on ESPN today

"Dave (Tampa): Coach Thorpe, I read yesterday that a good friend of yours just got hired as an assistant GM in Sacramento, and he's going to bring you there as the development coach. Please say it isn't so. Please.

David Thorpe: It isn't so. I would have considered that move 15 years ago, but I do not plan to ever sit on an NBA bench. I have, in my opinion, the best set of jobs any basketball coach has ever had. "

Also in the chat he mentioned Eddie Jordan being a very good coach and a great fit "for a team out West." Take that for what it's worth.

Sounds like he's campaigning for an assistant spot with Eddie here next year to me

 

[=LarryLegend=]

sounds Like He's Campaigning For An Assistant Spot With Eddie Here Next Year To Me

Lol

 

[Bricklayer]

Much as I have long thought Team Kevin should run every position in the front office, and that we should just bow to the inevitable and make Kevin player/coach while we're at it, I will pass.