Joe and Gavin interview

[ReinadelosReys]

From News10, the first one they have done with local media since the end of the Kings season. The 6 o'clock news gave us just a tease (see below) and the 11 o'clock news is supposed to give us talk on the arena, the team etc..

Darrin May: Have you talked with Phil Jackson about coaching your team?

Joe: I’ve contacted his agent, I called him. I haven’t spoken to Phil Jackson. Gavin hasn’t, none of has. I think what we are going to do is wait to sit down with Geoff and discuss what our opportunities are with players, with coaches, everyone involved and make a decision after that.

 

[zeke04]

thanks for the heads up!

 

[kennadog]

The website also has video...

http://news10.net/storyfull1.asp?id=11113
Maloofs Talk About Arena, Jackson, Future In Exclusive Interview

News 10's Bryan May sat down with Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof to get the real answers to some of the biggest questions swirling around the Kings this off-season.

They're young, rich and, to most outside observances, often having the time of their lives. They own an NBA franchise, a burgeoning media empire and, along with the rest of their hotel-magnate family, one of the hottest destination resorts on the planet in the form of the Palms Casino Hotel in Las Vegas.

But for a pair of guys worth $200 million, the past 12 months have not always been kind to Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

Between a growingly contentious battle to build a new home for their beloved Kings to a disheartening playoff fade-out that marked the end of Sacramento's so far fruitless run at an NBA crown, the Maloof brothers have had a lot to think about lately when it comes to the future of their often star-crossed franchise.

News 10's Bryan May sat down for a one-on-two interview with Joe and Gavin Maloof at the Palms in Las Vegas to get the answers to some of the biggest questions swirling around the Sacramento Kings.

May asked a veriety of questions of the Maloofs, including their plans for a new arena and their intentions regarding former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. May also questioned the pair about their involvement in films, music, and television, and how it might impact their involvement with the team.

On efforts to work with the city of Sacramento to finalize plans for a new arena:

Joe - "We haven't had any success. But we're not going to give up. We've not going to get discouraged over it because we don't give up and we're not quitters, but it's been a difficult road for us."

Gavin - "I'm surprised. I felt we did everything we've ever said we were going to do with the city. We give back millions of dollars to the community. We thought it was going to be a lot easier than it has been. It hasn't been easy."

On why the Maloofs don't build their own privately-funded arena:

Joe - "What's going to keep us competitive is making sure we sign the best players and you can't do that if you're paying interest on your facility. Interest costs eat you alive. We're willing to do whatever it takes with public and private partnership and put our fair share in. Whatever they want us to do, we're gonna do. We're going to contribute a fair amount."

Gavin - "If we funded the arena totally privately, it's a $400 million areana. Ten percent in debt service, that's $40 million a year. We can't do it. There's no team in America that can do that (in a small market)."

On whether a growing impasse with Sacramento leaders over arena plans has spoiled the team's relationship with the city:

Joe - "We've had our problems, ups and downs with the city. We've tried to put that in the past. Put that behind us and go forward with a positive approach. It's just going to take other ideas. We don't have any right now."

On the Kings' often erratic performance this season, including a disappointing 4-1 defeat to the Seattle Supersonics in the first round of the playoffs:

Joe - "We never really caught a rythym. We had the major trades in the middle of the season. That may have thrown us off a little bit. Then we had some injuries again, unfortunately. So between the combination of the two, we didn't have the season that we expect to have. We're disappointed to get knocked out in the first round."

On the team's prognosis for next season:

Joe - "We know where our weaknesses are. I think the team knows what the weaknesses are. We've got to get better defensively. To ever win a title, you've got to be a defensively-minded team."

Gavin - "We've learned over seven years that offense doesn't win. We win, but it's not going to take you where you want to go. It's important for our team to focus more defensively. That's what we need to do."

On which players the Maloofs would like to bring to Sacramento:

Gavin - "There's a lot of players that we'd love to see in a Kings uniform. But the collective bargaining agreement is very complicated. To produce the right kind of trade takes a lot of moving parts. A lot of times when trades come up, we hear about it that day. We don't know that we're going to get this player or that player. It just happens."

Joe - "We wanted to head in a little bit of a different direction. We can't give up 122 points at home in a playoff game. It doesn't make sense. How are you going to beat teams if you give up those kinds of points? You do need players who are going to play defense. That's what we're expecting in the years to come."

On whether team president Geoff Petrie makes the final decision on possible trades:

Gavin - "Not every deal that he's brought to us have we said yes. But I would say probably 90 percent, we say yes."

On whether Phil Jackson has been interviewed as a possible replacement for Rick Adelman:

Joe - "I've contacted his agent. I called him. I haven't spoken to Phil Jackson. Gavin hasn't, none of us have. I think what we're going to do is wait to sit down with Geoff and discuss what our opportunities are with players, with coaches, with everybody involved and make a decision after that. We don't even know if there is any interest on his part."

On how much the Maloofs still want to win an NBA championship after seven years in league ownership:

Gavin - "It's everything. You never stop striving to win it all. If you do, then you should get out of the business. If you don't want to win a championship, if you just want to make money and collect a check, this is not the business for you."

Joe - "That's all we think about. We're dedicated to winning a title. We have the basketball people in place. We have the players in place. It's just a matter of getting the opportunity with a healthy squad. I hate to use excuses, but you have to go back and look at what's happened to use over the years. We've had a lot of unfortunate injuries at the worst possible times of the year. All we want is a fair shot one year where we go into the playoffs with a healthy group of guys ready to go to war."

 

[Kingsgurl]

On whether team president Geoff Petrie makes the final decision on possible trades:

Gavin - "Not every deal that he's brought to us have we said yes. But I would say probably 90 percent, we say yes."

Damn, now I'm wondering what we could have got with that other 10 percent

 

[kennadog]

Damn, now I'm wondering what we could have got with that other 10 percent

My thought, exactly! I must say that they looked kinda down talking about the arena. They said they have NOT considered moving the team.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Which would be suicide to whatever plans they do have, staying or leaving. Of course they would say that. I fully believe they don't WANT to move the team. I also firmly believe they will do whatever is best for THEM financially in the long term.

 

[kennadog]

I fully believe they don't WANT to move the team. I also firmly believe they will do whatever is best for THEM financially in the long term.

Totally agree with that.

 

[SacTownKid]

These guys are without a doubt the most likeable owners in the league!

 

[slugking50]

Good to see the Video link. Although It wasnt easy to here all 3.

 

[loopymitch]

These guys are without a doubt the most likeable owners in the league!

Agreed, a certain owner in texas could learn a lot from them.

 

[AleksandarN]

On the team's prognosis for next season:

Joe - "We know where our weaknesses are. I think the team knows what the weaknesses are. We've got to get better defensively. To ever win a title, you've got to be a defensively-minded team."

Gavin - "We've learned over seven years that offense doesn't win. We win, but it's not going to take you where you want to go. It's important for our team to focus more defensively. That's what we need to do."

On which players the Maloofs would like to bring to Sacramento:

Gavin - "There's a lot of players that we'd love to see in a Kings uniform. But the collective bargaining agreement is very complicated. To produce the right kind of trade takes a lot of moving parts. A lot of times when trades come up, we hear about it that day. We don't know that we're going to get this player or that player. It just happens."

Joe - "We wanted to head in a little bit of a different direction. We can't give up 122 points at home in a playoff game. It doesn't make sense. How are you going to beat teams if you give up those kinds of points? You do need players who are going to play defense. That's what we're expecting in the years to come."

That is what I want to hear. I would expect to see some changes this off season to address this issue.

 

[CaminoChaos]

Damn, now I'm wondering what we could have got with that other 10 percent

i was thinking the exact same thing when i was reading it.

 

[VF21]

On which players the Maloofs would like to bring to Sacramento:

Gavin - "There's a lot of players that we'd love to see in a Kings uniform. But the collective bargaining agreement is very complicated. To produce the right kind of trade takes a lot of moving parts. A lot of times when trades come up, we hear about it that day. We don't know that we're going to get this player or that player. It just happens."

Of everything in the interview, this part lifted my spirits the most. They're pretty much admitted they NEED to have Petrie do the hard stuff...



I also like that they were honest about the arena, etc. I think they spoke truthfully and I think they don't have any plans - at this point - to even think about moving the team.

I am a little more optimistic today than I was yesterday.

GO KINGS!!!!

 

[uolj]

Of everything in the interview, this part lifted my spirits the most. They're pretty much admitted they NEED to have Petrie do the hard stuff...



I also like that they were honest about the arena, etc. I think they spoke truthfully and I think they don't have any plans - at this point - to even think about moving the team.

I am a little more optimistic today than I was yesterday.

GO KINGS!!!!

Just because I know it's been chapping your hide for a while now, I figured I'd mention that if I remember correctly, it was the writer of the article that said that the Maloofs bounce decisions off Petrie, not a direct quote, and I believe the emphasis was that decisions about coaches go through Geoff as well so the Maloofs aren't going to hire Phil Jackson without consulting him.

http://forums.kingsfans.com/showpost.php?p=145961&postcount=2

 

[VF21]

The "article" above is a transcript of an interview with News10 Sports Reporter Bryan May. The article from the Bee was an interview between Joe Davidson and the Maloofs.

I didn't like the phrasing of "we still bounce ideas off Petrie" because IMHO it should be the other way around. It sounded to me as though Joe was assuming duties more properly undertaken by Petrie. What I liked about the comment I quoted above is that they seem to be recognizing that it's Petrie's genius that conceives the deals for them to approve or disapprove, not the opposite.

 

[chelle]

Of everything in the interview, this part lifted my spirits the most. They're pretty much admitted they NEED to have Petrie do the hard stuff...



I also like that they were honest about the arena, etc. I think they spoke truthfully and I think they don't have any plans - at this point - to even think about moving the team.

I am a little more optimistic today than I was yesterday.

GO KINGS!!!!

I'm glad to hear that! I was VERY down about our team and its circumstances, but have decided to try to be be more optimistic. It helps when others are as well!!

 

[Folsom Al]

On efforts to work with the city of Sacramento to finalize plans for a new arena:

Joe - "We haven't had any success. But we're not going to give up. We've not going to get discouraged over it because we don't give up and we're not quitters, but it's been a difficult road for us."

Gavin - "I'm surprised. I felt we did everything we've ever said we were going to do with the city. We give back millions of dollars to the community. We thought it was going to be a lot easier than it has been. It hasn't been easy."

* * * * *

Joe is the fighter and Gavin feels the ups-n-downs ...

=======================================================
On whether team president Geoff Petrie makes the final decision on possible trades:

Gavin - "Not every deal that he's brought to us have we said yes. But I would say probably 90 percent, we say yes."

* * * * *

Me, too ... the other 10% has my curiosity up ...

 

[whozit]

The "article" above is a transcript of an interview with News10 Sports Reporter Bryan May. The article from the Bee was an interview between Joe Davidson and the Maloofs.

I didn't like the phrasing of "we still bounce ideas off Petrie" because IMHO it should be the other way around. It sounded to me as though Joe was assuming duties more properly undertaken by Petrie. What I liked about the comment I quoted above is that they seem to be recognizing that it's Petrie's genius that conceives the deals for them to approve or disapprove, not the opposite.

If put in perspective (and I don't know that this is) it might mean that they come up with ideas and bounce them off Petrie and he goes 'O.K., let me back with you' while silently shaking his head in disbelief. I only say that due to fact they said they often only learn of the deal the day it is transpiring.

 

[SacKingsFX]

they're very candid ... nice interview

 

[VF21]

If put in perspective (and I don't know that this is) it might mean that they come up with ideas and bounce them off Petrie and he goes 'O.K., let me back with you' while silently shaking his head in disbelief. I only say that due to fact they said they often only learn of the deal the day it is transpiring.

Ah, good point. Hadn't looked at it that way.

 

[uolj]

I didn't like the phrasing of "we still bounce ideas off Petrie" because IMHO it should be the other way around. It sounded to me as though Joe was assuming duties more properly undertaken by Petrie.

I didn't like the phrasing either, but then took solace in the fact that those weren't (necessarily) Joe's words, but rather the writer's words. Just trying to provide the same solace to others.