Kreidler: Geoff Petrie says ...

[G_M]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14057536p-14888684c.html


Mark Kreidler: Geoff Petrie says ...
'If you're going to choose a poison ... I'm going to choose patience'
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, January 10, 2006


Geoff Petrie was speaking Monday about the relative merits of toxins. In related news, he came to the conversation fresh from reviewing the first-half game video of Sunday night's Kings-Pacers guffaw-a-thon.

"If you're going to choose a poison," Petrie said, "and one of them is patience and one of them is impatience, I'm going to choose patience."
Great news! Oh, wait: Horrible news.

The denizens of Kings World awoke Monday morning wondering if it is possible to eat all of their knuckles before this season ends. They awoke dispirited, confused, frustrated - broke, most likely, if they're of the see-the-games-in-person variety.

Mostly, though, they awoke demanding something be done. Fire somebody. Bench somebody. Trade somebody. Scream at somebody, for the love of J-Will.

Petrie, who built these Kings and thus is ultimately on the hook for their performance, won't answer any of these demands directly, other than to state the obvious, which is that there isn't a 10-day contract player out there who is going to suddenly put Sacramento on a plane of consistency.
Beyond that, he's going to take the deliberate route. Don't everybody set their hair on fire at once.

What Petrie won't do, no matter how loud it gets, is give in to the blood lust. Rick Adelman's job probably is safe, in other words. Firing Adelman in the middle of the season, with two starters sitting on the sideline and a bench as thin as a Kings fan's wallet (did I mention the cost of the games?), makes no sense unless there's a superior being out there just waiting to take over.

I had to go to a Web site Monday to remind myself Adelman's career coaching record is 721-462, including five straight 50-win editions in Sacramento. Wiping away the gunk on the windshield after Sunday night's mud-bog and scanning the local columnist's inbox, it was that easy to forget Adelman ever coached a winning team in his life.

For that matter, you'd never know for all the screeching the Kings' defense, pockmarked and pingpong-netted though it is, actually is allowing fewer points per game than last season's 50-32 model. Is that even possible?

It is. But it's not good. Numbers deceive all the time, and in this case what you see is more significant than what's on the stat sheet. This is a team that richly deserves its current standing. And it is Geoff Petrie's hairball to handle.

Petrie won't hide his disappointment in 13-19, including the part about ultra-uncompetitive efforts like Sunday night's. The man who spends the Maloofs' money and invests their emotional capital laid out a significant amount of both to produce the Mike Bibby/Peja Stojakovic/Brad Miller "core" he planned to build around.

Each of those players has come up small, Stojakovic in his overall fragility, Miller in his continued defensive indifference, and Bibby in his inability to take over a team he wanted to claim for himself. As Petrie said, "When you're 13-19, it raises some questions" about the core's ability to drive a winning product.

But the larger truth is tougher still: The trade value of these players is down, not up. Besides, who makes a move right now, with Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim on the shelf?

Petrie's only chance for a major deal will come closer to the trade deadline in February, but it's clear he would feel much more comfortable dismantling the roster had he seen it play together for more than the 25 games it did before Wells' groin injury officially kicked off the hurtin' season.

"If we don't start playing better, obviously you've got to broaden your horizons (regarding trades)," Petrie said. "But when you start talking about major issues, they (the Maloofs) really want things to be well thought out, and for a reason and a purpose, and something that has value."

Petrie speaks regularly with Joe and Gavin Maloof, who haven't been seen much around Arco Arena lately, possibly because they fear emotional whiplash from going though a two-game set like Clippers-Pacers (good win, soul-sapping defeat). Petrie describes them as "OK. They're concerned. Nobody likes being under water like we are."

Incredibly, the Kings hit Monday exactly 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference; were they in the East, it'd be a half-game.

It's still possible, that is, to be interesting. What it isn't - even in the slightest - is a season descended from any of those 50-win Petrie-Adelman forebears. This is a retooling on the fly, which usually includes significant pain. Petrie says, "We're trying to circumvent the law of inevitability - or at least diminish it," and the result is what you see here. Choose your poison.

Reach Mark Kreidler at (916) 321-1149 or mkreidler@sacbee.com

 

[Ryle]

I read this article this morning and about blew coffee all over the paper??? Patience???? Is he watching the same team I am??? This supposed Core that everyone in the organization is promoting(in between the continued Monarchs commercials all over the place) is flawed and it needs to be fixed. Being patient will not cut it. If they lose all 3 games on this road trip it should make for an interesting first game back.

 

[love_them_kings]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14057536p-14888684c.html


"If we don't start playing better, obviously you've got to broaden your horizons (regarding trades)," Petrie said. "But when you start talking about major issues, they (the Maloofs) really want things to be well thought out, and for a reason and a purpose, and something that has value."
Petrie speaks regularly with Joe and Gavin Maloof, who haven't been seen much around Arco Arena lately, possibly because they fear emotional whiplash from going though a two-game set like Clippers-Pacers (good win, soul-sapping defeat). Petrie describes them as "OK. They're concerned. Nobody likes being under water like we are."

Well, gee, the Maloofs want a trade that is well thought out, for a reason and a purpose, AND has value? Guess they're raising their standards.

Seriously, when I read this headline I was immediately frustrated... patience is tough to preach when the team looks like this. However, it's not saying that GP will not make a move this season, just that it might be closer to the trade deadline, which is what .. another month and how many L's away?? We'll see. I think patience is what GP is saying, but if a great trade opportunity came up I'm sure he'd grab it.

 

[Gtronic]

When is the trade deadline?

 

[love_them_kings]

When is the trade deadline?

I think it's Feb 23.

 

[Rowdyone]

Not sure how patience overcomes a lack of all of the ills we've discussed on this board. Are we waiting to be sure that we don't have what it takes, even when healthy? Is success defined as making it to the first round of the playoffs? Being "competitive on any given night"? Being just good enough to keep the seats filled, the concessions rolling in and the souvanier store doing a break even business? All sounds like complacency a la the old LA Clippers to me. Are the Maloofs holding our emotions hostage for a new arena or what? Was this interview mere posturing for potential trade partners? I surely hope so because this patience theme is only legitimate if we have the players but just not the familiarity necessary to win. But the point is WE DON'T HAVE THE PLAYERS!

 

[BigWaxer]

I would rather see a calm Petrie then one making irrational moves that would dig us even deeper in a hole. The above is exactly the type of answer/comments I would expect from our GM and am actually glad to hear it.

GO KINGS!

 

[nbrans]

What is to be gained from rushing out and trading any member of this team for 50 cents on the dollar just for the sake of change?

 

[Bricklayer]

...

Have I mentioned recently that we may have the wrong guy in charge?

Let me translate "patience" as argued for by Mr. Petrie:

"Patience" is having by far the two most logical pieces to be swapped out be Petrie's favorite coach and pet player. Hence any excuse not to do anything. Patience is being such an emotional automaton that he can not feel the life being sucked out of the fanbase, does not understand the need for hope. Patience is having FAR too much job security and carte blanche, and being able to stare impassively at the mess you yourself have created without ever feeling the barest lick of flame under your own butt spurring you to do something about it.

And "patience" most of all is an utter load of bull coming from a man who tore the heart and soul from this team piece by piece over a 12 month period just last year, and NOW is going to claim that his 13-19 bastard child of a brainfart cannot be tinkered with?

 

[kupman]

Give me a break Bricklayer. GP is probably the best thing that has ever happened to the SacKings. Plus, he was talking about patience. He did not say that he would not make a move. He is just probably waiting to make the right move, if that opportunity presents itself. I am thankful the Kings do not have a GM that will push the panic button with one move after another and quickly turn the team into the LA Clippers.

 

[nbrans]

...

Have I mentioned recently that we may have the wrong guy in charge?

Let me translate "patience" as argued for by Mr. Petrie:

"Patience" is having by far the two most logical pieces to be swapped out be Petrie's favorite coach and pet player. Hence any excuse not to do anything. Patience is being such an emotional automaton that he can not feel the life being sucked out of the fanbase, does not understand the need for hope. Patience is having FAR too much job security and carte blanche, and being able to stare impassively at the mess you yourself have created without ever feeling the barest lick of flame under your own butt spurring you to do something about it.

And "patience" most of all is an utter load of bull coming from a man who tore the heart and soul from this team piece by piece over a 12 month period just last year, and NOW is going to claim that his 13-19 bastard child of a brainfart cannot be tinkered with?

The curtain has been pulled back on you Mr. Petrie.

Wha???

I know you didn't agree with the Webber trade (probably an understatement), but doesn't this seem just a tad rash?

Petrie is known for being inscrutable, and while it may not be the most comforting facade to a disgruntled fan base his job isn't to pat everyone on the back and say "there there," his job is to make decisions for the betterment of the franchise. Whether or not you agree with the Webber trade, and certainly the results thus far haven't been encouraging for the short term, it's not his job to bare his soul to the Bee to make everyone feel better.

I know sports is a culture of "what have you done for me lately," but Petrie has been good enough for long enough that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Give the guy some time. He made a decision that last year's Webber-led team was a bunch of paper tigers that other teams justifiably weren't taking seriously. He didn't come out and anoint Peja franchise savior and God, he just quietly did his job and started rebuilding. I think he deserves more than half a year to rebuild the franchise. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[Bricklayer]

Give me a break Bricklayer. GP is probably the best thing that has ever happened to the SacKings. Plus, he was talking about patience. He did not say that he would not make a move. He is just probably waiting to make the right move, if that opportunity presents itself. I am thankful the Kings do not have a GM that will push the panic button with one move after another and quickly turn the team into the LA Clippers.

Oh no, we're not gospelling that "In Petrie We Trust!!!" bunk at this stage. His record is every bit as much in question now as anybody else's around this squad.

Fired from Portland, 4 years of suck in Sacto, followed by a Golden Era of 4 years, and now for a second time presiding over the slow death of a contender while making both questionable moves, as well as non-moves.

 

[Bricklayer]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Rome wasn't built by people sitting on their *** either.

To screw up and get to this stage is one thing -- bad on you. To do nothing to correct it is quite another. Firable offense actually in many places.

This team is 13-19, battered, beaten, short handed, and going out on the road forever. By the time Geoff blesses us with his presnce, there may be no season to save. Certainly he is counting on nothing but sheer serendipity to keep us within megaphone shouting distance of the playoffs by Feb. 23rd.

 

[love_them_kings]

Oh no, we're not gospelling that "In Petrie We Trust!!!" bunk at this stage. His record is every bit as much in question now as anybody else's around this squad.

Fired from Portland, 4 years of suck in Sacto, followed by a Golden Era of 4 years, and now for a second time presiding over the slow death of a contender while making both questionable moves, as well as non-moves.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who questions Petrie's omnipresense. I respect what Petrie did in creating the "golden" team that we enjoyed for years. I think he made some great moves. However, my respect has been greatly reduced by the actions in the last year. I keep looking at the moves he's made, at the team we had last year & what we have now, and I just keep thinking WHY??? WHY???

 

[nbrans]

Oh no, we're not gospelling that "In Petrie We Trust!!!" bunk at this stage. His record is every bit as much in question now as anybody else's around this squad.

Fired from Portland, 4 years of suck in Sacto, followed by a Golden Era of 4 years, and now for a second time presiding over the slow death of a contender while making both questionable moves, as well as non-moves.

Wait a second, wait a second. 4 years of suck in Sacramento followed by a Golden Era? Do you think that "4 years of suck" had anything to do with the fact that he was starting not from scratch but with utter trash? Didn't that 4 years of suck in Sacramento include the first EVER good draft pick in the modern era, Brian Grant, a second round steal in Michael Smith followed by Corliss Williamson (best available, later became Doug Christie), followed by Peja Stojakovic? And even if Brian Grant was lost to free agency, didn't he have the offseason of all offseasons with Webber/Vlade/JWill? I'll take 4 years of that kind of suck any day.

Petrie's not immune to bad moves -- the Nick Anderson era will not easily be forgotten, but there's a reason the Kings were as good as they were. They had damn good players, and Petrie brought them here. Bobby Jackson was nobody, Jon Barry was nobody, he brought Jim Jackson off the trash heap...

Brick, come on, you can't brush over this kind of success.

 

[kupman]

So you are saying that 50% of GP's tenure in Sac has been in the Golden era. Looks like a great percentage to me that nearly all NBA cities would love to have.

 

[nbrans]

So you are saying that 50% of GP's tenure in Sac has been in the Golden era. Looks like a great percentage to me that nearly all NBA cities would love to have.

As far as I'm concerned the Golden era began when Petrie arrived. Teams go in cycles, no one stays a contender forever. This is a down cycle, I'm not about to advocate dumping the person who got us to the last one.

 

[Kris Kros]

I don't see no Gold Era in Sacramento Kings' history.

 

[SIR HENRY 8]

Patience...we have all been patient from the start of the season,a few highs, lots of lows. This team is not a good team...now ,next week or next month,if Petrie does'nt want to make MAJOR changes now,fine ,but he really needs to make at least a couple minor changes to try to get this team out of the gutter,patience is wearing mighty thin with alot of people...

GO KINGS

 

[Bricklayer]

Wait a second, wait a second. 4 years of suck in Sacramento followed by a Golden Era? Do you think that "4 years of suck" had anything to do with the fact that he was starting not from scratch but with utter trash? Didn't that 4 years of suck in Sacramento include the first EVER good draft pick in the modern era, Brian Grant, a second round steal in Michael Smith followed by Corliss Williamson (best available, later became Doug Christie), followed by Peja Stojakovic? And even if Brian Grant was lost to free agency, didn't he have the offseason of all offseasons with Webber/Vlade/JWill? I'll take 4 years of that kind of suck any day.

Petrie's not immune to bad moves -- the Nick Anderson era will not easily be forgotten, but there's a reason the Kings were as good as they were. They had damn good players, and Petrie brought them here. Bobby Jackson was nobody, Jon Barry was nobody, he brought Jim Jackson off the trash heap...

Brick, come on, you can't brush over this kind of success.

Brian Grant was a solid #8 pick. No better than Kenny Smith though. Or even Ricky Barry at #19(?) (given where he was selected). Actually until the knees went out no better than L-Train either. Another solid guy. That we then lost him for nothing (lost for nothing = another Petrie knack?). Eddie Jones went two picks later. Jalen Rose three picks after that.

Corliss was a solid #13. Better than most who followed him and still in the league. Might want to tell Michael Finley (#21) that Corliss was the better pick though. Brent Barry, Theo Ratliff and Eric Snow all might have quibbles as well.

Peja was the unknown steal of the draft..but then again that was one hell of a draft. Peja was picked at #14. But may not have even been the best player still on the board. Steve Nash was #15. Jermaine O'Neal #17. Big Z #20.

Tariq (the former Olivier Saint Jean) was obviously not much of a lottery pick, saved only by the poorness of that draft and lack of exciting names to follow. Derek Anderson, Brevin Knight, Bobby Jackson all were still on board, and would have been quite useful given that we ended up starting Anthony Johnson most of the year. Stephen Jackson, Mark Blount, Alvin Williams were all taken late.

Along the way we ran the much detested O.P. at center. Never could find a PG somehow and twice ended up starting rookie 2nd rounders (Edney, Johnson), brought in Billy Owens just for kicks. And Mahmoud. That went well (I was surprised right along with Geoff). And generally spun our wheels.

A fine, but hardly thrilling draft record. And we acheived two years of mediocrity under that regime, never reached .500, then followed in 97-98 by quite possibly the most depressing and disastrous season in Kings history as the fabled fanbase eroded and stayed away in droves and Mitch pouted on the bench. Right back where we started. I would guestimate that Geoff was roughly 6 months from being fired at that point, had business been normal that year. He needed to do something, anything. And it had to be big. And he came up with one of the best seasons a GM can have. Maybe his job needs to be threatened again to get some inspired work out of him.

 

[Sacto=Slappo]

I don't see no Gold Era in Sacramento Kings' history.

Right. Golden Era? At least we have the Gold (uniform) era

BLAH!

 

[kingsfannPDX]

i'm losing patience with petrie. i have been ever since he signed jason hart. actually since he traded christie for nothing and webber for three scrubs. the team he put together this year (healthy or not) would be LUCKY to win 40 games. when he can get a star player to build a team around like he did with webber is when i will start having more patience.

 

[Sacto=Slappo]

I forgot about J.O. going at #17! And Brick has a serious point. Everybody says, " but remember when they Boo'd Petrie for drafting Peja? " .. but honestly, there's goes the 04-05 MVP and tough @#$ PF....

 

[VF21]

I'm not quite ready to light the torches and grab the pitchforks, but that's probably because I'm not totally buying into this "patience, grasshopper" scenario. Yes, I'm sure that's what he told Mark Kreidler, but I'm not at all sure Petrie isn't just a little more concerned than he's letting on.

What's he supposed to say? Our team is in tatters, I have to do something and God knows I hope it's not too late?

Once again, I don't expect Petrie or anyone else in the organization to be putting their cards on the table for everyone else to see, especially before the flop. (Poker players will understand...)

I think there is time - at least a little - for a bit more patience, even though it's certainly not my long suit. What there isn't time for, however, is more lackluster effort (and I use the term laughingly) on the part of the team. What happened against the Pacers CANNOT happen again. I don't care if it means benching the starters, playing the towel boy, etc. Something has to be done to get the attention of the guys currently wearing the uniform. That, to me, is something that should be done immediately if not sooner. That cannot wait.

 

[nbrans]

Brian Grant was a solid #7 pick. No better than Kenny Smith though. Or even Ricky Barry at #19(?) (given where he was selected). Actually until the knees went out no better than L-Train either. Another solid guy. That we then lost of nothing (lost for nothing = another Petrie knack?).

Corliss was a solid #13. Better than most who followed him and still in the league. Might want to tell Michael Finley (#21) that Corliss was the better pick though.

Peja was the unknown steal of the draft..but then again that was one hell of a draft. Peja was picked at #14. But may not have even been the best player still ont he board. Steve Nash was #15. Jermaine O'Neal #17. Big Z #20.

Tariq (the former Olivier Saint Jean) was obviously not much of a lottery pick, saved only by the poorness of that draft and lack of exciting names to follow. Derek Anderson, Brevin Knight, Bobby Jackson all were still on board, and would have been quite useful given that we ended up starting Anthony Johnson most of the year.

A fine, but hardly thrilling draft record. And we acheived two years of mediocrity under that regime, followed in 97-98 by quite possibly the most depressing and disastrous season in Kings history as the fabled fanbase eroded and stayed away in droves and Mitch pouted on the bench. Right back where we started. I would guestimate that Geoff was roughly 6 months from being fired at that point, had business been normal that year. He needed to do something, anything. And it had to be big. And he came up with one of the best seasons a GM can have. Maybe his job needs to be threatened again to get some inspired work out of him.

This is an extremly unfair assessment. First of all, the obvious pick over Kenny Smith was Kevin Johnson. The fact that the Kings passed on Kevin Johnson when he was a Sacramento product, wanted to play in Sacramento, was much better than Kenny Smith, and oh yeah the Kings needed a point guard makes that an extremely crappy pick, even if Kenny Smith performed fine in Sacramento.

Those others you cite as good picks pre-Petrie... come on now, if you're going to look all the way down the draft from Corliss and find Michael Finely, I can play that game too. You cite Lionel Simmons, what about Jayson Williams or Elden Campbell? Let's see, Ricky Barry... what about Rod Strickland?

Bottom line is that all you can ask of a GM Is that they make good consistent draft picks, not absolutely-best-possible-pick-every-year-with-hindsight picks. Petrie's track record in the draft is excellent. It's excellent with trades. Are you seriously arguing that Petrie isn't an improvement over the GMs who came before him?

Also, I'm not sure who you think is waiting in the wings to take over as GM, but good GMs are even harder to come by than coaches. Does it give you pause that Babcock has a job? Doesn't it behoove you to hold onto one of maybe three or four GMs in the entire league who are proven over time?

 

[VF21]

i'm losing patience with petrie. i have been ever since he signed jason hart. actually since he traded christie for nothing and webber for three scrubs. the team he put together this year (healthy or not) would be LUCKY to win 40 games. when he can get a star player to build a team around like he did with webber is when i will start having more patience.

Actually, trading Doug Christie was possibly one of the best things Petrie has done recently. He got rid of a horrible contract on a player who was injured and ended up retiring from the game. From an emotional point of view it was indeed heart-rending for the fans, but from a business viewpoint it was the right move to make.

 

[nbrans]

I forgot about J.O. going at #17! And Brick has a serious point. Everybody says, " but remember when they Boo'd Petrie for drafting Peja? " .. but honestly, there's goes the 04-05 MVP and tough @#$ PF....

I'm sure Sacramento would have waited patiently for five years for him to pan out. He's the ultimate hindsight pick.

 

[Sacto=Slappo]

towel boy!!! ROFL!

 

[Padrino]

there's a difference between exercising patience and not doing anything at all. of course, i have no idea what GP is doing behind closed doors, but i would think he should be on the phone every single day to other GM's inquiring about possible trade scenarios. if he's not making phone calls, then he's exercising his [in]famous 'patience,' he's not doing his job, and should be replaced. but if he is on the phone consistently, in his quiet and discreet manner, then he is doing his job, but the kings players are just not worth as much around the league as many (including petrie himself) believe. and that sucks, because it will be awfully difficult to rebuild this franchise without the use of trades.

 

[VF21]

I don't see no Gold Era in Sacramento Kings' history.

Sorry you missed it.



The golden era of the Sacramento Kings, so far at least, was the rise from NBA cellar hell to overtime game 7 of the WCF. AND the next year, with arguably a better team, fans were treated to an ongoing display of pure basketball brilliance.

No, we didn't win a championship and if that's all that matters to you, then I guess the Kings failed.

But they didn't fail me! The thrills and chills, joy and laughter I experienced during that all-too-short period of time will be with me forever. In over 40 years of watching NBA basketball, I really consider myself lucky to have those years to look back on. And I expect to see some more.