http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14252425p-15068552c.html
The end
The Kings may be out of the playoffs, but owners are back in activist mode
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, May 6, 2006
Their team's playoff hopes sliding out of sight from early in the third quarter, Joe and Gavin Maloof had ample time Friday night to ponder the future of the franchise.
And as the Kings abruptly head into an off-season in which every potential decision - on personnel, coaching and facilities - feels not only crucial but uncertain, this much appears clear: The Maloofs, after two years of mostly absent ownership, are back in an activist mode.
For the Kings, an inspired run against the San Antonio Spurs ended in a desultory 105-83 loss in Game 6 at Arco Arena. The Spurs, top seed in the Western Conference, thus captured a rugged first-round series and will meet Dallas in the semifinals beginning Sunday.
Sacramento, meanwhile, falls face-first into a summer rife with intriguing questions, chief among them whether Rick Adelman or someone else will coach the team next season and whether one of the Kings' most important players, Bonzi Wells, will return.
Both of those moves may link to the larger effort to gain approval for a new arena. On that front, too, the Maloof family has swung into action, announcing Friday that it has retained former state
Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg to help broker a deal with Sacramento city and county officials.
Ultimate decisions on all these issues lie with the Maloofs, but that was always the case. What this season has marked, and continues to mark, is the renewed interest by the family, and Joe and Gavin in particular, in the day-to-day operations of the franchise - both on and off the court.
"They can re-sign me if they want to," Wells said after scoring 17 points. "It's up to them."
By "them," Wells meant the Maloofs - and he was correct as to where the power lies. Earlier in this series, Joe and Gavin approached Wells' agent and told him of their ardent desire to sign Wells to a new contract this summer after he becomes a free agent.
It was another in a recent series of examples that suggest the Maloofs have reclaimed their place as one of the more involved ownership groups in the NBA.
Both Joe and Gavin departed by jet for Las Vegas immediately after Friday's game and were unavailable by cell phone. But their actions of late suggest they'll be heavily involved in this off-season.
Adelman's status may be the first to be determined. The coach completed his eighth season with a flourish, taking the Kings to a 26-14 record after the Ron Artest trade was made in January and then riding Artest and Wells to take the Spurs to six difficult games.
Despite guiding the Kings to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons, though, Adelman's relationship with the Maloofs may be central. The Maloofs' first return to active ownership, in fact, came a year ago at this time, when they pursued Phil Jackson as head coach and declined to extend Adelman's contract beyond 2005-06.
"Tonight is not the time" to discuss his future, Adelman said late Friday night. It is expected that the coach and the Maloofs will meet within the next week or two to address the coaching situation.
It will be a Maloof decision, essentially. Both Joe and Gavin pushed hard for the Artest trade, and their gamble - that Artest's talent would overwhelm any character issues - has paid off handsomely.
Now they'll likely have to pay handsomely for Wells, who could fetch $9 million or more per season. But Wells also contributed heavily to a winner, and the Maloofs know a winning team may be critical in pushing an agenda for a new arena.
About the writer: Reach Mark Kreidler at (916) 321-1149 or mkreidler@sacbee.com.
The end
The Kings may be out of the playoffs, but owners are back in activist mode
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, May 6, 2006
Their team's playoff hopes sliding out of sight from early in the third quarter, Joe and Gavin Maloof had ample time Friday night to ponder the future of the franchise.
And as the Kings abruptly head into an off-season in which every potential decision - on personnel, coaching and facilities - feels not only crucial but uncertain, this much appears clear: The Maloofs, after two years of mostly absent ownership, are back in an activist mode.
For the Kings, an inspired run against the San Antonio Spurs ended in a desultory 105-83 loss in Game 6 at Arco Arena. The Spurs, top seed in the Western Conference, thus captured a rugged first-round series and will meet Dallas in the semifinals beginning Sunday.
Sacramento, meanwhile, falls face-first into a summer rife with intriguing questions, chief among them whether Rick Adelman or someone else will coach the team next season and whether one of the Kings' most important players, Bonzi Wells, will return.
Both of those moves may link to the larger effort to gain approval for a new arena. On that front, too, the Maloof family has swung into action, announcing Friday that it has retained former state
Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg to help broker a deal with Sacramento city and county officials.
Ultimate decisions on all these issues lie with the Maloofs, but that was always the case. What this season has marked, and continues to mark, is the renewed interest by the family, and Joe and Gavin in particular, in the day-to-day operations of the franchise - both on and off the court.
"They can re-sign me if they want to," Wells said after scoring 17 points. "It's up to them."
By "them," Wells meant the Maloofs - and he was correct as to where the power lies. Earlier in this series, Joe and Gavin approached Wells' agent and told him of their ardent desire to sign Wells to a new contract this summer after he becomes a free agent.
It was another in a recent series of examples that suggest the Maloofs have reclaimed their place as one of the more involved ownership groups in the NBA.
Both Joe and Gavin departed by jet for Las Vegas immediately after Friday's game and were unavailable by cell phone. But their actions of late suggest they'll be heavily involved in this off-season.
Adelman's status may be the first to be determined. The coach completed his eighth season with a flourish, taking the Kings to a 26-14 record after the Ron Artest trade was made in January and then riding Artest and Wells to take the Spurs to six difficult games.
Despite guiding the Kings to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons, though, Adelman's relationship with the Maloofs may be central. The Maloofs' first return to active ownership, in fact, came a year ago at this time, when they pursued Phil Jackson as head coach and declined to extend Adelman's contract beyond 2005-06.
"Tonight is not the time" to discuss his future, Adelman said late Friday night. It is expected that the coach and the Maloofs will meet within the next week or two to address the coaching situation.
It will be a Maloof decision, essentially. Both Joe and Gavin pushed hard for the Artest trade, and their gamble - that Artest's talent would overwhelm any character issues - has paid off handsomely.
Now they'll likely have to pay handsomely for Wells, who could fetch $9 million or more per season. But Wells also contributed heavily to a winner, and the Maloofs know a winning team may be critical in pushing an agenda for a new arena.
About the writer: Reach Mark Kreidler at (916) 321-1149 or mkreidler@sacbee.com.
