Joe and Gavin Transcript ESPN News 1/24 – With Brian Kenny…
BK: What’s going on with Ron Artest?
Joe: (looks uncomfortable about the ? squirms some) Actually were not allowed to talk about anything like that until a trade is consummated, nothings been consummated yet.
BK: Jim Gray is reporting that the Pacers will trade Artest for Peja. What do you think about Ron Artest?
Joe: I think he is a terrific player, one of the top players in the NBA, he’s very patient, strong, tough minded, defends people, wonderful athlete and a great player.
BK: Of course this is pending league approval if this does go through. What are your thoughts: again a guy with real talent works hard,…trouble off the court. Do you think he needs a change of scenery or do you think he could have problems down the line?
JOE: I can’t really talk about anything like that now. Whatever the negatives were we are going to set them behind us. Put the negatives behind us and go from there…
BK: Were do you guys stand on Patience? As an owner you guys have been on top winning 50 wins every year. Where do you stand now that you’re not on top, do you look to make changes? Do you look to ride it out? What is your philosophy on that?
JOE: You have to have a little bit of patience but you do get restless. We made the playoffs the last 7 years in a row, we played at a very high standard of basketball and now we’ve lost a few games. Some tough games and were not doing as well as we thought we’d do. So ya we are a little bit impatient.
BK: You see Super Bowl.. 2 coaches with a long tenure, does that affect anybody, as owners you always hear there is pressure from up above, do you look to that and say Bill Cowher has had some lean years or do you think that’s just a particular fit there?
Gavin: We are loyal people, we like to stay with the people doing the job, we always have… GP has been with us the org 10 years, RA 7-8 years we like to stand by the coaching staff if there doing the job and also the GM.
Joe: We’ve tried to maintain a consistency throughout the years. The last 7 years we have had a consistent team put together with the GM/Coach, we’ve won the past 7 years so we have to be more patient.
BK: ……….. Vegas sports stuff
J/G: talk about wanting sports in Vegas and the Reality show.
BK: If Artest does end up in a Kings uniform what’s the first thing you would say to him when he arrives?
Joe: Cannot Comment (J&G laughing)
Gavin: Cannot comment until it’s over
BK: Would you sign TO? What would you say to a guy some would say if you treat a guy properly you won’t have these issues, what would you say?
Gavin: We sit down; get to know them and their families. When you become part of the Maloof org your part of the Maloof family. We treat all of our players like part of the family.
Da end.