Mark Kreidler: The first call needed to be to Adelman

[chelle]

I have also heard rumors that the Maloofs made the talks with Jackson's agent well known to send a message to Rick Adelman. So it may be nothing more than that.

I've found that e-mail, telephones, pen & paper, pigeons, the Pony Express, etc ALL work better for messages!! But that's just me.

 

[Vlad]

"You're still our coach, but only if we can't replace you with anyone better..."

Isn't that the way everything is everywhere in this cruel, disloyal, capitalist world?

But absolutely, the Maloofs should have spoken to Rick about this first. He sure as heck shouldn't be getting trampled on like this. And I sincerely hope he wins a championship soon, because he deserves way more respect than he gets from anyone.

 

[EmKingsFan4]

I think what bothers me the most is that in a previous article Rick was talking about how he was skeptical about these Jackson rumors because he felt strongly that they would have informed him about it...now he's found that they didn't and he probably feels silly that he gave the Maloofs too much credit when they obviously acted in a way that showed a tremendous amount of disrespect to the coach that helped make their team into a household name....Bad move Maloofs...not very classy...

 

[Just_Lurkin]

Bottom line is that this is a business.

How many managers do you know that let you or friends know a month ahead of time if they were going to be fired? I know of none. What is the difference?

The difference is even though you may not know your boss is looking to replace you, you don't usually find out through the person you least like on the job and for all purposes someone that doesn't have half the connection to the job/employers as you.

 

[loopymitch]

I've found that e-mail, telephones, pen & paper, pigeons, the Pony Express, etc ALL work better for messages!! But that's just me.

You forgot the smoke signals

 

[Bricklayer]

I have also heard rumors that the Maloofs made the talks with Jackson's agent well known to send a message to Rick Adelman. So it may be nothing more than that.

I would assume that that's just speculation.

On a similar speculative note it also occured to me that the Maloofs could have leaked the news as a way of gauging the reaction of the fanbase (or in the extreme, to prepare the ground for a change -- doubtful in this case, but an oft used tactic amongst media-saavy types).

If not, it certainly seems like it wouldn't be that hard to track down the leak and deal with it -- if all you are doing is being Joe Maloof and picking up a phone to contact Phil's agent about possible interest, how many people would really have been in the loop?

 

[quick dog]

If the details of this alleged conversation between Joe Maloof and Phil Jackson was indeed "leaked" to the press, then I suspect that it had to have come from Phil Jackson or one of his close associates. That would fit my estimation of Jackson and his posse. I suspect that the expose' was just another way to gig Sacramento fans and the Kings organization. I'll bet that the alleged lunch between Maloof and Jackson was very low-key and social, and that Joe never suspected that the meeting would become front-page fodder.

 

[hoopsfan]

Voisin said it was from sources close to the Maloofs who spoke only with the condition their identity be protected. If it came from within the Jackson camp, I'm sure she would have made that distinction.

...

 

[chelle]

Do we know for sure that the Maloofs contacted his agent or could the other articles been written based on Voisin's article. I'm grasping for as many straws as I can since I want to keep Adleman and keep a good opinion of the Maloofs AND Kings leadership.

 

[love_them_kings]

I think what bothers me the most is that in a previous article Rick was talking about how he was skeptical about these Jackson rumors because he felt strongly that they would have informed him about it...now he's found that they didn't and he probably feels silly that he gave the Maloofs too much credit when they obviously acted in a way that showed a tremendous amount of disrespect to the coach that helped make their team into a household name....Bad move Maloofs...not very classy...

I agree, Adelman had faith that these guys would treat him with a level of respect that they did not show. Adelman's a good coach, and a good person, and I don't think he deserves this. He was thrown a lot of curve balls these season and did a great job responding to the changes as they came up. This has been one of the more challenging years in his career, and he responded well. Bottom line -- he should not have found out through the paper - he deserves better.

If the CHANCE of getting Phil Jackson is something you cant pass up, then you deal with that in a reasonable way. Not by sneaking around, and damaging your relationship with your current coach over something that will probably never happen.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

2 Random Points on this subject to make you go "Hmmmm":

1) Haven't the Maloofs always said they leave basketball to Geoff? Would then personally calling PJ go against that?

...on the other hand

2) I understand GP's current medical situation, but, in the past whenever a rumor has come up that seems less than plausible he has come out almost immediately and dismissed it. We have yet to hear anything from the Kings.

 

[Kingsgurl]

1) Haven't the Maloofs always said they leave basketball to Geoff?

I haven't believed that line since Geoff started making moves based on salary. (see not re-signing JJ, etc.) I think they do allow him to make most of the basketball decisions, but make no mistake, the financial aspect of it is firmly in their control now. In the beginning they pretty much gave Geoff carte blanche to 'spend whatever it takes' a couple seasons of taking that luxury tax hit and they are singing a different tune.

 

[El Duque]

My opinion of the Maloofs has really changed a lot in the last few months. Mind you, I'm not claiming a negative or a positive change, but just a change. Honestly, I have very low expectations from owners as far as commitment to winning and the fanbase are concerned. For the great, great majority of owners, their team is an investment that also has an element of fun, as long as it is profitable. Donald Sterling and Bill Bidwill would be the two most obvious examples at this end of the spectrum. Then there are the guys like Steinbrenner, Sarver, Morelos, Cuban, etc. that take this to be more than an investment, and really do understand what the team means to the fans, as well as allowing it to really mean something to themselves. Then you have the Arisons, the Colangelos, the Al Davises, etc. that are willing to spend within limits. It is still fun to these guys, but in more of a "challenge"-type mentality that these uber-capitalists naturally have to have in order to achieve the kind of success that has made them capable of owning a team in the first place. They want to win as much as possible, preferably winning it all, but also demand good profits (NOT just financial viability, but solid earnings) without breaking the bank. I used to believe that the Maloofs belonged in the "Sarver/Morelos/Cuban" category, but now I definitely believe that they are more the "Colangelo/Arison" type.

Again, this is not an attack or defense of the Maloofs. My perception is not impacted negatively or positively, it is just different now.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

So Mark Kreidler was on with Rant and Echo not too long ago. Here is a brief synopsis of what was talked about:

'Rant said that the rumors have almost been a positive for RA because he hasn't seen so many positive calls come in his favor, that this it what it has taken to get RA some respect. MK said that when you are in a situation like the one RA was been, one place for such a long time, it is what happens. It isn't fun if you are just calling in and saying the coach did a great job, with all praise comes criticism. However, RA is now the only guy who people aren't on the fence about. Previously Webber was the only guy who was here long enough and prominent enough for people to be one either side of the spectrum as far as liking him or not.

'Rant said that he gets the feeling that the people who run the Kings are looking to make a big deal, almost for the sake of making a big deal and bringing back fans who are now almost feeling apathy towards the team. The ratings from the playoffs are down 30-35% as well as he has talked to many season ticket holders who did not buy playoff tickets because they did not have the same interest in the team.

MK says that he is pretty positive that the Maloofs made the call to PJ and that it was received. ….RA isn’t the first coach to go through any of this but if the Maloofs had the presence of mind to call PJ then could have called RA as well...They seem to be so used to Geoff dealing with RA, but this notion that RA and GP are "best buddies" is completely wrong, they work on an extremely professional level and he doesn't think GP would be opposed to making a change….PJ isn’t exactly shooting down the notion of using the Kings as a game piece in him getting what he wants….If moving RA is what the Kings want, the other options out there don’t seem much better….If making a big move to bring back the enthusiasm of the fans is what the Kings want to do, they’ll find moving players is a whole lot easier/will make a bigger splash

 

[SacTownKid]

I would assume that that's just speculation.

On a similar speculative note it also occured to me that the Maloofs could have leaked the news as a way of gauging the reaction of the fanbase (or in the extreme, to prepare the ground for a change -- doubtful in this case, but an oft used tactic amongst media-saavy types).

If not, it certainly seems like it wouldn't be that hard to track down the leak and deal with it -- if all you are doing is being Joe Maloof and picking up a phone to contact Phil's agent about possible interest, how many people would really have been in the loop?

Isn't all of it just speculation? Until the Maloofs come out and say, "We talked to Phil Jacksons agent.", its speculation

 

[Bricklayer]

'Rant said that he gets the feeling that the people who run the Kings are looking to make a big deal, almost for the sake of making a big deal and bringing back fans who are now almost feeling apathy towards the team. The ratings from the playoffs are down 30-35% as well as he has talked to many season ticket holders who did not buy playoff tickets because they did not have the same interest in the team.

This does not surprise me in the least -- I've been predicting something like that might happen for a while, and the fan interest was clearly flagging this season even before the Doug and Webber trades, and took a major major hit after those moves. It is both encouraging, in that I myself happen to beleive we are a big move away from mattering again, and worrisome, in that when you go into an offseason "looking to make a big move" and you have no idea what that big move should be, you set yourself up to potentially make a big mistake just for the sake of doing something, anything.

It may be necessary though -- a subtext to Petrie as genius is that he is essentially very conservative as a GM. Patient. Targeted acquisitions. But prone, I fear, to sitting on his hands more than th current situation my dictate. it was actually that trait that got him fired in Portland amid claims that he didn't do enough to stop the Blazers decline and just sort of watched them deteriorate on his watch. As long as the Maloofs don't actually start micro-meddling, some extra pressure on Geoff to make major moves this offseason might be a good thing. He's got the acumen for it, has set the team up for it with all fo the midlevel junk contracts we have around, but he may need outside pressure to get him thinking on a bigger, more dramatic, reenvisioning of the team sort of level.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I just wonder who will play the part of the Bullets this time...