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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14253289p-15069180c.html
Marty Mac's World: Letting go of Adelman would be a Maloof goof
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C2
It would make sense for the Maloofs to make their move with Kings coach Rick Adelman as soon as they can. They've had nearly a year since being played by whoever led them to think there was a chance Phil Jackson was coming here. That pipe dream led them to chump themselves and embarrass a coach who had done nothing but work hard for them.
The Maloofs should know - unlike TNT's Charles Barkley, who earlier in the season said Adelman had lost the team and this past week said the Kings were doing him a disservice by not signing him to a new deal - if they want to re-sign him and how much they are willing to pay him.
The Maloofs have paid Adelman far less than the NBA's highest-paid coaches throughout his eight-year tenure. Adelman, should he return, will want to at least approach the league's upper echelon in salary.
Portland's Nate McMillan and Boston's Doc Rivers make at least $5 million a season and aren't close to Adelman's 752 victories in 16 seasons.
During eight seasons with the Kings, Adelman has a 395-229 (.633) record. That success can be taken for granted, if the Maloofs opt to do so. They can get on the cheap or decide they want a sexier name or a younger presence.
But how quickly did that same McMillan-led Seattle squad that defeated the Kings during the 2005 playoffs fall off this season?
Here's a guarantee that goes to Joe, Gavin, Phil, George, Colleen and Mama Maloof: Should you not re-sign Adelman, his replacement will make moves that drive you just as crazy. They might not be the same moves, but all coaches make decisions and have to live with them.
If the Maloofs really want to make a run at a championship - and their desire always has seemed legitimate - they'll give president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie the financial freedom to do what he feels best can get the Kings there.
Adelman is no fool, and part of him wants to return because he likes the area, his family likes the area, and he is excited about this team's potential growth. That, in part, is because the Maloofs made what has been a wise decision to this point and went after Ron Artest.
Here's another guarantee: The coach who was paid $10 million this season by the Los Angeles Lakers and Adelman, who was paid approximately one-third as much, finished their seasons one day apart. And one of those coaches didn't have a 3-1 lead in a playoff series.
He's fine, thanks, and better come July
William Phillips, the agent for July 1 free-agent-to-be Bonzi Wells, is being recognized by quite a few more people these days. Wells had a sparkling first-round playoff series while leading the Kings, and during an offseason in which there are not many talented shooting guards, Bonzi likely will get more than the $8 million he received this season.
Phillips noticed his tickets at Arco Arena got considerably better during the playoffs while Bonzi was abusing one of the league's best defenders in San Antonio's Bruce Bowen.
"Hey, I was on the floor and not up in the stands," Phillips said. "But there are a whole lot more people recently interested in how I'm doing than in the past. A couple of those people (work with teams) under the salary cap and need a two-guard. Some of those other people are with teams who need a two-guard and have pieces that could be used to acquire other pieces.
"But all of those people have called to see how I'm doing because you can't talk about free agents until July 1."
Marty Mac's World: Letting go of Adelman would be a Maloof goof
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C2
It would make sense for the Maloofs to make their move with Kings coach Rick Adelman as soon as they can. They've had nearly a year since being played by whoever led them to think there was a chance Phil Jackson was coming here. That pipe dream led them to chump themselves and embarrass a coach who had done nothing but work hard for them.
The Maloofs should know - unlike TNT's Charles Barkley, who earlier in the season said Adelman had lost the team and this past week said the Kings were doing him a disservice by not signing him to a new deal - if they want to re-sign him and how much they are willing to pay him.
The Maloofs have paid Adelman far less than the NBA's highest-paid coaches throughout his eight-year tenure. Adelman, should he return, will want to at least approach the league's upper echelon in salary.
Portland's Nate McMillan and Boston's Doc Rivers make at least $5 million a season and aren't close to Adelman's 752 victories in 16 seasons.
During eight seasons with the Kings, Adelman has a 395-229 (.633) record. That success can be taken for granted, if the Maloofs opt to do so. They can get on the cheap or decide they want a sexier name or a younger presence.
But how quickly did that same McMillan-led Seattle squad that defeated the Kings during the 2005 playoffs fall off this season?
Here's a guarantee that goes to Joe, Gavin, Phil, George, Colleen and Mama Maloof: Should you not re-sign Adelman, his replacement will make moves that drive you just as crazy. They might not be the same moves, but all coaches make decisions and have to live with them.
If the Maloofs really want to make a run at a championship - and their desire always has seemed legitimate - they'll give president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie the financial freedom to do what he feels best can get the Kings there.
Adelman is no fool, and part of him wants to return because he likes the area, his family likes the area, and he is excited about this team's potential growth. That, in part, is because the Maloofs made what has been a wise decision to this point and went after Ron Artest.
Here's another guarantee: The coach who was paid $10 million this season by the Los Angeles Lakers and Adelman, who was paid approximately one-third as much, finished their seasons one day apart. And one of those coaches didn't have a 3-1 lead in a playoff series.
He's fine, thanks, and better come July
William Phillips, the agent for July 1 free-agent-to-be Bonzi Wells, is being recognized by quite a few more people these days. Wells had a sparkling first-round playoff series while leading the Kings, and during an offseason in which there are not many talented shooting guards, Bonzi likely will get more than the $8 million he received this season.
Phillips noticed his tickets at Arco Arena got considerably better during the playoffs while Bonzi was abusing one of the league's best defenders in San Antonio's Bruce Bowen.
"Hey, I was on the floor and not up in the stands," Phillips said. "But there are a whole lot more people recently interested in how I'm doing than in the past. A couple of those people (work with teams) under the salary cap and need a two-guard. Some of those other people are with teams who need a two-guard and have pieces that could be used to acquire other pieces.
"But all of those people have called to see how I'm doing because you can't talk about free agents until July 1."
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