PDA

[funkykingston]

Everything you say is correct but you're not thinking through the decision-making process correctly. Pete had an end game in mind from the start, and each personnel decision had to be made in light of how to maneuver towards an ultimate goal, which means you have to think in terms not just of how much a player is "worth" in terms of a simplistic cap vs talent calculation, but in terms of what different contracts allow you to do.

Pete was maneuvering for Rudy, so he had to assess the best way to deal with Tyreke's RFA in light of that. He also had an ongoing dialogue with Masai, and used that information to make the right move to get there - which he did.

Again, each point you're making is right, but the heart of our disagreement comes down to 1- how much we value Rudy vs Gay; and 2- the fact that you're approaching this like a fantasy football team and not a poker game.

Saying the trades "aren't linked in any real way" is exactly the flaw with your thinking, as well as with the flaw in the laundry lists of bad moves that people are making here. Everything is interconnected, and sometimes you have to move backwards in order to advance to your ultimate goal.

I get that you don't like the way this team is assembled, that's fine. But I've been watching basketball for years and it is clear to me that our starting 5 is solid, well balanced, and built for the playoffs. Getting upset over the Evans trade is short-sighted.

I understand that you have principled reasons for not liking this particular iteration of the roster, and I also understand that an equally good roster could have been built in a different way. But that's not the right way to assess what Pete has done here - you look at his overall vision, his effectiveness in realizing it, and the on-court results. I am confident that we make the playoffs next year - if that happens, who the hell cares if it could've been done a slightly different way?

You're making a lot of assumptions. I very much like this starting five. I was praising D'Alessandro at the beginning of the season because it seemed like he built a starting unit that was tailor made for Malone's coaching style. It's part of why I was so gobsmacked and frustrated to see Malone fired. I thought we had a GM and coach in lock step and I was excited about the future. I wasn't all that upset to see Evans go. He hadn't developed as we'd hoped, probably benefitted from a change of scenery and he and Cousins were a very difficult pair to try and build around. And I didn't actually want Evans and Gay in the same starting lineup. My point all along has simply been that the two moves aren't related.

Evans couldn't have been part of "let's get Rudy Gay endgame" or D'Alessandro wouldn't have flown down to try and convince Tyreke to resign with the Kings for a hometown bargain rate. And he probably also wouldn't have offered a deal to Andre Iguodala who wouldn't be a great fit next to Gay and would have meant $32 million in capspace tied up in two wings that aren't really that complimentary and neither of whom are good outside shooters. For that matter it wasn't a foregone conclusion that the Kings would acquire Gay. What if Rudy had started the season really hot for the Raptors? Or what if Toronto got an offer they liked slightly more? I do believe PDA floated the notion of Rudy Gay to Vivek as one potential scenario when he interviewed for the job. But I can't believe he was hellbent on making that exact move come hell or high water.

Our starting five is well balanced and built for the playoffs. And yet if two years of rumors are to be believed PDA has been actively trying to trade Jason Thompson from the get go. Remember the rumor of Deron Williams and Mason Plumlee? And that's my fear, that D'Alessandro ISN'T building a team designed for the playoffs but wants more running and gunning.

We're fans, we're always going to quibble over roster moves and certainly I wouldn't have made some of the moves our GM did, but the biggest issue to me is that he destroyed a promising season for no apparent reason.

I'm not going to forget what an awful move that was but I AM excited to see what George Karl can bring to this team. Hopefully we do see a much improved Kings team going forward. Because I don't want to constantly be harping on ownership and the front office. I want to praise them for doing a good job. You and I just vastly disagree on whether they have so far.

To me being the sixth worst team in the league (yet AGAIN) and being widely excoriated for such a pointless torpedoing of the season and flushing away all the goodwill that accompanied that hot start is not a season where the GM should be congratulated. But to be fair to D'Alessandro, the season isn't over yet. We'll see.

 

[IfAt1st]

You think this team is a Contender? For what?

An NBA championship.

Anyone who thinks this team is a contender for a championship is as more deluded and out of touch with reality as Vivek was when he said that this team would do better under Corbin than Malone.

Wait - is that you again, Leslie?

 

[randymoss1881]

Lmao, what about the good things he's done?

How is drafting 2 SGs in consecutive years dumb???

How is trading an injury prone Mbah Moute who averaged a damn 3.3ppg with Minnesota for D-Will dumb?

Sessions was coming off a near 6moy award and his contract is dirt cheap

Carly Landry-eh, maybe a fail because of his contract.

Ryan Hollins is on a 1year deal worth less than 1mill lmao. Clips must have failed last year too when they had him on the team.

Firing malone and not handling it right- I agree 100%

Waiting months to hire Karl- I agree too

This is not the lowest point in the last 10 years wtf... wow. If you believe this is the lowest point for the Kings in the last 10 years, you've missed out on 9 of them.

I'm pretty sure if this was another near 30 win season without the 8-5 start, nobody would care about these moves. But our 8-5 start made everyone excited. We won on a small sample size. Why can't we be happy moving forward with a HOF coach? No we can't do that because our GM is the worst thing ever and he's forced fans into depression.

Pete didn't draft Jimmer one year, then draft T-Rob the next. You're really going to fault Pete for drafting the consecutive position in 2 years? LMAO. It happens all the time.

I guess the Jazz are idiots too...so is Minnesota.....oh and the Bobcats....oh and don't forget the 76ers....oh and Cleveland... oh yeah and the Magic also...wait...Bucks too....this was all last year between 2013-14.

How do you even take someone serious when they say something like this

 

[Bricklayer]

Indeed, PDA is probably a master schemer at least 10 steps ahead of everybody else. Much like myself. I have put into place all the elements that I need to be elected President in 2016 with a $4.56 campaign budget while using Myrtle, my 86yr old downstairs neighbor/crazy cat lady as my part time volunteer campaign manager. Its going to be a landslide too. But nobody can see my genius yet because I am so far ahead and scheming and stuff.

You can make up silly stuff like that for anyone at any time. Billy King is just one player away from his master title winning plan too. If those fools just hadn't fired Kahn before the plans came to fruition you would have seen the genetically enhanced superman's genius at work, etc.

 

[MizzouKing]

To me being the sixth worst team in the league (yet AGAIN) and being widely excoriated for such a pointless torpedoing of the season and flushing away all the goodwill that accompanied that hot start is not a season where the GM should be congratulated. But to be fair to D'Alessandro, the season isn't over yet. We'll see.

BINGO!!! After building a quality vehicle, loading up the entire fanbase in it, and then driving it off a cliff, these recent good moves will bring Pete back up to ground zero...IF they all work out excellently.

 

[PurpleHaze]

BINGO!!! After building a quality vehicle, loading up the entire fanbase in it, and then driving it off a cliff, these recent good moves will bring Pete back to ground zero...IF they all work out excellently.

It's a reset, clean slate, start over, pretend none of it ever happened, now don't you worry Kings fans, be happy!

 

[captain bill]

You're making a lot of assumptions. I very much like this starting five. I was praising D'Alessandro at the beginning of the season because it seemed like he built a starting unit that was tailor made for Malone's coaching style. It's part of why I was so gobsmacked and frustrated to see Malone fired. I thought we had a GM and coach in lock step and I was excited about the future. I wasn't all that upset to see Evans go. He hadn't developed as we'd hoped, probably benefitted from a change of scenery and he and Cousins were a very difficult pair to try and build around. And I didn't actually want Evans and Gay in the same starting lineup. My point all along has simply been that the two moves aren't related.

Evans couldn't have been part of "let's get Rudy Gay endgame" or D'Alessandro wouldn't have flown down to try and convince Tyreke to resign with the Kings for a hometown bargain rate. And he probably also wouldn't have offered a deal to Andre Iguodala who wouldn't be a great fit next to Gay and would have meant $32 million in capspace tied up in two wings that aren't really that complimentary and neither of whom are good outside shooters. For that matter it wasn't a foregone conclusion that the Kings would acquire Gay. What if Rudy had started the season really hot for the Raptors? Or what if Toronto got an offer they liked slightly more? I do believe PDA floated the notion of Rudy Gay to Vivek as one potential scenario when he interviewed for the job. But I can't believe he was hellbent on making that exact move come hell or high water.

Our starting five is well balanced and built for the playoffs. And yet if two years of rumors are to be believed PDA has been actively trying to trade Jason Thompson from the get go. Remember the rumor of Deron Williams and Mason Plumlee? And that's my fear, that D'Alessandro ISN'T building a team designed for the playoffs but wants more running and gunning.

We're fans, we're always going to quibble over roster moves and certainly I wouldn't have made some of the moves our GM did, but the biggest issue to me is that he destroyed a promising season for no apparent reason.

I'm not going to forget what an awful move that was but I AM excited to see what George Karl can bring to this team. Hopefully we do see a much improved Kings team going forward. Because I don't want to constantly be harping on ownership and the front office. I want to praise them for doing a good job. You and I just vastly disagree on whether they have so far.

To me being the sixth worst team in the league (yet AGAIN) and being widely excoriated for such a pointless torpedoing of the season and flushing away all the goodwill that accompanied that hot start is not a season where the GM should be congratulated. But to be fair to D'Alessandro, the season isn't over yet. We'll see.

This is very well thought out, thank you for directly responding to what I've been saying in this thread. I agree with most of what you're saying: Pete took a lot of risks, BIG risks. I think each one has paid off for him very well, which makes me believe that he has a good pulse on what's happening around the league and good instincts for making moves. But I recognize the downside to those risks, and acknowledge that luck likely played a very large role in those risks being successful.

On JT: I would be heartbroken if he got traded. I hope we extend him on a better deal. But he's here, and rumors are rumors. I'll admit that trade rumors are concerning, but I won't make a judgment on hypotheticals alone.

Here's my bottom line: I believe in Demarcus Cousins, 100% and without reservation. I believe he is good enough to lead this team to a championship. And I believe in who he is as a person and a man.

I believe that George Karl is a great head coach, far better than Malone is today. I believe Malone will be a good coach for years in the NBA, but we don't have the luxury to gamble. We need to start winning now.

So to me, this was not a lost season. To me, February 20 is the start of a new era.

I understand that people will disagree, but only time will tell. I'm looking forward to what comes next, and the day that the ugliness of this transition era is forgotten as a bump on the road to something greater.

 

[Hoovtrain]

I don't like that part of the Tyreke to Gay move, and I've said so repeatedly when discussing PDA.

But you're missing the forest for the trees: great GMs makes tons of mistakes. The question is not whether each and every move has a positive value, but whether a GM can take a dysfunctional franchise and build a contender out of it. Pete has done exactly that in under 2 years. Yes, having Cousins is the biggest part of that, but the history of the NBA is filled with franchises that couldn't do squat with great players.

This team will be making noise in the playoffs next year, and is set up to contend for years after. That is the one and only goal for any franchise. Pete took major risks to get here, but we got here now.

When we have a parade down the Capitol Mall, I'm not going to cry over missing out on Lopez.

LMFAO...quote of the year.

 

[206Fan]

How do you even take someone serious when they say something like this

Mbah barely freaking played. Get real. He was injured for most of the season and he was as effective for Minnesota as Dwill was for us. He barley played and you're talking about him like he's freaking Lebron James. Why should I even take anything you say seriously? Don't speak out of your ass and if you want to reply to me, reply to everything I said

 

[Spike]

LMFAO...quote of the year.

We are contending!










For a spot in the lottery. :/

 

[bajaden]

PDA fanboys....explain why we just gave away Robin Lopez. I wasn't for giving Tyreke the contract and getting Vazquez and Lopez would have been a good get. I mean Robin Lopez is a quality big man on a nice contract. Could have improved the talent base right there. Now, we would have to trade an asset to obtain a guy like that. Explain that piece of brilliance.

People who have no argument, call other people names. You appear to have decent arguments, so stop with the PDA fanboys crap. There's no need for it. I could certainly disagree with you on some of your points, and agree with some others. What does that make me? Everyone that argues a point thinks their right, otherwise they wouldn't be arguing. Just do it respectfully.

 

[bajaden]

Indeed, PDA is probably a master schemer at least 10 steps ahead of everybody else. Much like myself. I have put into place all the elements that I need to be elected President in 2016 with a $4.56 campaign budget while using Myrtle, my 86yr old downstairs neighbor/crazy cat lady as my part time volunteer campaign manager. Its going to be a landslide too. But nobody can see my genius yet because I am so far ahead and scheming and stuff.

You can make up silly stuff like that for anyone at any time. Billy King is just one player away from his master title winning plan too. If those fools just hadn't fired Kahn before the plans came to fruition you would have seen the genetically enhanced superman's genius at work, etc.

Don't forget the ten bucks you paid me to vote for you.

 

[randymoss1881]

Mbah barely freaking played. Get real. He was injured for most of the season and he was as effective for Minnesota as Dwill was for us. He barley played and you're talking about him like he's freaking Lebron James. Why should I even take anything you say seriously? Don't speak out of your ass and if you want to reply to me, reply to everything I said

Who here compare him to lebron or even called him a star? Everyone says trading him away for a known bust wasn't a bright idea. You brought up Lucs ppg which is wrong cause everyone knows that's not how you judge Luc. Do you also look at Tibet Allen's ppg? Guys like that are judged on there defense which they are both elite at. Also on Luc Malone loved him and would have been an important piece for us. He can guard 1-4 and what you trade him for some who can't play but can dunk that's what loser franchises do. And Luc has played in 46 of 53 games this year and played in 55 games for Minnesota last year so stop acting like dude is injured all the time. I'd take 41 games from Luc over 82 games from DWill. Also how do you know he wasn't effective for Minnesota? Did you watch there games cause if you're going on ppg again than you're wrong again.

 

[Glenn]

People who have no argument, call other people names. You appear to have decent arguments, so stop with the PDA fanboys crap. There's no need for it. I could certainly disagree with you on some of your points, and agree with some others. What does that make me? Everyone that argues a point thinks their right, otherwise they wouldn't be arguing. Just do it respectfully.

It sure is a sign. I frequently cease reading a note filled with name calling.

 

[jdbraver]

Some of you like to criticize based on hindsight. I don't mind any of his summer signings. In fact collison and Casspi are pleasant surprises. Sessions is not playing well but come on how many thought he would be this bad? No GM makes the right move every time. The Coaching issue was terrible but the player talent level I am fine with

 

[Glenn]

Some of you like to criticize based on hindsight. I don't mind any of his summer signings. In fact collison and Casspi are pleasant surprises. Sessions is not playing well but come on how many thought he would be this bad? No GM makes the right move every time. The Coaching issue was terrible but the player talent level I am fine with

I am sure willing to see how Karl does with the players we have barring a minor change here or there. Then we can judge PDA.

 

[ArcoKings]

At this juncture PDA is just barely average. As the team moves forward I hope PDA increases his 'rating' with the Kings and NBA fan base. The team needs work especially with the bench. Hopefully this off season PDA can address some weaknesses with the help of the new HC.

 

[Glenn]

At this juncture PDA is just barely average. As the team moves forward I hope PDA increases his 'rating' with the Kings and NBA fan base. The team needs work especially with the bench. Hopefully this off season PDA can address some weaknesses with the help of the new HC.

That's the way real teams do it.

 

[King Baller]

Who here compare him to lebron or even called him a star? Everyone says trading him away for a known bust wasn't a bright idea. You brought up Lucs ppg which is wrong cause everyone knows that's not how you judge Luc. Do you also look at Tibet Allen's ppg? Guys like that are judged on there defense which they are both elite at. Also on Luc Malone loved him and would have been an important piece for us. He can guard 1-4 and what you trade him for some who can't play but can dunk that's what loser franchises do. And Luc has played in 46 of 53 games this year and played in 55 games for Minnesota last year so stop acting like dude is injured all the time. I'd take 41 games from Luc over 82 games from DWill. Also how do you know he wasn't effective for Minnesota? Did you watch there games cause if you're going on ppg again than you're wrong again.

I also liked Mbah That game he was on a befuddled Chris Paul was priceless! Mbah is a situational defender. The Kings still need one or two of those. I'm not sure what DWill brings? Inconsistency? Here is to hoping if DWill is still around come the 20th that Coach Karl can get the best out of him.

 

[jdbraver]

I am sure willing to see how Karl does with the players we have barring a minor change here or there. Then we can judge PDA.

You can judge him now. I don't blame people it's there prerogative. I honestly don't expect Karl to have a winning record to end the year. But we will have another off season to judge Pete. He just has to have a strong one. I think he would agree with that.

 

[dude12]

People who have no argument, call other people names. You appear to have decent arguments, so stop with the PDA fanboys crap. There's no need for it. I could certainly disagree with you on some of your points, and agree with some others. What does that make me? Everyone that argues a point thinks their right, otherwise they wouldn't be arguing. Just do it respectfully.

I don't really think I'm being disrespectful. Sorry you don't like the word fanboy but I don't consider it that disrespectful. I'm disagreeing with some of the views here on PDA.

 

[VF21]

I don't really think I'm being disrespectful. Sorry you don't like the word fanboy but I don't consider it that disrespectful. I'm disagreeing with some of the views here on PDA.

FYI = "Fanboy" does not have a positive connotation. Around here and most other message boards, it has generally been used to denote someone who is overly enthusiastic or obsessive.

 

[IfAt1st]

Well, "fan" stands for fanatic, which has that exact same definition, and this site's name is KingsFans, so....

 

[MizzouKing]

It's a reset, clean slate, start over, pretend none of it ever happened, now don't you worry Kings fans, be happy!

It'll be a reset IF this all works out, and I suspect it will, but if there's a Karl/Cousins clash and we lose Boogie, the torch & pitchfork are nearby and handy.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

I also liked Mbah That game he was on a befuddled Chris Paul was priceless! Mbah is a situational defender. The Kings still need one or two of those. I'm not sure what DWill brings? Inconsistency? Here is to hoping if DWill is still around come the 20th that Coach Karl can get the best out of him.

dwill is one of the position-less toys they have on the roster. good for a few highlight dunks a game if he's featured.

 

[whozit]

It'll be a reset IF this all works out, and I suspect it will, but if there's a Karl/Cousins clash and we lose Boogie, the torch & pitchfork are nearby and handy.

Reset? No. But I am willing to have a open mind going forward. What's done is done and hopefully they have learned some hard lessons. Time will tell.

 

[King Baller]

dwill is one of the position-less toys they have on the roster. good for a few highlight dunks a game if he's featured.

If D Will is not traded I hope he has success with Karl running the Show. He needs to really step it up on defense and develop his three point shot. He has all the tools, imagine if he improved as much as say Matt Barnes did. D Will who has so many physical gifts needs to understand NBA success is earned and have a fire lit under his &%$.

 

[Bricklayer]

If D Will is not traded I hope he has success with Karl running the Show. He needs to really step it up on defense and develop his three point shot. He has all the tools, imagine if he improved as much as say Matt Barnes did. D Will who has so many physical gifts needs to understand NBA success is earned and have a fire lit under his &%$.

That's not what DWill is. He really is all beach muscles. Its all for show.

You can get a guy like Reggie scrapping and clawing for everything. And then you can get a DWill. He doesn't want any of that. He's like a physical specimen of a wide receiver who won't go over the middle. Some guys just grow up tough, scrappy, fight by instinct. Some guys take the easy way out.

He's an ending contract, he'll shave a little off our cap if we can't use the contract in a deal here in the next few days. That'll most likely be his contribution now.

 

[ParniValjak]

If we don't trade D-Will, Karl will nail him to the end of the bench before he can blink.

 

[chief bromden]

PDA quoted in Voisin's most recent article.

“Vivek is thrilled,” he continued. “His only goal is to put a winner on the floor. To step up during the middle of the season and make this commitment is huge. When a guy like George Karl is available, you say, ‘What better person to start turning your organization around?’ He sees the game the way I do, our front office does, Vivek does. We all know we have the right person to guide the team. That’s a huge starting point.”

From: http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ailene-voisin/article10311275.html#storylink=cpy

This front office is fishy (surprise) ... still wondering why PDA spouts this information (Karl has been available for quite some time) knowing that the front office's actions don't coincide.