Question about Rambis

[Vlade4GM]

I know this question is probably a little late in the game, but does anyone actually know why they were in such a hurry with Rambis? How much longer did they suppose they would have to wait? A week at the most? I didn't really keep up with the whole head coaching melee. Thanks.

 

[DocHolliday]

I don't believe the urgency was on the Rambis side. The USC job came open and Westphal is a USC alum, and the Kings were worried about losing out on both Rambis and Westphal. That's a scenario I've heard thrown around, it makes sense, and I tend to agree.

So, I don't believe they actually ever offered the job, I think they asked Rambis to make his mind up one way or another if the terms expressed in the interview would be acceptable. The terms were discussed with every candidate towards the end of the interview, that was noted in an article.

Rambis probably took that as an offer. Even though there was never formally a verbal offer, with offer letter as well.

 

[Bricklayer]

I know this question is probably a little late in the game, but does anyone actually know why they were in such a hurry with Rambis? How much longer did they suppose they would have to wait? A week at the most? I didn't really keep up with the whole head coaching melee. Thanks.

Thibodeau dropped out, and Westphal was tired of waiting and threatened to drop out. So in waiting for Rambis, who apparently wanted more than 2 years to try to turn our kiddie corps around, we were about to lose all our alternate sources with no true guarantee Rambis would except under our cheap/short term terms. So that's why we were putting pressue on the Rambis camp to negotiate and get something done.

 

[PurpleHaze]

With all that said, the machinations, it's sort of ironic that Reggie Theus is now said to be at the top or near the top of very short list for USC head coach.

 

[Bricklayer]

With all that said, the machinations, it's sort of ironic that Reggie Theus is now said to be at the top or near the top of very short list for USC head coach.

Slick salesmen with inflated egos are natural college coaches. Can play the snakeoil charmer in recruiting and flash that megawatt smile at players' moms. Can satisfy his ego by dominating his young worshipful charges and intimidating university officials. And can hit on 20yr old babes around campus as the big man on campus. Its a natural fit in all ways.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

Not sure why the media keeps making it sound like Rambis turned us down.

As GP said, RAMBIS WAS NEVER OFFERED THE JOB.

He just offered the salary structure to make sure both agreed before making the final decision. This is done in a lot of public high profile jobs. The need to make sure both would agree to the salary ahead of time because it would be a PR disaster if a big company offers a job like this and gets turned down.

If Rambis didn't want the job, he wouldn't agree to get interviewed. He just wanted more money or he really thinks he might get the lakers job or just wanted to stall to see what happens with phil's decision. Whatever it was, he was never offered the job. Just the salary structure. GP said they wanted Westphal and thats who they got.

Its just funny how the national media keeps reporting as if the poor lowly kings got snubbed again.

 

[Bricklayer]

Not sure why the media keeps making it sound like Rambis turned us down.

As GP said, RAMBIS WAS NEVER OFFERED THE JOB.

He just offered the salary structure to make sure both agreed before making the final decision. This is done in a lot of public high profile jobs. The need to make sure both would agree to the salary ahead of time because it would be a PR disaster if a big company offers a job like this and gets turned down.

If Rambis didn't want the job, he wouldn't agree to get interviewed. He just wanted more money or he really thinks he might get the lakers job or just wanted to stall to see what happens with phil's decision. Whatever it was, he was never offered the job. Just the salary structure. GP said they wanted Westphal and thats who they got.

Its just funny how the national media keeps reporting as if the poor lowly kings got snubbed again.

He didn't want the job on our terms, and it doesn't appear we were willing to move them, so its a matter of semantics. Its obvious at this point that he was our #1 choice, that we were holding up the whole process to try to get him, that in holding up the whole process our 2nd and 3rd choices started getting antsy and dropping out, and that in the end when we pressed Rambis on the issue he demurred so we went another way.

 

[kennadog]

I don't know that he was the first choice even. All we really know is Geoff said everyone had had plenty of time to decide if the terms were acceptable or not. Apparrently, Rambis' wife decided they were not acceptable.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

I don't know that he was the first choice even. All we really know is Geoff said everyone had had plenty of time to decide if the terms were acceptable or not. Apparrently, Rambis' wife decided they were not acceptable.

Yeah, thats the thing. I don't think he was really the #1 choice. If he was or not, no one knows other than the people making the decision which are GP and the Maloofs.

There are even normal jobs where you are told the salary range that you will be paid and they asked you at the first interview if you are ok with it. If not you tell them what you are looking for and the company needs to decide from there.

I'm sure both Westphal and Rambis were under consideration. But salary is a big part of it for the decision for any job to both sides. Also, I don't see what Rambis has on his resume that would really put him as a front runner. Other than being an assistant on a championship team, I don't think he has anything legit to warrant the job over PW.

 

[Bricklayer]

I don't know that he was the first choice even. All we really know is Geoff said everyone had had plenty of time to decide if the terms were acceptable or not. Apparrently, Rambis' wife decided they were not acceptable.

He was obviously the first choice -- the other guys were sitting on the sidelines, having already agreed to terms. If they were the first choice, we would already have had them. If Rambis was not 100% the first choice, its obvious we damn well thought he could be, otherwise the entire 6 week pursuit makes no logical sense no matter how you spin it.

 

[bajaden]

He was obviously the first choice -- the other guys were sitting on the sidelines, having already agreed to terms. If they were the first choice, we would already have had them. If Rambis was not 100% the first choice, its obvious we damn well thought he could be, otherwise the entire 6 week pursuit makes no logical sense no matter how you spin it.

Lets say that your impressed with both of them. Maybe you have some reservations about one of them because he hasn't been a head coach in the NBA for decade. But he has accepted your teams. But your also impressed with the other guy. Maybe if your Petrie, you wanted him the last time around. You would like to be able to honestly weigh them against one another, but one of them hasn't accepted your terms. Or at least hasn't decided yet.

With the draft looming, you would like to get this done in a timely manner. So you press the other candidate for a decision on the terms. And he says no. Well, it makes the decision easy at that point. Who was the favorite? Well your guess is just as good as mine. But if you look at the facts, its probably a matter of who your asking. Lets see! Westphal called Petrie and let it be known that he was interested in the job. The Maloof's called Rambis and let him know that they were interested in him for the job. Hmmm, does this sound familiar. Petrie has an interview with Westphal. The Maloofs have and interview with Rambis while Petrie is out of town. Yeah, I know, Petrie took part on the phone.

So here's my guess. The Maloofs favored Rambis. They have been infatuated with Phil Jackson for some time. So if you can't have him, why not a clone of him. Petrie favored Westphal. He fit every senario that Petrie laid out. He has a demeanor similar to Petrie's. He's a guy that Petrie could get along with in a working relationship. So Petrie becomes tired of the nonsense and puts a wristlock on Rambis to get a decision. Maybe he even suspects that Rambis is cool on the job anyway. We'll never know. Rambis trys to cover his A$$ by saying that he was offered the job and he turned it down. I think Petrie got the man he wanted. I don't think the Maloofs did.

Lets not forget that Petrie was offered an extension on his contract and he didn't accept it. Ask yourself why? I think he's tired of the Maloof's meddling in his work. Making decisions that he has to take responsibility for. Those of us that get to see his work up close and personal have varied opinions on his value as a GM. But he's respected around the league as one of the better GM's out there. He would have no problem finding work. The Maloofs fired one of his close friends in Adelman. A man he took a hit for in Portland. He may have bit his tongue and accepted it. But I doubt it went down well. Especially the ruthless way the Maloofs went about it. The way they disrespected Rick when he made his first return to ARCO.

I think Petrie likes it here. I think he's comfortable in Sacramento. I don't think he's anxious to leave. But he may be reaching his limit. He may be starting to draw a line in the sand. If your boss comes to you and says, I really like your work, so I'm willing to give you a new contract with a raise, and you say, no, not right now. Lets wait till later to discuss this. What is there to discuss? To my mind, your sending a message. Of course this is all speculation on my part.