Rockmeister
All-Star
Sent packing
Following troubles on, off court, Musselman fired after one year
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/158955.html
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, April 21, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
Print | E-Mail | Comments (3)
The infamous signs inside the Kings practice facility were still hanging, reminders of the team's core basketball values and principles that were supposed to serve as the foundation of success.
But Friday morning, the coach who put them there was gone. After just one season on a three-year contract worth more than $7 million, Eric Musselman was fired.
The announcement was made by basketball president Geoff Petrie on the same practice court where Musselman's influence remained, and it came just two days after the Kings finished with a 33-49 record and out of the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.
"When the speculation about anybody's job security gets as heavy and somewhat personal as it has with Eric in the last three or four days, it's really unfair to let that drag on," Petrie said. "You need to either come out and say that Eric, or whoever, will continue to coach the team, or you come and say if you're going to do something else."
Minutes after Musselman was fired, he answered his phone in a hurried manner and was asked to comment on his release.
"I'm busy," he said. "I'm doing some stuff here at this office. I'm busy."
Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof approved Petrie's decision to pay more than $5 million for Musselman's release rather than move forward with him at the helm.
The future, Petrie determined, would be better off without the coach who fell well short of the organization's expectations.
"You're looking at, 'Can it all be rehabilitated going forward regardless of maybe the magnitude of changes that you may or may not make, or that you think may need to be made?' " Petrie said. "Working through all that, I still felt that this was the best thing for everybody."
Petrie informed Musselman of his decision in a scheduled meeting Friday. The team's failure to qualify for the playoffs and Musselman's inability to improve the team defensively were significant.
"I think our desire and thoughts coming into the season would be that we would be able to compete for a playoff spot," Petrie said. "In that respect, we did not. We really targeted improving defensively, and we really struggled to do that."
Petrie, who will travel to Europe Sunday for a two-week scouting trip, said a coaching search and the status of the team's assistant coaches would be put on hold until he returns. The Maloofs are on a business trip in Miami and were unavailable for comment.
The decision was Petrie's to make, indicating a clear shift in the organization's decision-making process. When Rick Adelman wasn't re-signed after last season, it was a move pushed largely by the Maloofs and supported by Petrie. The Kings' trade for Ron Artest in January 2006 was also Maloof-inspired, leading many to wonder if Petrie's influence had been diminished.
"I talked to (the Maloofs on Thursday night) and walked through a lot of things, and talked to them again (Friday)," he said. "It's really based on my recommendation and their acceptance of it that we went forward and let Eric go."
Petrie acknowledged that he had been leaning toward releasing Musselman for some time, but he consulted players during one-on-one exit interviews Thursday in what may have served as a final confirmation of difficulties between Musselman and the team.
Asked about the level of the players' support for Musselman, Petrie would not elaborate.
"That's a good question," he said. "Those discussions I had with the players are going to remain between myself and the players."
Players voiced their concerns privately and publicly throughout the season, pointing to a lack of roles being defined and inconsistent treatment of players in the locker room.
Artest, who said earlier this season that Musselman "would make a good assistant (coach)," was brief in his reaction.
"I support the Kings' organization and I enjoyed playing for coach Musselman," he wrote in an e-mail.
Forward Corliss Williamson, who enjoyed a revival of sorts under Musselman and will soon be a free agent, said he knew change was coming.
"I'm kind of speechless," Williamson said. "I knew with the season we had, I felt something would happen whether it was the shuffling of players or change of the coach. ... You hate to see anybody lose their job. I wish him the best."
Third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin said, "It's sad when you lose a coach or a player in this business because through a season we all bond like family."
For Musselman, 42, it's the second time he was fired after a brief stint as an NBA head coach. After years in the Continental Basketball Association and United States Basketball League, he was head coach for two seasons at Golden State from 2002 to 2004 before being released with a 75-89 record and no playoff appearance. He was a Memphis assistant coach before landing the Kings job in June.
Some off-the-court trouble did little to help Musselman's case, with some in the organization questioning his judgment after his October arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Musselman was allowed to skip his court-mandated community service and instead served home detention after citing health concerns.
When he returns from Europe, Petrie will have no shortage of candidates to replace Musselman.
Kings assistant Scott Brooks was considered head coaching material even before he came from Denver to Sacramento last year, as was the case for former Kings assistant and area resident Elston Turner.
Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni was on the Kings' list during their last search, though he cannot be contacted until the Suns are out of the playoffs. New Mexico State men's basketball coach and former Kings player Reggie Theus is considered a rising star, as is Florida coach and likely longshot Billy Donovan. Or, as some believe, perhaps the Kings will pursue a bigger name, possibly Larry Brown.
"I'll get 50 phone calls from people who are either interested in the job or represent someone they say is interested," Petrie said. "It won't take long to get a substantial list."
About the writer:
* The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Following troubles on, off court, Musselman fired after one year
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/158955.html
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, April 21, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
Print | E-Mail | Comments (3)
The infamous signs inside the Kings practice facility were still hanging, reminders of the team's core basketball values and principles that were supposed to serve as the foundation of success.
But Friday morning, the coach who put them there was gone. After just one season on a three-year contract worth more than $7 million, Eric Musselman was fired.
The announcement was made by basketball president Geoff Petrie on the same practice court where Musselman's influence remained, and it came just two days after the Kings finished with a 33-49 record and out of the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.
"When the speculation about anybody's job security gets as heavy and somewhat personal as it has with Eric in the last three or four days, it's really unfair to let that drag on," Petrie said. "You need to either come out and say that Eric, or whoever, will continue to coach the team, or you come and say if you're going to do something else."
Minutes after Musselman was fired, he answered his phone in a hurried manner and was asked to comment on his release.
"I'm busy," he said. "I'm doing some stuff here at this office. I'm busy."
Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof approved Petrie's decision to pay more than $5 million for Musselman's release rather than move forward with him at the helm.
The future, Petrie determined, would be better off without the coach who fell well short of the organization's expectations.
"You're looking at, 'Can it all be rehabilitated going forward regardless of maybe the magnitude of changes that you may or may not make, or that you think may need to be made?' " Petrie said. "Working through all that, I still felt that this was the best thing for everybody."
Petrie informed Musselman of his decision in a scheduled meeting Friday. The team's failure to qualify for the playoffs and Musselman's inability to improve the team defensively were significant.
"I think our desire and thoughts coming into the season would be that we would be able to compete for a playoff spot," Petrie said. "In that respect, we did not. We really targeted improving defensively, and we really struggled to do that."
Petrie, who will travel to Europe Sunday for a two-week scouting trip, said a coaching search and the status of the team's assistant coaches would be put on hold until he returns. The Maloofs are on a business trip in Miami and were unavailable for comment.
The decision was Petrie's to make, indicating a clear shift in the organization's decision-making process. When Rick Adelman wasn't re-signed after last season, it was a move pushed largely by the Maloofs and supported by Petrie. The Kings' trade for Ron Artest in January 2006 was also Maloof-inspired, leading many to wonder if Petrie's influence had been diminished.
"I talked to (the Maloofs on Thursday night) and walked through a lot of things, and talked to them again (Friday)," he said. "It's really based on my recommendation and their acceptance of it that we went forward and let Eric go."
Petrie acknowledged that he had been leaning toward releasing Musselman for some time, but he consulted players during one-on-one exit interviews Thursday in what may have served as a final confirmation of difficulties between Musselman and the team.
Asked about the level of the players' support for Musselman, Petrie would not elaborate.
"That's a good question," he said. "Those discussions I had with the players are going to remain between myself and the players."
Players voiced their concerns privately and publicly throughout the season, pointing to a lack of roles being defined and inconsistent treatment of players in the locker room.
Artest, who said earlier this season that Musselman "would make a good assistant (coach)," was brief in his reaction.
"I support the Kings' organization and I enjoyed playing for coach Musselman," he wrote in an e-mail.
Forward Corliss Williamson, who enjoyed a revival of sorts under Musselman and will soon be a free agent, said he knew change was coming.
"I'm kind of speechless," Williamson said. "I knew with the season we had, I felt something would happen whether it was the shuffling of players or change of the coach. ... You hate to see anybody lose their job. I wish him the best."
Third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin said, "It's sad when you lose a coach or a player in this business because through a season we all bond like family."
For Musselman, 42, it's the second time he was fired after a brief stint as an NBA head coach. After years in the Continental Basketball Association and United States Basketball League, he was head coach for two seasons at Golden State from 2002 to 2004 before being released with a 75-89 record and no playoff appearance. He was a Memphis assistant coach before landing the Kings job in June.
Some off-the-court trouble did little to help Musselman's case, with some in the organization questioning his judgment after his October arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Musselman was allowed to skip his court-mandated community service and instead served home detention after citing health concerns.
When he returns from Europe, Petrie will have no shortage of candidates to replace Musselman.
Kings assistant Scott Brooks was considered head coaching material even before he came from Denver to Sacramento last year, as was the case for former Kings assistant and area resident Elston Turner.
Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni was on the Kings' list during their last search, though he cannot be contacted until the Suns are out of the playoffs. New Mexico State men's basketball coach and former Kings player Reggie Theus is considered a rising star, as is Florida coach and likely longshot Billy Donovan. Or, as some believe, perhaps the Kings will pursue a bigger name, possibly Larry Brown.
"I'll get 50 phone calls from people who are either interested in the job or represent someone they say is interested," Petrie said. "It won't take long to get a substantial list."
About the writer:
* The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
