Smart's contract extended for another year.
- Thread starter bajaden
- Start date
I'm guessing they liked his asking price more.
Ok, Maloof barb aside, I am hopeful that the team shows some real improvement in Smart's first full year. I'm not surprised by the extension but I think it results from an odd mentality in the NBA. It seems like teams want to avoid having a lame duck coach because they fear the players will tune them out and/or not respect them. But that seems odd to me since nearly all coaches leaving a job are fired rather than simply not renewed after a poor season. Rambis is one of the few that comes to mind immediately but I can easily think of many more recent examples of coaches fired with additional years remaining on their contracts. I can't imagine the coach being extended a year has any effect on the player's view of them but who knows?
As for Coach Smart, I've criticized his starting lineups, his inconsistent substitutions and his penchant for small ball, but he's also clearly focused on teaching (vital for such a young team), got the guys to buy in (crucial in today's NBA) and he's fostering a team mentality which you can't help but appreciate. I hope he and the Kings have a surprisingly good season.
Ok, Maloof barb aside, I am hopeful that the team shows some real improvement in Smart's first full year. I'm not surprised by the extension but I think it results from an odd mentality in the NBA. It seems like teams want to avoid having a lame duck coach because they fear the players will tune them out and/or not respect them. But that seems odd to me since nearly all coaches leaving a job are fired rather than simply not renewed after a poor season. Rambis is one of the few that comes to mind immediately but I can easily think of many more recent examples of coaches fired with additional years remaining on their contracts. I can't imagine the coach being extended a year has any effect on the player's view of them but who knows?
As for Coach Smart, I've criticized his starting lineups, his inconsistent substitutions and his penchant for small ball, but he's also clearly focused on teaching (vital for such a young team), got the guys to buy in (crucial in today's NBA) and he's fostering a team mentality which you can't help but appreciate. I hope he and the Kings have a surprisingly good season.
DesertFox
Starter
Ugh. The Maloofs are cheap but at the same time waste money paying coaches who are more likely to get fired the next season than make it though the next one.
Mussleman, Theus, Westphal, and now Smart, all mediocre coaches who will be paid for games they will not be coaching.
I will say I hope Smart does well and am rooting for him, but I really don't find this necessary. They could have at least waited until a few games into the season.
Mussleman, Theus, Westphal, and now Smart, all mediocre coaches who will be paid for games they will not be coaching.
I will say I hope Smart does well and am rooting for him, but I really don't find this necessary. They could have at least waited until a few games into the season.
Section 101
All-Star
I don't think they want a lame duck status on a coach after the whole Theus disaster.
steelevt
All-Star
yes!!! one more step towards having him coach the kings FOREVER!!!
who cares if we extended him a extra year after he coached a few games, then extended him another year before he even coached a game the following season. maloofs said they wanted him to be the kings coach forever, and they dont want to be known as liars.
/sarcasm
who cares if we extended him a extra year after he coached a few games, then extended him another year before he even coached a game the following season. maloofs said they wanted him to be the kings coach forever, and they dont want to be known as liars.
/sarcasm
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Actually, it was a feeble attempt at making a joke, since he hasn't coached one game yet this year...
J
jdbraver
Guest
Smart
I don't mindthe extention for stability, but why wait til after FA?
I don't mindthe extention for stability, but why wait til after FA?
L
LWP777
Guest
Good for him
kingjatt
Starter
bad move for the maloofs from a business standpoint, why give up your leverage when you dont have too?? even with thibs getting the bulls to have the best record he couldnt get an extension this quick, The pressure was on Smart to work his tail off, they could have talked to him and told him they would be willing to work on an extension mid-season if they liked what they saw, and if they didnt they like it they could fire/let him walk without having to pay 2 coaches next year, but i guess they would rather pay two than pay ONE quality coach. Just another stupid move to add to the list give an unproven coach who lost twice as much as he won another year of job security.
From a team development standpoint it cant hurt, as long as the team actually develops this time.
From a team development standpoint it cant hurt, as long as the team actually develops this time.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
haha -- what a joke. The first extension was a joke given he hadn't done anything. Another 30 games later he still hasn't done anything and we extend him again. I am predicting he gets extended through 2014-15 by Christmas.
It gets so hard to remember that this is the same organization that had Rick Adelman as its coach for 8 years -- all resulting in playoff appearances -- before dumping him because we could do "better".
It gets so hard to remember that this is the same organization that had Rick Adelman as its coach for 8 years -- all resulting in playoff appearances -- before dumping him because we could do "better".
Section 101
All-Star
If they didn't want to make a coaching change for next year then you almost have to give him the year after as well. Especially with young guys if they think the coach is going to be gone soon then they will be problem players.
I was always a little suspicious of Smart's hiring as an assistant coach AND the quick first extension. It was almost like they were preparing to fire Westphal during the season. And they probably were, barring a huge turnaround and successful season. If so that's just more evidence of a poorly run franchise. You don't bring in insurance because you think you have a lousy coach. You fire the lousy coach and get a quality one.
Again, I hope Smart does very well this year because it means my team is successful. But I don't like thinking about the end of the Adelman era. Because the worst thing it does is remind me of Gavin's (I think it was Gavin) interview a few years ago where he complained that the team didn't have a "system" and that Adelman was able to get the most out of his players because he had a "system".
I just remember screaming at the TV, "Then why the HELL did you fire him?!?!"
rhythmless
Starter
Classic Maloof
rhythmless
Starter
I shed literal tears watching that press conference (it's OK if it's sports, right?). I was against it then, but I couldn't even imagine the cesspool that the Kings would become in the aftermath.
ParniValjak
All-Star
Must be cheap! 
And then people get their knickers in a knot when some fans start questioning the sanity of the front office and the direction that the team is heading in. We are a bigger joke than Clippers ever were. Sad but true!
And then people get their knickers in a knot when some fans start questioning the sanity of the front office and the direction that the team is heading in. We are a bigger joke than Clippers ever were. Sad but true!
OptimusRhyme
Jive Turkey
What a joke. Sell the damn team already Maloofs. We as fans deserve better then this sh*t. We've been the most loyal fans in the league and the Maloofs jerk us around like they dont care. Would anybody honestly hate if the team was sold to another city?... It might be the first and only step into making us a legit basketball team again... I meen I would still be a fan of the Kings or whatever there name would be..I guess its different for me because I live in Canada.. I love the Kings in Sacramento..But I honestly cant see this damn team ever improving or making a serious run in my lifetime..and im only 24! God this is depressing.
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Fear the Putin
Starter
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Rookie
Starter
Maloofs are not going to pay quality coach because that would cost $$$. Poorly manage FO or just simple poor FO. 
We're going to keep getting low level coaches, and of those low level coaches, I don't mind keeping the one that the players at least willing to play for.
I don't mind it last year but this one was a little bit too early for me. But then keeping stability is a possible good reason to do it.
We're going to keep getting low level coaches, and of those low level coaches, I don't mind keeping the one that the players at least willing to play for.
I don't mind it last year but this one was a little bit too early for me. But then keeping stability is a possible good reason to do it.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Is this some kind of a sick joke?
I'd be a little more upset if Alex Morgan hadn't put a huge smile on my face for the rest of the day.
But, this is how companies go bankrupt. One poor decision after another. If we came out of the gates and had a .500 record heading into Jan, THEN I could understand the extension. But right now is simply not a sound business decision in any way, shape or form.
I don't buy the lame duck status argument, as if we brought in a legit NBA coach with a proven track record, number one it wouldn't be a single year deal with lame duck status entering into the equation, and two I don't see the players quiting on a JVG, Sloan, McMillan, Thibs, Brooks or SVG, all coaches we could ahve or have gone after at certain times, simply because their contracts are coming to and end. Both Brooks and Thibs were on the end of their contracts this past year and I didn't see a hint of anyone quiting on OKC or Chi. The only time you have to worry about lame duck status is when you haven't invested in a quality coach with a track record, and instead are worried that your middling coach who isn't winning at a higher rate might lose some respect.
Maybe this works, only time will tell. but if we don't defend, rotations/lineups are botched/ sub par and we're not winning at a rate significantly higher than what Westy did with a fraction of the talent we have now, Smarts contract extension won't matter and the players will quit and there will be problems, and we'll end up where we always seem to be post-Adelman, firing a coach, eating his contract and paying another replacement at the same time.
I'd be a little more upset if Alex Morgan hadn't put a huge smile on my face for the rest of the day.
But, this is how companies go bankrupt. One poor decision after another. If we came out of the gates and had a .500 record heading into Jan, THEN I could understand the extension. But right now is simply not a sound business decision in any way, shape or form. I don't buy the lame duck status argument, as if we brought in a legit NBA coach with a proven track record, number one it wouldn't be a single year deal with lame duck status entering into the equation, and two I don't see the players quiting on a JVG, Sloan, McMillan, Thibs, Brooks or SVG, all coaches we could ahve or have gone after at certain times, simply because their contracts are coming to and end. Both Brooks and Thibs were on the end of their contracts this past year and I didn't see a hint of anyone quiting on OKC or Chi. The only time you have to worry about lame duck status is when you haven't invested in a quality coach with a track record, and instead are worried that your middling coach who isn't winning at a higher rate might lose some respect.
Maybe this works, only time will tell. but if we don't defend, rotations/lineups are botched/ sub par and we're not winning at a rate significantly higher than what Westy did with a fraction of the talent we have now, Smarts contract extension won't matter and the players will quit and there will be problems, and we'll end up where we always seem to be post-Adelman, firing a coach, eating his contract and paying another replacement at the same time.
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MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
Kind of interesting, if not somewhat predictable.
I firmly stand on the side of the fence that recognizes Smarts faults AND acknowledges his strengths. As far as the contract extension.. It could work out. I don't love it or hate it. It's whatever.... The one thing I'll say is that it eliminates the 'lame duck' excuse, which means A LOT of what we do next season is going to rest on Smarts shoulders. No excuses - we must improve. Everything is set up in a way for this team to improve and achieve some level of success. It's just a matter of going out and doing it.
I firmly stand on the side of the fence that recognizes Smarts faults AND acknowledges his strengths. As far as the contract extension.. It could work out. I don't love it or hate it. It's whatever.... The one thing I'll say is that it eliminates the 'lame duck' excuse, which means A LOT of what we do next season is going to rest on Smarts shoulders. No excuses - we must improve. Everything is set up in a way for this team to improve and achieve some level of success. It's just a matter of going out and doing it.
Pretty much agree. This is one of those things that I just can't get too worked up about.
Section 101
All-Star
Your comparing playoff team coaches that have been there a few years vs a bottom dweller with a new coach. Yes, lame duck status matters if the players think they can get the coach fired with their play.
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