Westphal interviewed...

[funkykingston]

It's easy to view things from our perspective as Kings fans, but looking at it from the POV of a potential coach and it paints a somewhat glum picture:

Worst team in the league and with an extremely weak draft offering no promises of a stud to turn things around, small market team with major arena/possible relocation issues, no chance of GM responsibilities as long as Petrie is involved, a very young roster, and no star player. The guy who is ostensibly the team's best (and highest paid) player has not shown himself to be a difference maker and has missed over 50 games due to injury in the last two years. And to top it off, all signs point to the Maloofs not wanting to pay top dollar for a coach.

Not trying to be overly negative, but that's the reality of this job. The other reality is that this team needs a lot more than a coach to start climbing out of the Pacific's cellar. This team is still in the midst of a major rebuilding effort that will reshape the roster.

This team needs a coach that will develop the youth and that has the experience, patience and understanding to helm the team while that happens. I don't have a problem with Westphal being that guy.

 

[TheRaven]

It's easy to view things from our perspective as Kings fans, but looking at it from the POV of a potential coach and it paints a somewhat glum picture:

Worst team in the league and with an extremely weak draft offering no promises of a stud to turn things around, small market team with major arena/possible relocation issues, no chance of GM responsibilities as long as Petrie is involved, a very young roster, and no star player. The guy who is ostensibly the team's best (and highest paid) player has not shown himself to be a difference maker and has missed over 50 games due to injury in the last two years. And to top it off, all signs point to the Maloofs not wanting to pay top dollar for a coach.

Not trying to be overly negative, but that's the reality of this job. The other reality is that this team needs a lot more than a coach to start climbing out of the Pacific's cellar. This team is still in the midst of a major rebuilding effort that will reshape the roster.

That is the glass half-empty view, and I don't doubt there are some coaches who probably see it exactly that way. I don't think you need to temper the expectations much. I think most know this isn't the ideal situation that would be extremely tempting to any coach, and that a coach isn't a silver bullet to cure all the teams' woes.

However, don't discount that a job as Head Coach in the NBA is something very desirable and important. The job opportunities also are going to be slim this offseason, so while the Philly job might be more appealing, we have little other competition right now.

Some coaches could also see some of the things you listed as negatives as positives. Not everyone has the same viewpoint on things like living/coaching in a smaller market. Same goes for the pros/cons of taking over a rebuilding team. We have some good areas of the franchise despite questions about the arena and the future of Petrie. We have some young talent with more to be added in this draft, we should have another high 1st in a stronger draft next year, we aren't over the cap, and we are going to have a bit more cap room next offseason.

This team needs a coach that will develop the youth and that has the experience, patience and understanding to helm the team while that happens. I don't have a problem with Westphal being that guy.

Agreed, although I am still very unsure whether or not Westphal could do that for this team.

 

[Kingster]

I would go for Westphal over Jordan, if for no other reason than that Westphal has actually had major winning seasons once upon a dawn of the internet time. But I wonder if its any coincidence that Geoff is supposedly finally back in charge of a coaching search and the first (and only so far) coaches he has interviewed are old non-threatening all offense/no defense retreads? There are shades of Adelman here, except neither of those guys deserve to wash Adelman's socks.

I'm very much on board with your use of "non-threatening" for potential coaching candidates. It seems like like anybody with an edge, with experience and gravity, is deemed too scary for this organization. I really get the feeling that they have this need to micro-manage over a coach. At least that's my most recent impression.

 

[bajaden]

I'm very much on board with your use of "non-threatening" for potential coaching candidates. It seems like like anybody with an edge, with experience and gravity, is deemed too scary for this organization. I really get the feeling that they have this need to micro-manage over a coach. At least that's my most recent impression.

You could be right Kingster, or, it could be that Petrie doesn't want anyone he hires trying to micro-manage his job. Or at the very least be critical of the team he's put together. Personally, I think that Petrie has a certain direction he wants the team to go in and wants to hire a coach thats on board with that philosophy. I believe that Reggie was the antithesis of that philosophy, and it was only a matter of time before he was gone. He hired Adleman, and Rick was anything but a kiss A$$. The fact that he wouldn't bend over for the Maloof's cost him his job. Or at least played a part in it.

He turned down the extension offered by the Maloof's. To my mind, that was his statement to them. Let me do it my way. I think he was tired of taking the hits for them. So if your going to put your head in the noose, then your probably going to do whats always worked for you before. All spectulation on my part, but I don't think that Petrie is opposed to a strong willed coach. I just think he wants a coach that see's the same vision he does. I know personally, that if I'm going to fail, I want to fail doing what I thought was the best course to follow. Not the best course someone else thought I should follow.

 

[ElRey]

You could be right Kingster, or, it could be that Petrie doesn't want anyone he hires trying to micro-manage his job. Or at the very least be critical of the team he's put together. Personally, I think that Petrie has a certain direction he wants the team to go in and wants to hire a coach thats on board with that philosophy. I believe that Reggie was the antithesis of that philosophy, and it was only a matter of time before he was gone. He hired Adleman, and Rick was anything but a kiss A$$. The fact that he wouldn't bend over for the Maloof's cost him his job. Or at least played a part in it.

He turned down the extension offered by the Maloof's. To my mind, that was his statement to them. Let me do it my way. I think he was tired of taking the hits for them. So if your going to put your head in the noose, then your probably going to do whats always worked for you before. All spectulation on my part, but I don't think that Petrie is opposed to a strong willed coach. I just think he wants a coach that see's the same vision he does. I know personally, that if I'm going to fail, I want to fail doing what I thought was the best course to follow. Not the best course someone else thought I should follow.

Wow what an excellent insightful post! Can't agree with you more.