Will Vlade Be Fired/Step Down?

Will Vlade Be Fired/Step Down?

  • Yes, during the 2019-20 season

  • Yes, during the 2020 off-season

  • Yes, during the 2020-21 season

  • Yes, during the 2021 off-season

  • Yes, during the 2021-22 season

  • Yes, during the 2022 off-season

  • Yes, during the 2022-23 season

  • No, but we won't extend/resign him

  • No, and we will extend/resign him


Results are only viewable after voting.
Status
Not open for further replies.
#91
What makes you think Burkle, who has since become a lead investor in the Sacramento Republic FC, is still interested in acquiring part of the Kings? And, in addition, what makes you so sure Vivek would be willing to sell?

A LOT of professional sports teams are "hemorrhaging fans" right now. I don't foresee a lot of ownership changes.
I actually think the owner most likely to sell is Tillman Fertita. Dude's core businesses are restaurants and casinos--two industries that have been hit particularly hard by Covid.

I've been buried with baby duties, so may have missed an expose on how Covid has impacted Vivek's finances. Is there such an article? The only thing that I've seen is Bucher's garbage piece and some general references to how Covid has hit all teams. That said, the Kings would likely be hit harder than others because of their arena rent (waived? temporarily paused?) and their equity interest around the arena (Sawyer...). Plus I believe Mastrov is a minority owner and 24 Hour Fitness filed for bankruptcy a few months ago (don't ever want anyone/entity to go through hardship, but 24 hour fitness baited and switched their customers (me included) when they promised access to all clubs at signing then opened a new category of clubs and required customers to pay more for access--so there's some long overdue karma there).

As for Burkle, have no idea how Covid has impacted his finances. That said, if there was a time to buy into the NBA, that time would be now (or any sports team for that matter). Pennies on the dollar, because of the distressed selling that is going to be hitting ownership groups. I know the Warriors are looking for a loan.
 
#94
What makes you think Burkle, who has since become a lead investor in the Sacramento Republic FC, is still interested in acquiring part of the Kings? And, in addition, what makes you so sure Vivek would be willing to sell?

A LOT of professional sports teams are "hemorrhaging fans" right now. I don't foresee a lot of ownership changes.
While I agree with your sentiment, one can only hope. I have less than zero confidence in Vivek righting the Kings' ship. I'm questioning my fanship in the team with what is going on both on and off the court.
 
#95
I agreed with this sentiment originally but Vivek is in a tough spot as this team is hemorrhaging fans. I think his best bet is to sell to Ron Burkle and take a minority stake. Burkle has enough dollars to fire Vlade and hire a competent GM. Dumpster fire doesn’t begin to characterize the state of this franchise.
Do I recall Burkle was not permitted ownership in the NBA because he also owned a company that represented players?

That said I do think an owner with deep pockets is needed. As Steve Ballmer has left his imprint on the Clippers. He hired basketball professionals and let them run that team.

I do have empathy for Vivek and have not forgotten he saved the Kings for Sacramento. Even he must be ready to admit on some level what he is doing is not working.
 
#98
I don't really understand it all but that sounds like the 350 million is someone else's money.
Basically he's raising a pool of cash to buy companies (or a company). It is not new, but has become a hot thing because investors/people think a lot companies are going to get into trouble because of Covid and may go under. Or may need to partner up to survive. In the past, they would accomplish this via traditional M&A or through an IPO, which is more costly, but also, more importantly, would take a lot longer to do. The SPAC allows them to move much faster.

For fun, he could use it to buy out minority owners or use it to acquire the Republic or the Rivercats. Now, I doubt that is the purpose, but he could.
 
#99
Basically he's raising a pool of cash to buy companies (or a company). It is not new, but has become a hot thing because investors/people think a lot companies are going to get into trouble because of Covid and may go under. Or may need to partner up to survive. In the past, they would accomplish this via traditional M&A or through an IPO, which is more costly, but also, more importantly, would take a lot longer to do. The SPAC allows them to move much faster.

For fun, he could use it to buy out minority owners or use it to acquire the Republic or the Rivercats. Now, I doubt that is the purpose, but he could.
Basically a vulture, eating on the carcasses of someone else's misfortune. Wouldn't it be ironic if that's what happened to him and his control over the team.
 
He signed a multi-year deal in March of 2016. He has apparently, an extension through the 22-23 season. I just don't get how they would extend Vlade's contract-especially after missing out on Luka, and firing Joerger.

How is the team's record since he has been the GM?

This reminds me of Elgin Baylor as the perpetual GM of the always underachieving Clippers back in the day or even the hapless Washington Generals.

In today's major tech businesses, a failure of this magnitude would result in resignation.

What is management realistic goal with this team? Is it 7th or 8th seed in the playoff, because it is surely evident that this team doesn't have championship written all over it.

The singular Goal should be Championship or Nothing. And on this ship, the only way you can get to a potential championship is a re-build with a new cast.

Vivek is too competitive a guy to just lay down trying to achieve simple NBA mediocrity.

Does Vivek finally make the move of firing Vlade at the end of this summer season or does he hold on knowing that he will never be able to get there from here ever? If not, I just don't understand this. It was stated to me that Vivek was really upset upon our play during the season, albeit, I received this information prior to the point of the latter season turn-around. I wonder what Vivek thinks now.

I say, start with hiring a GM who has experience in a Major REBUILD. I will name one. I think you can find one at Stanford now, Sam Hinkie. And I'm sure there are others. (And by the way I didn't suggest to fire the 1 year under his belt coach. As on a re-build, save your money as you are already paying a coach)
 
What makes you think Burkle, who has since become a lead investor in the Sacramento Republic FC, is still interested in acquiring part of the Kings? And, in addition, what makes you so sure Vivek would be willing to sell?

A LOT of professional sports teams are "hemorrhaging fans" right now. I don't foresee a lot of ownership changes.
it’s a moot point. from my understanding. Burke’s stake in Relativity Sports precludes him from owning any NBA team
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Having all the teams coming into the bubble and making the Kings look like a G-League team has to have Vivek pissed. Vlade's days as GM are numbered. You can't just keep botching pick after pick and keep your job in the NBA. If I were Vivek, my blood would be boiling right now watching Luka dominate in the bubble.

The team looks so lost and out of sync, it has been embarrassing. I wished the Kings season would had ended when the league shut down in March. That would have left us Kings fans with a better taste in our mouths. This debacle makes the Kings look pathetic and directionless.

I've said it before and I will say it again. The Kings need to bring in a real talent evaluator as GM to replace Vlade. Move Vlade to a non-basketball decision making position, such as VP and bring in a real GM.

Heck, the Kings have a former GM that built a championship team in Detroit on the payroll right now. Promote Joe Dumars to GM and slide Vlade over to a VP position or ambassador role. Vlade is just not qualified to be an NBA GM. The Kings need to make a move on Vlade before the draft and free agency this off-season.
 
Since we know vlade at leaving this off season am I the only one hoping we do good enough next two years that he gets another extension. I wanna right the ship with vlade as captin
 
Since we know vlade at leaving this off season am I the only one hoping we do good enough next two years that he gets another extension. I wanna right the ship with vlade as captin
No, he needs to go. He’s proven vastly incompetent and in way over his head. Even the fans that drink the kool aide have had enough at this point and are openly revolting. It’s a toxic situation that won’t get any better as long as the man who bumbled his way through every draft, taken to the tool shed by various teams and capped off with passing on a generational wing talent when the team lacked wings.
 
Pretty sure Vivek has way more money than people realize. He just doesn’t announce and report his every move, not his style.

Although I’m emotional and annoyed right now, i really don’t see anyone getting fired. The bubble is a weird space to be in right now and nothing has really made much sense up to this point. I’m willing to give a lot of this squad another chance with a full training camp and a healthy Bagley and Holmes

Something needs to be done about our backcourt outside of Fox, however. I don’t understand why our coach seems to not know how to utilize any of those particular players
 
Having all the teams coming into the bubble and making the Kings look like a G-League team has to have Vivek pissed. Vlade's days as GM are numbered. You can't just keep botching pick after pick and keep your job in the NBA. If I were Vivek, my blood would be boiling right now watching Luka dominate in the bubble.

The team looks so lost and out of sync, it has been embarrassing. I wished the Kings season would had ended when the league shut down in March. That would have left us Kings fans with a better taste in our mouths. This debacle makes the Kings look pathetic and directionless.

I've said it before and I will say it again. The Kings need to bring in a real talent evaluator as GM to replace Vlade. Move Vlade to a non-basketball decision making position, such as VP and bring in a real GM.

Heck, the Kings have a former GM that built a championship team in Detroit on the payroll right now. Promote Joe Dumars to GM and slide Vlade over to a VP position or ambassador role. Vlade is just not qualified to be an NBA GM. The Kings need to make a move on Vlade before the draft and free agency this off-season.
I think if we got into the playoffs, they'd be able to forgive the Luka mistake and stick with the power structure. But I have no idea how Vivek can have any confidence left in Vlade after watching his coach lose the team and Luka show himself to be a top 5 players in the NBA in his second season, especially after dominating us with a 30-20-10 line and essentially ending our playoff bid. Just smoked 36-19-14 against one of the best defenses and teams we've seen in a long time in the Bucks.

From a pure monetary position, I think passing on Luka cost this franchise over a billion dollars in the next 10-15 years. Think about the marketing potential with Luka, the extra national TV games, the Luka merchandise, being a perennial playoff team over the next decade.
 
I was a proponent of giving Vlade the GM position. He was even my avatar at one point which is some prime real estate.

But thru and thru he's been a failure. This team does not fit. I don't agree with the blueprint he's chosen but have sat back and watched. The pieces just do not create a positive sum of the parts. I don't think Walton is a particularly good coach. I don't think Bagley will live up to expectations and best case scenario might be waiting 3-5 years for him to turn into the Chris Bosh? I don't think Fox will stick around if that's the case. The Giles situation is dumb. Buddy won't be a long term 6th man. Defense is poor. We lack floor spreaders. We pack passers. We lack all around players. And I see a fair amount of roster uncertainty with a limited ability to improve it.

In 2020 this should be a young core which fits, has gelled and is a legit playoff team.

And Vlade gave his own 2 yr timetable.

And I btw don't care if Joerger is a prick. I work with pricks. But he represented the only positive momentum this franchise has had since 2006 and this season after his firing is a clear step back.
100% agree, particularly about Joerger. With the Bulls, Chill Phil could only be so because he had Jordan being a prick and screaming at everyone who underperformed. Ditto for the Lakers with Kobe. A chill coach on a chill team isn't going to bring the performances needed, as the recent quote from Harrison Barnes reflects:

“... I think as a group we have to learn that you can’t just turn it on. We have moments where guys have unbelievable performances. We go on great runs, have great comebacks and win. And that’s great, but you can’t win like that consistently, and that’s something that, as a group, we’re working through.”

...but they're not working through it. They have assembled a combination that doesn't catalyze properly, despite having the kind of high character profile I'll always root for.

Mizzou King
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
The bigger picture problem is firing Vlade doesn't solve the issue of hiring the right replacement.

And a new GM should bring in his guy for coach, given Luke isn't a good coach. And he should bring in his own assistant GM under him.

So that's a lot of turnover.

And it will once again be Vivek hiring the replacement GM. He's shown he is incapable of hiring a good GM and he cannot tell a good coach from a bad coach.

And the GM position now is less attractive than it has been in years. Stuck in a middling space without high draft picks, lack of cap space and little roster flexibility. Trading Buddy on his contract which kicks in will be tough to do. Especially as the cap will decrease next season. No one wants Barnes either. Bagley has little value until he shows his foot isn't a long term liability. There is something serious going on there.

And I'm a fan of Bogi. But you either have to pay him a substantial amount or you lose one of the team's top 3 players for nada. But if you extend and keep him, the Buddy contract looks far worse. As of now they guy who is going to get 24M next yr is getting spot mins off the bench and the coach won't even run a few plays to get him looks off the ball?

It is a complete mess.
 
I'm tempted to join the "time for change ranks". I don't hold the same negative view of Vlade as a GM as many others do and think he has shown several strong attributes that do not get much credit (hrdboild, I think, gave a good post on this a little while a go). Having said that, I don't enjoy watching this team and have not enjoyed it at all this season. They do not have an on court identity. They do not seem to play within any kind of system. They started the season playing worse than last year and have not improved throughout the season. They lose most games within a quarter of play. I would happily root for a team that competes every game, wins 45 a year, and has a genuine crack. I think our squad has the potential to do that but is instead a scheduled win for most opponents on most nights. If Dave had been replaced by a coach that seemed to have a vision they could execute, or if Luke showed an ability to improve the squad's play throughout the year, cool. But he hasn't. We will make an addition this off season through the draft, and there will be some player movement through free agency and trades, but without a system change optimism will be a hard sell.
 
Carmichael Dave saying the chances are 30/70 for Vlade to stick around, is huge. Even from a PR standpoint, i can’t imagine how they’ll sell us on keeping most of these players along with Vlade and Walton.

There’s just no way.
 

SLAB

Hall of Famer
I got a chuckle out of Carmichael Dave’s new acronym being #GTFO.

He says it has a different meaning than what those four letters usually represent. But I’ll choose to believe they absolutely don’t.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.