Scouting a Star

During the off-season, according to Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie, there are three areas the team would like to improve. Among those areas, the ideal player or players the Kings draft or acquire will have a set of intangible qualities that make him someone the team can build around. Read more

Evaluating the Best

Over the weekend, along with the excitement of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, the NFL held its draft. Two days and seven rounds later, 256 players were selected. When the NBA Draft takes place on June 25, 60 players will be chosen in one night, and according to Kings Director of Player Personnel Jerry Reynolds, the players selected will be the best available prospects. Read more

Best Dance Team Yet

Hi Kings fans!

I can’t believe my third season as a Sacramento Kings Dance Team member has come to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was preparing for my very first audition, nervous as can be. Read more

As Petrie Sees It

After he announced the Kings would not pick up the head coaching option on Kenny Natt and the team relieved assistant coaches Rex Kalamian, Jason Hamm, Randy Brown and Bubby Burrage of their duties, Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie met with members of the media to discuss the future of the Kings head coaching position and what areas the team would like to improve most before tipping off the 2009-10 season. Read more

Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie Media Availability

Geoff Petrie:

“I really don’t have a big opening statement. I think this release is pretty self-explanatory. I do want to thank Kenny. I really did enjoy working with him. He’s a real professional and a good human being. He tried to do the job in the right way and approach it the right way. So, I want to thank him, I wish him the best and I’m sure he’ll go forward from here and do fine. Beyond that, we obviously need to start a search for a new coach and we’ll get that underway here presently and go forward from there.”

 

On why the Kings decided not to pick up the option on Kenny Natt’s contract:

“I just think that the season in general, if you look back on it, it really was a season that never really got started but it just seemed to be more of the same. We need to do better than that, obviously, we need to get back on a winning road and an improving road at this point, even though we are a young team and probably may be a younger team yet as we go forward. In Kenny’s defense, some of the things that happened were not of his own making and it’s a very difficult situation to take over. We made some moves at the trading deadline that gave us some flexibility and gave us better business opportunities going forward but the roster itself didn’t change a whole lot, so we need to move on from here and I wish all the assistant coaches well too. They put in a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of preparation so hopefully they will go on and find some other opportunities.”

 

On if he saw any scenario where Natt could have stayed:

“I think sometimes you’re looking at the entire environment that someone has to work from, and there needs to be some level of support in a lot of different areas. Sometimes, perception overcomes that. I think that some of that was in play here. Like I said, he’s a class guy and I wish him the best.”

 

On how difficult it is to search for another coach again:

“Well, this is certainly not any (difficult). We’ve obviously had a run of coaches here over the last few years and we need to get back to having some stability and consistency going forward with our coaching staff and particularly where the team is at this juncture. That’s something that we’re going to focus on as we start to look at coaching candidates.”

 

On how soon he hopes to start contacting potential candidates:

“We’ll start to call the list and look at people that we think meet some of the qualifications that we’re looking for at this point. They would be somebody that has had a lot of experience in the NBA, number one; number two, somebody that has had experience as a head coach in the NBA; and number three, somebody that has had some level of success at some point in the NBA.”

 

On finding a candidate with veteran experience as a head coach:

“That would be my preference.”

 

On the timetable for contacting potential candidates:

“I think that’s a really hard thing to determine. I think some of the people we may want to talk to are probably working right now and there are certainly some other people that are not. But, with the lottery coming up and our Draft situation, I think it’s more important to try and do as much as we can to get it right than to try and do it too quickly.”

 

On Joe and Gavin Maloof providing any guidance on what they would like to see:

“We’ve had some preliminary discussions about that and we’ll talk some more about it and I’m going to be scouting for most of the next two weeks, but certainly will be in touch with people and start some preliminary conversations, I’m sure.”

 

On if Joe and Gavin’s thoughts align with his thoughts about finding an experienced coach:

“I don’t think there’s been any difference of opinion at this point, no.”

 

On what he’s learned from the previous two coaching searches:

“I think during the first search we didn’t talk to enough people. The second search, we talked to a lot of people and had a very long list. We’ll do a thorough review of potential people and I think you have to call the list from there and start talking to people that may have an interest and see where it can go from there.”

 

On the possible return of any recently departed assistant coaches:

“Well that’s always a possibility. But that really lies with whoever the new head coach is. He has to make that decision. It’s not uncommon for a new head coach to keep one existing assistant who knows the lay of the land a little bit, but that would be their decision to make. In the meantime, they (former assistant coaches) are all free to go out and see what other opportunities might be there for them.”

 

On Natt’s reaction:

“It was muted but I’ve talked to Kenny a lot in the last couple of weeks. We spent a couple hours together yesterday. Our overall relationship has always been relaxed and straightforward. Obviously there is disappointment there, because even with the record, everybody would like to be able to start with a fresh slate to some extent and unfortunately that’s not going to happen. But, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.”

 

On his thoughts about putting the past behind:

“We have to put it behind us, there’s nothing that can be done about that. I’m upbeat about the potential obviously for our Draft this year; it’s the best possibility we’ve had to get one of the most talented players in the Draft anyway and continuing the development of our other players that are here. I do think that the team, obviously, when you win 17 games, we need to get better from where we are and get better as quickly as possible.”

 

On his personal attitude regarding recent seasons:

“I don’t let it roll off. I challenge myself to do a better job all the time. Sometimes you make decisions that are part of other decisions that have a lot of unintended consequences sometimes, but we knew the team needed to be rebuilt. We tried to do that by keeping some level of veteran players that would stabilize us while the younger players developed, but we weren’t winning enough that way either. We’re really now into major rebuilding and one of the best ways to do that is to have a top-five pick and that’s where we ended up. Not necessarily by design, but that’s where we ended up.”

 

On Shareef Abdur-Rahim’s future:

“He’s going to remain with the organization. In what form that’s going to take, we’ll see how that plays out.”

 

On which areas he wants to improve the most:

“As far as the team goes, I think we need to continue to rebuild our frontline. We need to grow both with Spencer and Jason and anybody else we would have there, in our ability to score at the basket, rebound the ball and have better defensive presence. We also need more creativity with our ball handling and somebody that can break down defenses and create consistent opportunities for other people. We need leadership. Those would probably be the top three things, and in doing that, you’re going to create some additional depth which is something that you have to have.”

 

On how desirable the Kings coaching position is:

“I think the thing that makes this a really interesting job is that you can only go up. You have a salary cap that’s not inflexible. You’re going to have three more draft picks and we have some young players that I think most people feel have a chance to continue to get better. I think that part of what needs to happen is not just coaching but it’s going to be teaching as well. There’s going to have to be a lot of that.”

 

On if anything will happen while he is scouting out of town:

“I would say that’s very doubtful. There is no timetable at this point.”

 

On if the team’s youth factors into his preference for an established coach:

“Well that’s always been my preference. I think experience and experience at success in the arena that you are working in counts for something.”

 

On looking at candidates that are currently coaching in college:

“I think that you have to have somebody that has had some level of success in the NBA at this point.”

Reflections on Last Top 5 Pick

Entering the 1991 NBA Draft, the Kings had the third overall pick. Now for the first time in 18 years, the team will select among the top four.

To gain perspective on what it was like for the Kings front office then Read more

What’s Next?

The 2008-09 season proved to be a trying one for the Kings. The team experienced just about everything a team could go through — coaching change, new systems, key injuries, roster turnover, heartbreaking defeats, quality wins, player improvement, jersey retirements –all within six months.

Now the question is — what happens in the next six months?

This off-season will be a critical time for the Kings and their future. At seasons end, full evaluations have to begin. In my opinion, from top to bottom, everything has to be looked at thoroughly. You look at the coaching position and evaluate where the team wants to go from there. The players have to be analyzed to see which guys to keep and which need to move on.

I believe, with eight current players under contract and five free agents, the Kings will only keep the guys under contract. Those under contract include — Francisco Garcia, Beno Udrih, Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, Donté Greene, Kevin Martin, Kenny Thomas and Andres Nocioni. The Kings may look to move one or more of those players in a deal to help improve the team, but at this point, I wouldn’t know where to begin to speculate.

A key date coming up is May 19 — the day of the NBA Draft Lottery. The Kings will find out if they pick first, second, third or fourth. Although it’s seemingly a small range, many pundits believe the top two prospects will have the most impact. Meanwhile, the Kings have already secured the 23rd (via the Houston Rockets) and 31st overall picks. With three selections in the top 31, the Kings have flexibility. They can hold onto the three picks. They can package one or all of the picks. Or, they can package some of the current roster in a trade for veterans or varying choices in the Draft.

The entire goal this off-season is to get better.

To do so, first off, this team could use a little good fortune. We already mentioned injuries this season, and rookie Jason Thompson was the only player on the roster to play in all 82 games. If Martin and Garcia didn’t miss a combined 48 games, I’m confident the record would have been at least a little better. Good fortune could come in winning the lottery, which would get Kings fans feeling good again. It would also give the team the option to select Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin, who is widely regarded as the top prospect in the Draft.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Griffin added to the promising frontcourt of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes.

The returning Kings group also needs to re-focus. The aforementioned young bigs, Hawes and Thompson, need to get bigger, stronger and continue to develop. They’ve shown great work ethic and had a tremendous second half of the season. If their growth pattern continues, the Kings really have something in those two young players.

Suddenly, Martin, Garcia and Udrih have become the veterans of this team. All three are still early enough in their careers to feel like young players, but they have to make the transition to veteran leaders of the team. They have tenure with this franchise. Now they need to set the example for their teammates. Martin and Garcia learned from past Kings leaders, and Beno played with great San Antonio leaders, so they are all capable of taking their leadership ability to the next level.

If the Kings return with their young core and sprinkle in some impact rookies from the Draft, the next step is free agency. But, the free agency process is a little trickier than years past because of the state of the salary cap.

Sometimes just one key move can make a world of difference. I’m not even sure which name or names would make an impact on this team, but I think that player could be out there. Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie’s job is not an easy one, but he has a great track record of putting the franchise in position to be successful.

I think the next six months will prove to be very interesting for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. Six months from now, we’ll get to see what the final product looks like when the team hits the court again in October.

Post Your Top Picks! Sacramento’s First Top 5 Pick In 18 years!

 

The 2009 NBA Draft is just around the corner and the Kings will have their first top 5 pick in 18 years! Join the discussion and post your top picks below. Go to Kings.com to learn more.

Post Your Top Picks Central

Looking at the Future

The end of the Kings 2008-09 season closes out a year that featured two head coaches, 22 players and 17 wins. So after such a season, what can die hard Kings fans look forward to next year?

Let’s see…

Read more

Summer Routine

Hey Kings Fans!

I can’t believe this season has already come to an end. The season flew by quicker than any other season I’ve ever experienced! It feels like all the momentum of the season kept building and building… and now it’s over?!? I can speak for the entire dance team when I say it’s been the most fulfilling year!

Read more

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