Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie'Sacramento Kings co-owner Joe Maloof has not totally ruled out Don Nelson as a candidate to replace the deposed Rick Adelman, but Maloof makes Nelson sound more like a long shot than a favorite to take over as Kings coach.In a phone interview Wednesday with ESPN.com, Maloof confirmed that Nelson's reputation for free-wheeling offense -- as opposed to the defensive mindset Joe and brother Gavin Maloof crave -- gives the Kings some hesitation."We love Nellie," Maloof said. "But we do feel like defense has to be the priority. We've seen it with the Kings and we've seen it with our WNBA team -- defense wins championships."Nelson already works for the Maloofs as one of the stars in a television project that could wind up on HBO. George Clooney is producing a show for the Maloofs' entertainment arm in which Nelson serves as the coach of a fictional expansion team, along with former NBA stars Vlade Divac, Norm Nixon and Marques Johnson.The friendship they now share from the TV connection has linked Nelson to the Sacramento job for months, with Adelman's departure anticipated in NBA coaching circles all season after the Maloofs' brief flirtation last summer with Phil Jackson and with Adelman coaching on the final year of his contract. But there are basketball reasons to link Nelson with the opening as well.Nelson is one of the few available coaches with a r?sum? that compares favorably to Adelman's, after Sacramento reached the postseason in each of his eight seasons. Nelson's sideline presence and considerable experience also hold appeal, with the Kings needing a successor who can reach Ron Artest. Finding someone to click with the enigmatic swingman is a primary consideration, since the Maloofs are committed to building around Artest after he headlined Sacramento's transformation from a 17-24 straggler into a playoff team.Artest told ESPN.com in early April that he wasn't expecting to get a vote from his new bosses but that he hoped Adelman would receive a contract extension for his role in getting Sacramento's revival. "Hopefully we can stay together," Artest said at the time.He then repeated his preference in even stronger terms after the Kings were eliminated by San Antonio in the first round. Although league rules preclude such gestures, Artest said he would forfeit next season's $7.5 million salary if Adelman and free agent-to-be Bonzi Wells were re-signed.NBA coaching sources say Sacramento is not required to ask Dallas for permission to speak Nelson, who remains on the Mavericks' payroll as a team consultant. Nelson, who turns 66 on Monday, is a coaching free agent at season's end and thus free to entertain job offers for 2006-07.Joe Maloof, though, said the Kings' coaching search is only just starting. Maloof anticipates team president Geoff Petrie assembling a list of candidates by week's end that is quickly whittled to four or five finalists who will be interviewed."We haven't talked to anyone yet," Maloof said.Yet he did stress that the final decision on Adelman's replacement will be ownership's as much as Petrie's, in spite of Petrie's reputation as one of league's most accomplished team builders."We have to be heavily involved, because this decision is so important for the future of the franchise," Maloof said. "We want to do this as quickly as possible and then leave Geoff and [the new coach] alone."ESPN.com on Tuesday identified San Antonio Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo and former Kings assistant Terry Porter, both former NBA head coaches, as likely names for Petrie's list. Carlesimo is a natural candidate if the Kings elect to model themselves after San Antonio, as the Cleveland Cavaliers did last offseason by hiring Spurs alumni Danny Ferry and Mike Brown as their new GM-coach tandem. Porter has been out of the league for a year after coaching the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons and has also surfaced as a possible replacement on Flip Saunders' staff in Detroit for N.C. State-bound Sidney Lowe.It should be noted that Nelson, fond as he is of the Maloofs, has his own reservations about a return to coaching. The Kings would have to lure him out of X-and-O retirement if they do want Nelson to come to Sacramento for an interview, after the 27-year bench veteran enjoyed what he often refers to as "the year of my life" since resigning as coach of the Mavericks in March 2005.</div>LinkIf your owner of the Kings who do you want as new head coach??
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kings eyeing Wizards' JordanBy John N. MitchellTHE WASHINGTON TIMESMay 11, 2006 Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, who has one year remaining on his contract, has been identified by the Sacramento Kings as a candidate to replace Rick Adelman, two league sources confirmed yesterday. The Kings, who did not extend Adelman's contract or those of his four assistants, have not publicly identified any candidates, and it is believed several names will surface as potential hires. The Kings are also precluded from having any contact with Jordan. If they wish to speak with him while he is under contract, they must first get permission from the Wizards. Jordan, who this season coached the Wizards to their second consecutive playoff appearance, has one more year left on his approximately $12?million deal. Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said Jordan's future with the team beyond this season would be addressed during summer meetings that would include himself, Jordan and team owner Abe Pollin. Earlier this week, Jordan said he intended to honor the remainder of his contract. "It's going to be up to Mr. Pollin and Ernie to move in any direction after that," Jordan said. "I have a contract that I have to honor and I have another year on that contract." The Kings fired Adelman on Tuesday, shortly after they lost to San Antonio in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Adelman, the most successful coach in Kings history, is 14th on the NBA's career list with 752 victories. Jordan began his coaching career in Sacramento when he took over after the Kings fired Garry St. Jean near the end of the 1996-97 season. The following season, Jordan led the Kings to a 27-55 record. Sacramento hired Adelman before the 1998-99 season. Jordan took the Wizards from 25-57 in his first season in 2003 to 45-37 in his second. The Wizards made the playoffs that year for the first time in eight seasons, reaching the second round for the first time since 1982 before losing to Miami. This season, despite multiple roster moves, the Wizards finished 42-40 but were eliminated by Cleveland in six games in the first round. Jordan's regular-season coaching record is 145-198.</div>Link
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' If I were the Kings I would think of Nelson and Stan Van Gundy. They are the two other good coaches out on the market worth getting.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' Definitely Stan Van Gundy. The Heat did really well with him as coach last year and he seems very intense in winning.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' Stan Van Gundy. he is an amazing coach and he made miami unbeatable when they only had shaq and wade. Plus he had good defense. I just dont kno what would happen to the offense.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' The Kings need to get rid of Brad Miller and SAR and start getting defensive minded. Those 2 are as soft as you get.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' I think they should keep miller because hes a good shooter and you need a well enough shooter at his position even though hes not that good defensively. And as for the coach, they should get Van Gundy he had a good defense, something Nellie never was able to coach.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' The Kings need to trade mike Bibby. That dude sucks and can't play defense at all. I can play better than him.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (killa @ May 12 2006, 11:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Kings need to trade mike Bibby. That dude sucks and can't play defense at all. I can play better than him.</div>I agree. Parker was schooling him all day in that Spurs-Kings series. Bibby is overrated.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' Yah, definitely go with Stan. I see the Kings being a 5-6 seed, if Ron Artest doesn't do anything stupid
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' I'd rather trade Bibby than miller cuz miller passes more than bibby. besides Stan didnt need much for a PG when he was with the heat.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' I wouldn't trade Mike he is nasty player and still can make a big impact with the Kings.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mixx @ May 13 2006, 03:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't trade Mike he is nasty player and still can make a big impact with the Kings.</div>He got destroyed by Parker the whole series. The key is to stay home on his shots and that is what Parker did. He can't defend anyone.
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' I'd Trade mike for a guy like Jamal Tinsley + a throw in
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' Ok, if you havent heard, Larry Brown seems to be on his way out in New York. If he is, isnt Larry Brown the front runner for this job? I think if he came over here, it would benifit both the team and Larry Brown. He's the type of coach that could help keep Ron Artest under control. To me, Artest seems to be a "Brown" type of player. I think the Kings have to get Brown if he is bought out by the Knicks. To me Brown is a better fit than any other coach available. Some of you guys are saying Van Gundy, but i like Brown as the Kings coach more than him. Only thing for me is that Brown is pretty old and isnt going to make this King team an atamatic title contender anytime soon. I just think they are one of the few teams that have a big enough pocketbook the sign Larry Brown. Overall, i really dont think Van Gundy could handle this team. If he wasnt able to make a talented Heat team win, what makes you think he can handle Artest and his baggage?
Re: Kings' new focus on defense might exclude 'Nellie' I'd say go after Larry Brown as a coach. And also, there's no way they're trading Bibby. So what he got schooled by Parker, there's not many players in the league that can stop Parker (He was third in the league in field goal percentage, meaning that he got to the hoop whenever he wanted).
