Kings in financial trouble

[Rastapopoulos]

Link:

Jim Kozimor, with his energetic personality and warm smile, was one of the Kings' most recognizable faces. Now he's a personification of the Maloof family's financial troubles.

The TV and radio broadcaster was one of about a dozen Maloof Sports and Entertainment staffers laid off Tuesday as the Kings grapple with the weak economy and a disappointing NBA season that led to poor attendance at Arco Arena.

Adding to the Maloof money woes, the family is heavily invested in areas now taking hits from the recession. Las Vegas, where the Maloofs own the Palms Casino Resort, has been hurt by declines in gambling and tourism revenues.

The Maloof family is also one of the largest shareholders in Wells Fargo Bank.

Until now, though, there was nothing tangible fans could point to when sources cited millions in lost Kings revenue. Kozimor's departure changed that.

This is not OT because we'd be happy to take a nasty contract (any one of Nocioni ($8M, 5yrs), Udrih ($6M, 4yrs) or Kenny Thomas ($8.6M (!), 2yrs could be absorbed by our cap space) off their hands if it was bundled with their high draft pick.

 

[alex42083]

Too bad the Kings don't have an All-Star caliber player we could take off their hands.

 

[Wheels]

Interesting... maybe if they were to get #2.. but with a player like Griffin available if they get the #1 I dont think they would trade it.

 

[oldmangrouch]

If part of their problem is poor attendance, I'm not sure cutting back on their visibility on local TV/radio is such an astute move. Of course, that assumes they have any desire/intention of staying in SacTown!

If they are actually willing to dump their lotto pick just to shed a contract - then I hope KP is ready to bend them over and take advantage.

 

[hasoos]

The best way to turn around that team financially though is to give the fans some hope with a good draft pick. Unfortunately, this is not a good year to have a high draft pick. Your choice is a miniature version of Brian Big Country Reaves, and a PG who really doesn't impress me much.

 

[Wheels]

If part of their problem is poor attendance, I'm not sure cutting back on their visibility on local TV/radio is such an astute move. Of course, that assumes they have any desire/intention of staying in SacTown!

If they are actually willing to dump their lotto pick just to shed a contract - then I hope KP is ready to bend them over and take advantage.

Agree to that too.. but I'm sure they would want some talent in return.. Take on some crap contracts of theirs and throw Bayless, Outlaw, Sergio, Maybe even Blake if we can sign a decent PG this off-season.

 

[hasoos]

Agree to that too.. but I'm sure they would want some talent in return.. Take on some crap contracts of theirs and throw Bayless, Outlaw, Sergio, Maybe even Blake if we can sign a decent PG this off-season.

For what? I high pick in a crappy draft? This draft is really bad IMO.

 

[Wheels]

For what? I high pick in a crappy draft? This draft is really bad IMO.

just like you said "IMO" I agree its a lesser draft.. but I disagree with you on your thoughts on Rubio and Griffin.. but to me thats IMO. I remember Roy and Aldridges draft being a "crappy" one as well.. but I think we did pretty good then.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Hey, the Suns gave the Thunder 2 first round picks just to take on Thomas' contract...and all they got in return was a 2nd round pick. We could give SacTown multiple 2nd rounders for a single lotto pick. They should be ecstatic at our generosity!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Too bad the Kings don't have an All-Star caliber player we could take off their hands.

I'd take Kevin Martin in a heartbeat. Teaming him somehow with Brandon would be incredible. He is what we can only hope Rudy will end up like.

 

[hasoos]

just like you said "IMO" I agree its a lesser draft.. but I disagree with you on your thoughts on Rubio and Griffin.. but to me thats IMO. I remember Roy and Aldridges draft being a "crappy" one as well.. but I think we did pretty good then.

I don't. I remember that draft as being pretty good IMO, as there were guys like Rudy Gay going as deep as 10, and other impact players even went later. If you look at the top 10 in that draft, most of them are starting somewhere now, and most of them were thought to be very good players at the time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't. I remember that draft as being pretty good IMO, as there were guys like Rudy Gay going as deep as 10, and other impact players even went later. If you look at the top 10 in that draft, most of them are starting somewhere now, and most of them were thought to be very good players at the time.

That draft was thought to be weak actually.

There were thought to be 1-2 good players in the draft (Roy and Gay) with the rest being role players. It is actually pretty close, but Aldridge has turned out to be really good. Everyone else is a boarderline starter I think. Brewer and Rondo turned out good, but after that it's a bunch of role players. Compare that to 2007 with Oden, Durant, Horford, Green, Young, Stuckey, Rudy, Brooks...even Yi, Conley, Hawes , Noah and others are showing they might have a shot at the all star game one year with their skill set.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I'd rather take Kevin Martin than any draft pick they get
Spanish Armada for Kevin and Noc

 

[Wheels]

I don't. I remember that draft as being pretty good IMO, as there were guys like Rudy Gay going as deep as 10, and other impact players even went later. If you look at the top 10 in that draft, most of them are starting somewhere now, and most of them were thought to be very good players at the time.

1. Andre Bargnani

2. LaMarcus Aldridge

3. Adam Morrison

4. Tyrus Thomas

5. Shelden Williams

6. Brandon Roy

7. Randy Foye

8. Rudy Gay

9. Patrick O'bryant

10. Saer Sene

the ones in bold are the ones that I would say have lived up to or exceeded expectations of a top 10 pick.

 

[maxiep]

Compound the Maloof's troubles with the State of California's financial problems, and you have a mess. Their best play is to move the team once again. Get a sweetheart financial deal and get through the next few years on fan excitement for a new team.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Compound the Maloof's troubles with the State of California's financial problems, and you have a mess. Their best play is to move the team once again. Get a sweetheart financial deal and get through the next few years on fan excitement for a new team.

Seattle Kings?

-Pop

 

[Wheels]

Seattle Kings?

-Pop

I think they get the Sonics name still right?

 

[Shapecity]

There's been a lot of rumors they will move the Kings to Anaheim.

 

[LittleAlex]

Link:



This is not OT because we'd be happy to take a nasty contract (any one of Nocioni ($8M, 5yrs), Udrih ($6M, 4yrs) or Kenny Thomas ($8.6M (!), 2yrs could be absorbed by our cap space) off their hands if it was bundled with their high draft pick.

You might be happy about it, but I would be pissed.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think they get the Sonics name still right?

Ya, but it is the King city.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

just like you said "IMO" I agree its a lesser draft.. but I disagree with you on your thoughts on Rubio and Griffin.. but to me thats IMO. I remember Roy and Aldridges draft being a "crappy" one as well.. but I think we did pretty good then.

On top of Rubio and Griffin . . . what about the high school player who decided to play in Europe for the year instead of one year of college? Is he in the draft this year?

 

[crandc]

I'll be really pissed off if the Kings move. Arco Arena is a great place to go see the Blazers. Always tons of Portland fans and the arena people are pretty cool. Totally opposite to Oakland where I think they stay up late at night trying to find ways to keep fans from having a good time at games.

Not only would I see the Blazers less, I'd only be able to see them in a place that treats fans like shit.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I'll be really pissed off if the Kings move. Arco Arena is a great place to go see the Blazers. Always tons of Portland fans and the arena people are pretty cool. Totally opposite to Oakland where I think they stay up late at night trying to find ways to keep fans from having a good time at games.

Not only would I see the Blazers less, I'd only be able to see them in a place that treats fans like shit.

What . . . you don't think Southern Cali should have 3 NBA teams all within 100 mile radius?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'd take Kevin Martin in a heartbeat. Teaming him somehow with Brandon would be incredible. He is what we can only hope Rudy will end up like.

I'd pass:

—And last… and least… the 2008-2009 NBA No-Defense Player of the Year….

* G Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings: Yep, he only played 51 games due to injury. But what an amazing 51 games he played–on a team that might’ve played worse defense, at least percentage-wise, than even the Warriors.

No regular-rotation player in the league (that I could find) had a worse set of defensive stats: Kings’ opponents scored an NBA-high 118.1 points per 100 possessions when Martin was on the floor, which dropped to 113.6 when he was on the bench. Also, opponents shot 53.5% EFG when he played and 51.7% when he didn’t.

But Martin’s the NDPOY not just because of stats. It’s because of so many things–he had only 8 blocks in 1,947 minutes; he had a -246 plus/minus, which gave him a worse per-minute rate than almost every other Kings regular (and Martin’s supposed to be their best player); Martin scored a lot but whenever he was matched against a tough wing opponent, that guy usually scored more, at a higher shooting percentage.

Nobody does less with more talent and length than Martin. For that, he’s a richly deserving NDPOY.

 

[maxiep]

I'd pass:

K-Bo!

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'd pass:

Pass all you want. He kills us, and is one of the best young guards in the league. There is no way a player on that team, gurading the other teams best player on most nights is going to have a very good defensive rating. Is Kevin Martin the next great defender in the league...LOL no. But he would be no worse than Blake, and defenses would have a fit with a 3 guard line-up of Roy, Rudy and Martin

 

[LOTBfan]

I would enjoy watching thabeet... we could suit up a 5 man team averaging like 7'1" with roy as PG

 

[julius]

Pass all you want. He kills us, and is one of the best young guards in the league. There is no way a player on that team, gurading the other teams best player on most nights is going to have a very good defensive rating. Is Kevin Martin the next great defender in the league...LOL no. But he would be no worse than Blake, and defenses would have a fit with a 3 guard line-up of Roy, Rudy and Martin

Id killing Portland was a pre-req for being a good Blazer, then there are a lot of scrubs out there who we should sign or trade for.

 

[STOMP]

I'd take Kevin Martin in a heartbeat. Teaming him somehow with Brandon would be incredible. He is what we can only hope Rudy will end up like.

no doubt... Martin has dealt with some injuries of late, but dude is a stud

STOMP

 

[Stevenson]

What happened to the Kings? I lived there during the Webber - Peja - Vlade days and it was fantastic.

Did Petrie lose his touch or what?