The Maloofs have fired Rick Adelman.
Geoff Petrie, the Kings’ president of basketball operations, wouldn’t give any clear-cut reasons for the decision not to extend Adelman’s contract, which expires in September. But owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, apparently dissatisfied with Adelman for years, are widely thought to be behind the move.
“I came to the conclusion that continuing this way just wasn’t feasible,” said Petrie, who also hired Adelman — his former roommate from their playing days — when both worked in Portland. “The dynamic that needed to be there to help it move forward just wasn’t there.”
Things were looking grim after a 18-24 start, and they were going to miss their first playoffs in eight years. Then Petrie makes a blockbuster trade, sending Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for Ron Artest. What happens? Adelman and Artest lead the team to a 25-14 record after the trade, they make the playoffs, and they take the defending champs to six games. If not for an unfortunate bounce on a Brent Barry three at the end of Game 2, they probably would have beaten the Spurs.
You don’t see a positive dynamic, Geoff? Or are you just covering for the Maloofs?
I don’t know who the Kings are going to hire that is going to do a better job than Rick Adelman. Don Nelson? The guy who made Dallas a decent (but soft) team that couldn’t get anywhere in the playoffs? I think this is a bad, bad move.
This is what happens when people who don’t know anything about basketball take control of a NBA franchise.
