Many have written (including this writer) that much of the Kings’ dysfunction is due to Vivek Ranadive, the MicroManager in Chief. Vivek has lately taken to allowing interviews with the seeming purpose to absolve himself of the finger-pointing that claims he is the worst owner in the NBA.
In an interview with Sam Amick published in USA Today, Vivek makes a number of astonishing statements to attempt exculpation. For example, he says that although he was wrong to hire Mike Malone before hiring GM Pete D’Allessandro, the real problem was “they hated each other’s guts.”
"I mean from Day One, the GM (Pete D’Alessandro, who now works with Malone in Denver as the Senior Vice President of Business and Team Operations) and him didn’t get along. They hated each other’s guts. They didn’t even want to share an assistant. -Vivek Ranadive (per USA Today)"
So D’Alessandro fired the hated Malone and now they appear to be working successfully in the Nuggets’ front office? There’s something fishy about this explanation.
Isaiah Thomas was let go (with virtually no compensation) in the search for a better option at point guard. In February, Thomas, now a Boston Celtic, played in the NBA All-Star game.
The stress on last year’s team has been reported as well. Marco Belenelli claims he had never been treated so poorly in the NBA and points to the Spurs as outstanding employers. He was traded to the Hornets for a draft pick tis summer.
"“I saw some very bad stuff in the locker room,” Belinelli added. “Coming from a perfect organization like the Spurs, I was pretty surprised to see stuff like that.” -Belinelli (per Cowbell Kingdom)"
Seth Curry wanted out of the dysfunctional family in order to have a career. He was allowed to go without compensation.
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- 3 Young players the Kings must develop, 2 to give up on
Mark Cuban welcomed Curry to the Mavericks where he is shooting the light out in the exhibition season (61.9% beyond the arc through three games) as he did for the Kings when George Karl finally gave him some minutes in April.
Rudy Gay wants out too, but Vivek is holding this classy player to his contractual obligations—hoping that Gay changes his mind. What chance is that with Vivek at the helm?
Geoff Petrie speaks with real emotion in an interview with Kevin Draper lambasting Vivek’s “revisionist history”.
Next: Can Arron Afflalo Break The Curse?
Vivek the MicroManager dreams of a great team but is incapable of building a healthy organization. As he is the principal owner of the team, here’s a shout-out to Shaquille O’Neill: Please stage an uprising of the minority owners and save us!