Sacramento Kings: Does Scott Perry’s departure undo a great offseason?

Scott Perry was only a member of the Sacramento Kings briefly, but his impact was substantial. How does his departure affect the Kings offseason and future?

A week ago, the Sacramento Kings were riding high off the momentum of a great offseason. They had nailed the draft by adding four very talented, high character players, and received nearly universal praise from the national media. They then followed that up by adding some terrific veteran mentors to the youth-filled roster. These veterans, consisting of Zach Randolph, George Hill, and Vince Carter, were signed to short-term contracts that will provide the Kings with financial flexibility in the future and a guiding veteran presence in the near-term. It seemed as if the Sacramento Kings reputation had done a complete 180 nearly overnight.

Scott Perry impact

Much of the credit for this turnaround goes to former Vice President Scott Perry. Perry had joined the Kings only three months prior, following a cleaning of the house by the Orlando Magic. Perry, who has nearly two decades of front office experience came highly regarded by both his peers and players. Perry immediately got credit for bringing focus and direction to the front office and serving as an experienced voice with an eye for talent.

Knicks pounce

Unfortunately, Perry was so successful in his brief stint that, the New York Knicks pursued him as general manager following Phil Jackson’s departure. Nearly a week ago that deal was finalized. Perry is now helping turn around a struggling Knicks franchise. In return, the Kings received a second round pick and cash considerations.

Kings aftermath

While this is certainly a great loss, as Perry’s impact was immediate and substantial, it is not the end of the world for the Sacramento Kings. Perry helped set the direction for the franchise. His departure does not necessarily mean they will stray from it.

Despite some questionable moves and criticism, General Manager Vlade Divac has done some positive things since taking over. In retrospect, the return he was able to get for DeMarcus Cousins  is high compared to what the Bulls and Pacers got in exchange for Jimmy Butler and Paul George, respectively. The Kings have added a lot of talent through the draft during his tenure as well.

And while Perry may be gone, the players he added this summer are not. As noted earlier, the Kings had a great draft last month. All four of the players they added should be immediate contributors and some, most notably De’Aaron Fox, have All-Star potential. They were also able to add three highly regarded veteran players who have stated their excitement to mentor these young players.

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In the past, it would be unheard of for the Kings to land veterans of that caliber without grossly overpaying them. But these veterans were signed to short-term contracts for around market value. They gave up the shot to chase rings and join a contender and instead chose to sign with Sacramento and mentor this young team. A lot of that change in reputation was  Perry’s doing, and the front office will miss his presence.

Clear direction

Many were upset the Sacramento Kings didn’t do more to retain Perry, but it may have been a show of confidence in the rest of the front office. A belief they can persevere through the loss of Perry. For the first time in years, the Kings have a clear direction moving forward. They have embraced the youth movement and have loads of potential talent. They have also reinforced that youth with a great veteran presence.

Replacement?

Another thing to consider is that the Sacramento Kings still need to replace Scott Perry.  Vlade Divac, who hit the home run by hiring Perry in the first place, could look to make another splash with the new hire. The front office has recognized the importance of maintaining cap flexibility and adding young talent. There is no doubt Perry played a role in that.

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While it certainly hurts to lose such a talented and well-regarded executive, the Kings can recover. Perry helped lay down the foundation for what looks to be a very bright future for the team. As long as they continue to make shrewd moves, prioritize the values adopted by Perry, and maintain stability in the front office, the Sacramento Kings could very well be on their way to turning around the franchise.