Kings don't discuss Muss with Warriors

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 4, 2006 | by Column by Monte Poole

SACRAMENTO -- In introducing Eric Musselman as their new coach, the Kings could not have been more emphatic about what they think of the Warriors, or less concerned that they had once fired Musselman.

It was apparent Saturday at Arco Arena the Kings don't think about the Warriors.

It was evident the Kings didn't care what the Warriors might have said about the coach they ran out of town two years ago.

It's as if the Warriors are as irrelevant to the Kings, 85 miles to the northeast, as they are to the rest of the NBA.

Ouch.

Consider that Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, along with team president Geoff Petrie, conducted initial interviews with three coaches -- Musselman, Warriors assistant Mario Elie and WNBA Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant.

The Kings summoned only Musselman for a second interview, during which they fell in love with him, practically welcoming him into the Maloof family.

Consider that the Maloofs and Petrie communicated with dozens of people regarding Musselman, all as part of the research that comes with hiring someone paid millions to coach an NBA team.

Musselman had been an assistant under Lon Kruger inAtlanta, so they contacted Kruger. Muss had been an assistant for Mike Fratello in Memphis, where Jerry West is the team president, so they contacted Fratello and West.

The Kings reached coaches, players, scouts -- maybe even mascots and puppies.

"We did our due diligence," Joe Maloof emphasized.

Which did not include a conversation with the Warriors, the one NBA team for which Musselman has been a head coach.

Joe Maloof, asked if he contacted the Warriors, responded thusly: "Well, I didn't. I don't know about Gavin."

Gavin Maloof, asked if he contacted the Warriors, related a story.

"I tried calling the Warriors ... well maybe I should say that," he said. "But I couldn't get past the message machine. So we made an attempt to call. I think I left a message. I think. But I was talking to a machine, so I think I left a message for Chris to call.

"But I didn't hear anything."

I hear the volume being turned up on this regional rivalry.

Gavin insisted he attempted to reach the Warriors, that he wanted to hear what they had to say. Failing to make contact, however, had zero effect on his decision to endorse Musselman.

Gavin did reach somebody in Oakland. He spoke with Raiders senior executive Mike Lombardi, who provided a glowing recommendation.

So it was left to Petrie to get the goods. He's the basketball guy. Maybe he could get some specifics on what happened to Muss in Oakland. He could grill executive vice president Chris Mullin, or general manager Rod Higgins or team president Bobby Rowell.

No, yes and no. Petrie did make contact with Higgins.

"I talked to Rod more about Mario, actually," Petrie said.

So let's get this straight. Kings ownership never contacted the Warriors regarding Musselman, but they know where the Raiders stand. The team president contacted the Warriors, but mostly to discuss someone the Kings weren't going to hire.

Given the way this process played out, one might conclude the Kings are a rather clueless bunch, with no idea of how to make major decisions. It seems logical that the Warriors, given their unique experience with Muss, would deserve a phone call.

Beneath the surface, however, one can see the wisdom of the Kings. There is a method to their dis.

The Kings, under the Maloofs, have been one of the league's most prosperous teams. Sacramento is one of a handful of teams to routinely make the playoffs

The Kings traditionally stomp the Warriors.

And it is to Sacramento's credit to realize there is nothing either Chris, Cohan or Mullin, can tell them about running a winning basketball operation.

"I know Chris Cohan real well and I don't know whether (phoning him) was the right thing to do," Joe Maloof said. "But I talked to plenty of other people who have interacted with (Musselman) throughout his career. And they all had very high things to say about him. Actually, no negatives. No negatives. The only negative was maybe he's a little too intense. But we don't consider that a negative."

That was the knock on Musselman with the Warriors. That his blow- torch approach to all things basketball blistered the feelings of too many within the organization. That he was too abrasive, a conflict waiting to happen.

The Warriors might have said as much, if only the Kings had lent an ear.

But why bother? Why listen to a voice that doesn't know what it doesn't know? Why waste time with an opinion yet to earn even the slightest merit?

Monte Poole can be reached at (510) 208-6461 or by e-mail at mpoole@angnewspapers.com