Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Franchises

Draft Kings: Sacramento, Cleveland Come Up Winners In '11 NBA Draft

The Kings finished the ’10-11 season “second-to-last in the NBA in attendance,” and they hope former BYU G Jimmer Fredette, selected with the No. 10 pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft, “can help them generate ticket and sponsorship revenue and spearhead support for a new arena in Sacramento,” according to Marc Spears of YAHOO SPORTS. Spears notes if Kings Owners the Maloofs are “serious about trying to keep the franchise in Sacramento,” they need a star player “who can help them build back their fan support.” Fredette was selected by the Bucks but will be traded to the Kings once the NBA allows the deal to go through (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/24). SI.com's Sam Amick wrote after nearly departing Sacramento in April, the Kings “need to energize a fan base in ways that not only sell tickets but also lead to a long-overdue arena deal.” That is the “business appeal” of acquiring Fredette (SI.com, 6/24). CBSSPORTS.com’s Dave Del Grande wrote of the Kings picking up Fredette, “A new sellout streak is born” (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/23). ESPN's Bill Simmons: "Whether that Jimmer pick works or not, can't we do 'Hard Knocks' or '24/7' with the Kings next year? Jimmer, Tyreke, DeMarcus Cousins, Pooh Jeter, Omri Casspi, the Maloofs going broke, Mayor Kevin Johnson going for a new stadium … you're not watching that show?" (GRANTLAND.com, 6/24).

HEIR TO THE THRONE: The Cavaliers selected Duke G Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in the draft, and in Cleveland, Terry Pluto writes for the "first time in a year, the discussion about their team was not All About LeBron James." Pluto: "It’s about what their team can do next.” Fans do not expect Irving “to be another James,” but they "do want a player whose jersey they can proudly wear.” The Cavs picked Univ. of Texas F Tristan Thompson at the No. 4 spot, and the team deserves "credit for moving out of the NBA group-think that had them taking Jonas Valanciunas, the Lithuanian 7-footer who is in a contract snare with his European team." The Cavaliers "went conservative, believing they need character and grit to dig out of the rubble of James’ departure followed by a 19-63 record” last season (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/24). In Newark, Steve Politi writes Irving cannot “replace James as a player -- he’s a building block, not a superstar.” But Cavaliers fans are “getting the type of player fans love watching, and the type of person whose jersey they can safely buy without ever being tempted to burn it [in] the streets” (NJ.com, 6/24). Irving and Thompson, together, “are the new face of the franchise” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/24).

CHARACTER MATTERS: SI.com's Ian Thomsen writes Thompson is a "low-post scorer with an admirable work ethic, and the latter quality was abundant in this draft." The Jazz picked Turkey C Enes Kanter No. 3 overall, and his "size and skills are empowered by his high-revving engine." The Spurs "must believe in the character" of San Diego State F Kawhi Leonard or they "never would have sent George Hill to the Pacers in exchange for his rights." Also, many scouts believe Congo C Bismack Biyombo, who will play for the Bobcats after being picked No. 7 by the Kings, "is years older than he claims ... because he has shown more maturity than the normal 19-year-old" (SI.com, 6/24).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/06/24/Franchises/Kings-Cavs.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/06/24/Franchises/Kings-Cavs.aspx

CLOSE