ESPN's George Karl is the "clear frontrunner" to replace Michael Malone after the Kings fired their head coach this week, and how Karl would deal with Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive "will be fascinating" if he is hired, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. Ranadive has "played the part of a fantasy league owner, treating the Kings like a science experiment." He "shared tactical experiences with Malone about coaching his child's youth team, and pressed him to consider playing four-on-five defense." The biggest changes Ranadive "needs to make aren't with the coach's style, but his own" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/15). ESPN’s J.A. Adande noted Ranadive was part of the ownership group for the Warriors and he saw “what happened when they fired Mark Jackson and brought in Steve Kerr. Maybe he’s hoping the same thing can happen” in Sacramento after the firing of Malone. N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola said Ranadive “once coached his daughter’s team to a championship so he thinks, ‘Well anybody can coach.’ And he’s looking at Golden State, they’re 21-2. 'We should be 21-2.' (Firing Malone) is absolutely ridiculous" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 12/15). ESPN’s Tim Legler: “When you hire a coach before you hire a GM, you run into some problems” (“NBA Tonight,” ESPN2, 12/15). CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote Ranadive has "changed his role from franchise saver to super general manager" by firing Malone (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/15).
POOR TIMING, TOO? In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes Malone’s firing "is questionable for several reasons." The organization is "retiring the jersey" of former Kings F Peja Stojakovic tonight, several former players will be in attendance. Voisin: "Couldn’t Ranadive and his advisers feel the pulse of the community?" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/16). Wojnarowski said, "Ownership came close to firing Mike Malone over the summer. There have been disagreements between management and Mike Malone and his coaching staff over player personnel, over style of play, over potential trades and ultimately here they saw an opening ... to make their move on Mike Malone and bring in a guy who just fits the owner’s and general manager’s view of how they want to play the game. ... The sense around that organization was as soon as they had a chance to clip him, they were going to do it" (“America’s Pregame,” FS1, 12/15).
