In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes the "uncertainty that enveloped" the NBA Kings' front office and coaching staff is "easing, starting to resemble the framework of a deal." Kings VP/Basketball & Franchise Operations Vlade Divac has the "keys to the palace," and his voice "rings loudest." GM Pete D’Alessandro is being "retained and encouraged and empowered to do his job," as is Assistant GM Mike Bratz. In what "might be the most significant change," Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive in recent weeks has "moved quietly into the background, entrusting his basketball operations to Divac and the on-court developments" to coach George Karl. Divac said, "Pete can be a big part of this. And these last two weeks, I see tremendous progress. We are getting along, functioning. Slowly we are fitting in together" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/17).
TERMS & CONDITIONS: In L.A., Shaikin & DiGiovanna cite sources as saying that Angels LF Josh Hamilton's contract "contains at least three provisions" Owner Arte Moreno "could use to pursue his case, including one that would enable the club to void the deal if Hamilton could not perform because he had engaged in 'dangerous activities' that include drug and alcohol abuse." The Angels also "could cite a provision that would allow the club to walk away if it determined Hamilton was not in 'first-class condition' because of substance abuse" (L.A. TIMES, 4/17).
THE MAGIC OF WINNING: In DC, Scott Allen noted Wizards and Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis on Wednesday during a radio interview "spoke about the excitement of having both the Wizards and the Capitals in the playoffs" for the first time since he owned them. He said of the Wizards, "I think we still have some work to do to just automatically sell out every game. We sold out 250-plus Caps games and we have a waiting list for people to buy season tickets. Everyone gets the program, you can see everyone’s wearing red, but we’ll get there with the Wizards. It’s two years in a row, and I think next year we’ll improve, and I just want the Wizards to follow on the same track as the Capitals and have the fans expect that we can be a playoff team every year and that one year we can punch through and get a ring" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/16).
POWER PLAY: SPORTSNET.ca's Gord Stellick wrote the Maple Leafs' firing both GM Dave Nonis and interim coach Peter Horachek "came quick" after the season ended, and at the very least, the moves spoke to the regime of President Brendan Shanahan "now being one of action rather than evaluation." Shanahan "flexed his muscle with the mass firings of a general manager, coaches and scouts." However, he "quickly dismissed" the notion of "assuming the general manager title along with being president." Stellick: "But I did get the sense the door is open a little bit if needed in a few months" (SPORTSNET.ca, 4/15).
