Vlade's grade as GM thus far...

#1
I would give him a B- so far. Even though he really botched the DMC fiasco, he made some solid moves. I actually did agree with him with the phili trade two years ago so I cant fault him on that but I gave him a B- because it's really an incomplete. He made some moves that I didn't really agree with but time will tell if those moves will pay off. also, im curious as to how he will use the cap space that he has. I really hope he can get another SF and PG and also get a 2019 1st round draft choice.
 

gunks

Hall of Famer
#2
He's made some F'd up trades, but his drafting is on point and that's what a rebuild is all about.

Speaking of rebuilds.... it sucks that we're going through yet another one, but with a young core of Fox, Buddy, WCS, Skal, Papa, Mali, (hopefully) Bogs.... And we have zero bad contacts + loads of cap space..... Leaves a lot of room for optimism.

I gotta give Vlade a B+. Albeit begrudgingly, because Cuz is my guy and I still think a winner could have been built around him. Post Cuz future looking bright though.
 
#3
To be continued.

Has drafted well.

I don't fault him for the Philly trade. Cost of doing business at the start at FA, look at what the Lakers paid to get rid of Mozgov.

I blame it on Pete & Vivek.

I'll wait and see what he does with our cap space before giving him a grade.
 
#7
Frankly, look at what Paul George has (or in this case has not) garnered in a trade. The market for star players who may or maynot re-sign is a lot worse than we thought. I think in the end what we got for cousins will likely far outshine what the pacers get. As unfortunate as the whole deal was, well it might have been the best possible outcome. (Note: still not a fan of the trade but what is done is done. Go Kings!)
 
#8
To be determined. Right now after the draft I think very highly of Vlade Divac but I want to wait until the end of this season to make my full determination. I've heard it said that every draft class needs at least 3 years and usually 5 to determine the full potential. If I'm not mistaken this coming season will be Willies third year, the next season will be the Big Poppa draft classes third year comma and 2019 will be this class 's 3rd season.

Therefore regardless of what Vlade put on his own head, the end of the 2019 season will be where I make my stay or go valuation. By that point we will have a clear indication of whether or not he has built a potential winner
 
#10
ive been satisfied with his drafting and I think his FA track record has been solid but im still leery on his trading ability. I want to see how vlade will fill the PG and SF void in FA or in trade. They still need some veteran players at those positions. But he's worlds better than that idiot, PDA. BTW, didn't he land a job in orlando?
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#12
I've posted elsewhere that I'm truly sorry I ever doubted Vlade. Last night proved to me just how wrong I had been.

Could the DMC deal have been handled better? Possibly. Could we have gotten a better deal? Not so sure after seeing how well things have played out thus far.

So, my grade for Vlade? Has to be an A.
 
#13
The way I look at it, now that Vlade has Scott Perry (Exec VP B-ball Operations) plus Luke Bornn (analytics expert) by his side last couple months overall
FO situation much improved. Started out shaky especially with way Cousins trade went down. Now seems well oiled machine running the show not to mention Vivek apparently staying out of the way.
 
#14
not to mention Vivek apparently staying out of the way.
This was huge. Now I will grant that I followed most of the draft on the radio, but from my vantage he was nowhere to be seen. His hands were all over Buddy which probably contributed to my unease at the time, but I am very satisfied with where we are today.

As for Vlade, if I have to grade him this second, he's a B+. However I am hopeful that by December I can make that an A.
 
#15
There is alot left to be seen with all of these projects and kids on the roster, giving him a grade right now would not be fair, he gets an F for the pre-cousins trade era and an Incomplete for the post-cuz era.
 
#16
C-, but on a nice recovery trend after a horrible looking stretch. The bad seasons have already happened, and the kids have yet to do anything. We'll see how he handles this cap space up to the trade deadline...
 
#18
B+, I need to see some wins before I bump him up to an A! :)

As far as the Philly pick swap. I believe Vlade got the same player at #5, De'Arron Fox, as he would had taken at #3. So, there really was no "loss" in the pick swap. ;)

Vlade actually saved a little money by drafting De'Arron at #5, instead of #3. ;)
It would have been Fox or Jackson and depending on how Giles pans out we may be better off that the decision was made for us.

eta: also, aren't the two top prospects for next year's draft SFs?
 
#19
It would have been Fox or Jackson and depending on how Giles pans out we may be better off that the decision was made for us.
It probably made the decision easier for Vlade that Josh Jackson was off the board, because of Jackson's off court issues and the whole "character matters" comments.
 
#20
It probably made the decision easier for Vlade that Josh Jackson was off the board, because of Jackson's off court issues and the whole "character matters" comments.
I love everything about Fox, from the fact that he truly wanted to be here to the lining of his suit jacket. He seems like a great kid. I'm glad we got him.

I think that had we wound up with Jackson we'd have picked at 10 and we'd all be optimistic about next season but nobody would be singing Vlade's praises quite like they are now. And this matters - while I would like to see us play it cautious and make no major signings and evaluate the youth this season, odds are we are going to sign one or two guys and the fact that we suddenly look competent is only going to increase our ability to lure talent.
 
#21
It probably made the decision easier for Vlade that Josh Jackson was off the board, because of Jackson's off court issues and the whole "character matters" comments.
For what it's worth Vlade said would have drafted Fox #1 overall if Kings would have been in that position. Note: Vlade Divac coming on Grant's radio show shortly after 4 PM today.
 
#22
Frankly, look at what Paul George has (or in this case has not) garnered in a trade. The market for star players who may or maynot re-sign is a lot worse than we thought. I think in the end what we got for cousins will likely far outshine what the pacers get. As unfortunate as the whole deal was, well it might have been the best possible outcome. (Note: still not a fan of the trade but what is done is done. Go Kings!)
Good point. Same for Jimmy Butler.

There were probably two other factors driving that trade. The big pay day DMC was eligible for, and our fairly unique draft position, where we could potentially end up with no first round picks this year. With DMC, we would have continued to fight for the 8th spot (probably missing out more than making it), with no new talent to add around him, and no cap space. Plus, what if he had asked for a trade after the new contract?

As much as I hated the trade then, at least there was some rationality to it. If some of the kids we got in exchange (effectively Buddy, Fox, JJ, Giles, Mason) develop, it will end up as a win. If we can use the cap space to get something more, even better.
 

SLAB

Hall of Famer
#23
B, and continuing to trend up. I actually never hated the Philly deal as much as... some. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a great deal to begin with and the follow up moves didn't pan out. But you had to try one last hurrah with DMC.

It didn't work, and DMC was gone (which is something I honestly think he foreshadowed by taking PapaG). The DMC trade almost broke me. I lost all faith. He was down to a flat F at that point.

I still love DMC. I wish him well every step of his career. I still hope he hangs 80 points on us one day. But sometimes the cliche applies, when you really love something you have to let it go. And doing so enabled us to get Fox.

Now it's all on how these kids turn out. We are young AF. Vlade has set it up where we can be special.... Or we can be awful. Just gotta hope things go our way now.
 
#24
For what it's worth Vlade said would have drafted Fox #1 overall if Kings would have been in that position.
From most executives I take that as blowing smoke up our butts but for whatever reason when Vlade says, it I believe it. Some of that has to do with the rumors that the Lakers and Suns were considering Fox. I think the Lakers interest was a smoke show but I think the Suns would have legitimately drafted Fox if they could have traded off Bledsoe. Also several teams hinted at the idea that the top four or five players were relatively safe picks. Therefore, if multiple teams were considering him then it isn't that crazy to me that Vlade would have had him first on their board.
 
#26
I believe I read somewhere that Vlade said we would have taken Fox even if we had the #1 pick.
That's a hot take. I really wanted to say something yesterday about not giving these hideous rumors/made up B.S/ lazy hit pieces legs but I didn't want to ttt the threads. I think the right move to do is bring in a few vets and not let the L's pile up.
 
#27
A.

Anything in the B range and I think you underestimate the absolute coup getting Joerger was.

He's been the best drafter in basketball since taking the post.

He's been the force behind cleaning out the in-fighting/politics/mismanagement in the FO, and a full turnover is now complete, with rave reviews of new hires.

So a couple minor trades were not ideal. Cousins trade not executed correctly. Fair.

Of course time will tell with the Cousins trade, but he's absolutely crushing it on the big points.

As an early and harsh critic of the Cousins trade, I've come to realize that none of this youth collection and sense of optimism happens in Cousins shadow.

Edit: One final thing... could anybody esle FINALLY have gotten Vivek butt out?
 
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#28
Vlade will get some extra credit from me if he can use some of our cap space to take a salary dump and get a 2018 or 2019 1st round pick or two. ;)

I think right around July 1st is when teams start to trade assets (i.e. draft picks or young players) for salary dumps. Once teams see if they have the possibilities to sign some key free agents, but need cap space to do so.

I sure hope Vlade and Perry are working the phones to make those trades come July 1st. ;)
 
#30
But it's all going to take lots of patience over several seasons (hopefully not too many) before rejoicing really comes to Sactown. With free agent signings in about a week maybe Kings can get another starter (hint - SF) to actually make playoff run sooner than expected. Lets see how Vlade does with free agency. Go Vlade!

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/should...-nba-teams-draft-pick-just-yet-204958969.html
I think Vlade needs to get a veteran Point Guard and Small Forward in a salary dump trade or free agency.

I can see Ty Lawson re-signing to be that mentor PG, now that we have two young PG.

A veteran SF we may target in a salary dump trade would be Portland's Moe Harkless. If we get Harkless and a 2018 or 2019 draft pick for taking on Meyers Leonard salary dump, it's a win-win for both us and Portland.

We can get a starting SF, until Justin Jackson is ready, and a future draft pick in one salary dump trade.

Portland would also get below the Luxury tax in one trade, I believe.