Do the King have a De'Aaron Fox problem?

Okay, let's get the prerequisite objections out of the way for the lackluster play of Kings rookie De'Aaron Fox.

He's only 19.

His shot is going to get better.

He's playing with slow teammates.

Fans need to show some patience.

All legitimate. All probably correct. But also red flags for the highly touted point guard out of Kentucky, who was drafted fifth by the Kings and was expected to wow the league with his incredible quickness.

So let's get down to reality.

He is not playing well.  He is not a threat outside of 12 feet.  He is not initiating the offense. He is not penetrating and making plays.  He's getting lost on defense. And he is turning the ball over.

Oh, and one last thing: The other rookie point guard - Frank Mason - is absolutely doing all of the things that Fox is not. He's been gritty and fierce and, most importantly, willing to take control.

Yes, Mason is older and far more experienced, but that doesn't excuse the biggest red flag of all about Fox:

Fox has been oddly passive,

It's strange to watch Fox simply get into the front court, hand the ball off and move quietly to the corner. It's even stranger because he's the primary ball handler, even with George Hill on the court.

But he's not calling for picks and he's not directing traffic. And he certainly isn't drawing defenders.

Maybe he doesn't feel comfortable yet in the offense. Maybe he doesn't want to step on toes.

But if the Kings are looking for an Alpha-dog attitude to lead their team for the next decade, the sight of Fox has to be concerning.

Fox obviously has talent. But does he have that intangible "it factor" that turns talent into stardom?  So far, we haven't seen it. And that's not a factor of youth. It's a factor of attitude.

The Kings desperately need a star.  Fox, an amazingly likable kid, shines in his off-court interviews. He could own Sacramento - and the league - by fulfilling his potential.

The odds are that Fox will figure it out on the court, but you can't change the internal combustion engine of a player.

Kings fans need to see a few games - even a few glimpses - that prove Fox is ready to grab the league by the collar and announce his arrival.

The Maloofs: How to destroy a franchise and get filthy rich

For all we know, the Maloof family might be sweetest, most kind group of folks in the world.

For all we know, the Maloof family might be the most greedy, despicable bunch of dillettants since the Kardashians.

But for the people of Sacramento, all we can see right now is an ending that rewards the family with untold riches after it dismantled a franchise and left a legacy of ill will.

The Kings have been operated on yarn and chewing gum for way too long.   For the past three years, the Maloofs have flirted like drunk tramps with virtually every city in America.  The deals came and went and their secret maneuvers poked like a sharp stick at the psyche of Kings fans.

Now, with murmurs of a bidding war between Sacramento and Seattle, the Maloofs stand to walk away from this deal with more than $400 million in their pockets.  That's enough to start another skateboarding vodka company with plenty left over to fund the bachelor brothers and their antics for years to come.

It just doesn't seem fair.

Unfortunately, it's capitalism at its most raw and unvarnished.

If you like Bain Capital and its strip mining of American companies, you're gonna love this very unhappy ending.

Even if Sacramento wrenches the Kings back from the precipice, the Maloofs still win.

And they win big.

The Maloof family legacy is going to be hard to forget.

Best to start trying right now.

The Untold, Kinda Real Story Behind the Name "HereWeBuy"

The HereWeBuy movement has begun in Sacramento, thanks to local Kings supporter Carmichael Dave, who hatched the idea and helped develop a website that has captured the attention of the city. (See www.herewebuy.org)

Thousands of fans have pledged to buy season tickets on the site in hopes it will only boost the city in the eyes of the NBA.

Yet the slogan, "HereWeBuy," was not the first choice of many involved in the project.  It was only chosen after careful consideration and many hours of deliberation.

So what were the other suggestions?

Well, thanks to some inside information, we share them with you:

#HereWeBurkle: Huge favorite early, but then tossed aside because it was considered too specific.  Also considered: #HereWeCarlsen, #HearWeJiffyLube and #HearWeMastrov.  Not considered: #HereWeWeinersnitchel

#HereWeNapear: This lost by a close vote, but was eliminated when Carmichael Dave was unable to secure the rights to use Grant's name from long-lost love Don Geronimo.

#HereWeRemainAThornInTheSideOfTheMaloofsUntilTheyTakeTheirBrokeAssButtsAndGetOutOfTown:  Almost made the final cut but was considered a tad long and, ultimately, too hard to fit on a t-shirt.

#HereWeLingerHopelessly: Slightly depressing idea offered by a group of apathetic fans who wanted to get involved but felt it was too much of a bother.  It was given the early heave-ho.

#HereWeSpayAndNeuter:  Suggestion was slipped in by a local SPCA booster and Kings season ticket holder.  He was quickly shown the door and asked to pick up after his unruly beagle.

#HereWeBlowedUpAnySeattleDealRealGood: Carmichael Dave, a long-time fan of SCTV, was rooting for this one but nobody knew what he was talking about, despite referencing the video below:

Shocker: Kings post team for sale on ebay!

The Kings are for sale.  And it's finally public knowledge.

But just how public is this knowledge?

Very public.

You see, much to our surprise, the Kings owners have shockingly decided to list the team on ebay.com.  It makes sense.  What better place to get the money you so richly deserve?

It took us awhile, but we finally found the listing -- and it's mighty interesting.

First off, they've listed it for a Buy It Now price of $499 million.  That seemed like a genuine bargain until I scrolled down a bit and noticed that they also wanted $120 million for shipping and handling.

Too steep for my blood.  I'm a sucker for Free Shipping and this just seemed a little overpriced.

The seller -- some guy named MaloofusYou2013 located in Natomas -- posted a fairly compelling description of the sale item.

Here it is:

One-of-a-kind professional sports franchise in gently used condition.   Bid now for a chance to become part of an elite group of team owners.  Team is completely mobile.  Can move anywhere.  Or you can stay put and deal with the cowbell ringers and cocky mayor in this one-horse town.

Item comes complete with set of 12 life-sized professional basketball players.  Set includes one extra-large surly fellow with a lot of talent, one extra small former college sensation who has an interesting first name,  and one former rookie-of-the-year (could have some slight physical defects).  A number of players who seem to lack any ability at all are included to complete the set. 

The product comes with a full coaching staff, although we make no guarantees on their basketball knowledge or their ability to help your set of life-sized players in any way, shape or form.

As an option, we also offer a vice president who is slightly comatose, does not change expression, and was once was considered a genius (that probably no longer applies). 

Please, only bidders with legitimate credentials and big bank.  No wanna-be's, Jersey Shore types, or anyone with the last name Burkle.

All sales are final.  Unless we decide to change our minds at the last minute.

Good luck and good bidding!

Maloofs pay for somebody to abuse them. We do it for free.

So I'm listening to The Howard Stern show the other day and insult comic Jeffrey Ross is explaining how he sometimes gets hired by rich folks to do private roasts.

He lets slip that he recently did one of these private roasts for the Maloof brothers in Las Vegas  That tidbit of news left me confused.

First off, how do the Maloofs, who can't afford to put a coat of paint on the walls at their crumbling arena, afford to pony up for a professional comedian to make fun of them for an hour?  That's gotta be a huge wad of dough.  Ross said that Gavin paid him the old fashioned way, reaching into the cashier's cage at the Palms Hotel for the payoff.

This is the way the Maloofs are spending their money?

Haven't they been roasted enough over the past year?  All they need to do is read my blog to feel bad about their shameful behavior.  No need to hire anyone.

There's only one thing left to conclude from all this: The Maloofs enjoy abuse.

Kings fans, let's all continue to make their dreams come true.

Maloofs, the Kings and The Palms: A history of deterioration

Does anybody believe the current state of the Kings and Power Balance Arena is not the fault of the Maloofs?

Hey, maybe it's the economy or maybe the team just needs a new arena.  Maybe this deterioration is just bad luck, right?

Uh, no.

All you have to do is look to the desert of Nevada to see that this pattern is not unique.

The Palms Hotel, once the hottest of the hot spots in Vegas, has fallen into disrepair.  I decided to check customer reviews of the hotel on the popular TripAdvisor site.

Now, to be fair, there were some decent reviews, but the bad reviews were startling in their harshness.

Check them out for yourself:

Palms Reviews

Here's a sampling:

"The room reeked of deodorizers attempting to cover up bad odors in the room. The beds looked lumpy and the walls were dirty."


"This place was disgusting and horrible. It's amazing how fast and how far this place has fallen."


"Overall, worst hotel experience I've had in Vegas. Used to be a great place ten years ago, now it's on par with Circus Circus."


"This is by far the worst choice you could make to stay in Vegas, You would be better off to save the money and sleep on the streets and play an instrument to make extra money."

First the Kings and now The Palms.

What do these two business entities have in common?

Connect the dots, Kings fans.

Kings fans deserve better than this sad, pathetic franchise

Take this team and shove it.

That should be the attitude of Kings fans across Sacramento.

And those sentiments should be directed toward the unholy trio of Gavin and Joe Maloof, and their mild-mannered butler Geoff Petrie.

There are no more excuses for this paltry and pathetic assemblage of talent.  High draft picks, salary cap room, and a reported "genius" in the front office have landed the team in the cellar again.

It's embarassing.  It's unacceptable.  And nobody is screaming about it.  Are the Maloofs raising holy hell?  Are they holding Petrie accountable for this disaster? Or do they care anymore? Maybe they're just counting the days until the moving trucks arrive.

The Kings are a boarded-up bank repo.  Once grand and now in awful disrepair.

It's a shame.  The franchise with the most loyal fanbase in the NBA has put together an incredibly unlikeable team.  Selfish, immature, seemingly incapable of arousing even a hint of teamwork.

The worst part?  There's probably nothing that can be done.  Petrie still thinks he's sitting on a gold mine of talent.  There seems to be no pressure to make any big moves.

And the Maloofs, the league's former golden boys, just sit silently by, staring at their empty wallets, becoming increasing irrelevant with each passing minute.

Forget Jimmer. Isaiah Thomas is the team's new starting point guard

Ladies and gentleman, your new starting point guard for the Sacramento Kings...

Isaiah Thomas.

If the diminutive point guard can continue to play with even half the court vision, confidence and overall poise he showed against Toronto on Wednesday night, there is absolutely no reason he shouldn't be the team's starting point.

Right now.  And for the forseeable future.

The kid's got moxie.  Nobody on the team sees the floor like this kid.  Not Tyreke.  Not Marcus.  And not Jimmer.

He provided more easy baskets for DeMarcus Cousins than we've seen all season.  And Lord nows this team needs easy baskets.

So take a seat, Mr. Fredette, you're good for 5 or 10 minutes a game.  That's it.  Thomas is the rookie the watch.

He's small, but he plays big.

Let the Isaiah era begin.

1/11/12

Trade Tyreke Evans today. It's the right thing to do.

So let's see where we are after the most pivotal free-agent/trading period in Kings history.

Nowhere.

That's right.  Absolutely nowhere.

After years of pointing to this season as the year for big deals and big trades and free-agent signings, the Kings find themselves in possibly worse position than they were a year ago.

They have no point guard.  In fact, they have nobody with even an inkling of how to distribute.

They have no shot blocker, unless they can somehow convince Samuel Dalembert to return to the fold.  Which also means they have no defense.  J.J. Hickson is not considered a strong defensive player.  DeMarcus Cousins was a disaster on defense last year.  And those two, ladies and gentlemen, are the team's big-man stoppers.

They have no small forward.  At least no small forward that can take the team to the next level.  John Salmons?  Please.  Still one of the worst transactions in recent NBA history.

Now the Chuck Hayes tragedy was certainly not the team's fault, but let's face it:  Hayes wasn't going to turn the team into contenders.  He would have been a nice piece and a fan favorite, but he wasn't going to change the team's fortunes.

So what to do now?

Well, there's only one thing you can do.

TRADE TYREKE EVANS.

Trade him today.  Before he turns his next ankle.  Before he bullrushes into the lane again to throw up another ill-advised runner.  Before he ignores his teammates on fast breaks.  Before people in the league begin to figure out he's not really as good as his rookie hype.

Get me a point guard with skills.  Someone who can set up Jimmer and Thornton.  Get me a big man who will have opponents thinking twice in the lane.

Here's one target: How about Rajon Rondo of the Celtics.  Boston has been trying to move him for the last month.  He'd be perfect for the Kings.

This team, as currently constructed, is headed for disaster.  In fact, I have no idea what Geoff Petrie is thinking. Even in the land of the Timberwolves, they have assembled a team that actually makes sense.  Love. Rubio. Johnson.  That's a nice foundation.  The pieces are beginning to come together.

Here, in the land of the Kings,  Petrie has put together a no-defense team of chuckers.

It's sad, really.

And I don't expect it to get much better.

Unless, of course, I hear some juicy Tyreke rumors.

Nothing's changed: Too many gunners, not enough passing or defense for Kings.

Things we learned after a trivial, meaningless preseason game:

-- Somebody needs to tell J.J. Hickson that the lockout is over.

--Jason Thompson still plays like a rookie.

--Stephen Curry is better than Tyreke Evans.

--Jimmer Fredette flashed a little of his college magic, but he has a long way to go to prove he's not a one-dimensional player.

--Marcus Thornton still likes to gun.

--There is absolutely no way the Kings can be a winning team with Evans, Fredette and Thornton and no distributor.  It is a lost cause and nobody can convince me otherwise.

--Hassan Whiteside needs to start apartment shopping in D-League cities.

--The Kings need to put in an urgent call to Samuel Dalembert.

Time for Kings to go all-in with big offer to Gasol

No more sitting on the sidelines while the rest of the NBA wheels and deals.

It's time for Geoff Petrie to pull off a major coup.  And now that the new labor agreement forces the dirt-poor Maloofs into spending more dough, it's time to think big.  Really big.

My suggestion: Throw a ton of stupid money at Memphis restricted free agent center Marc Gasol.

He is easily the most talented and valuable free agent available on the market.  He's a young, talented center who would fit marvelously next to DeMarcus Cousins.

Make the Grizzlies match a ridiculous offer.  Make them squirm.  Make them do something they don't want to do: Sign Gasol to a silly deal.

So, you're asking yourself, why would the Kings want to make a silly deal?

Because they can.

Because they have the cap space.

Because they need to spend.

Because they need to make themselves relevant in the NBA again.

Because they can't wait yet another year.

Yes, it could backfire, but I'd rather see them take a big swing than bunt again.

This is the year that was promised to Kings fans.  This was when they were going to come out slugging and go after free agents.

So go do it.

Now.

No more excuses.

Notice the Kings are barely registering on the NBA rumor mill.  Why is that?  They should be involved in every trade rumor, every free agent rumbling.

So make it happen. No more money wasted on the likes of Samuel Dalembert or Marcus Thornton.  Combine their salary offers and make Gasol an offer he can't refuse.

Maloofs show their empty pockets with support of Power Balance

Gavin and Joe Maloof are desperate for cash.

That is the only explanation for their incredibly tone-deaf support of the fraudulent Power Balance company, a business that will be forced to refunds millions of dollars to customers for allegedly peddling a scam product.

According to Kings spokesman Chris Clark, the Kings are still quite satisfied to be in business with Power Balance simply because "they have assured us of their commitment to the Sacrmento Kings."

Without scientific evidence,  Power Balance bracelets seem to nothing but overpriced, worthless trinkets that pretend to have magical powers.  And that's why they were sued.

But with the NBA season on hold and their financial situation in turmoil, the Maloofs are grasping at any penny thrown their way.

It's time for them to figure out an exit strategy.

Sell the team.

Make a run for it.

It's best for the city of Sacramento.

The Maloofs are paupers.  We need Kings.



in

Get with it, Mayor Johnson: Step up with an arena funding plan right now

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson has been basking in glory over the past week, ever since his seemingly triumphant performance in front of the NBA board of governors.

Yes, KJ put on an impressive show, they say.  And Sacramento got a two-week stay of execution.

But Anaheim is quietly regrouping and still holds a huge upper hand.

And that's why I am unsatisfied - even disappointed - with the Mayor over the last couple of days,

He seems to be playing prevent defense instead of going for the victory.  It's a silly strategy, considering the Kings are far behind and not in front.

Right now, the only thing that will save the Kings is some kind of viable funding option for a new arena.

But on that single question, the Mayor is basically punting.

When asked about a possible arena funding plan, he offers no answers.  And right about now he needs answers.  Big answers.

It's time to get creative.  To think out of the box.

Ticket surcharges.  Hotel taxes.  Call Goldman Sachs, who helped build Louisville's new arena.  Get some Burkle bonds.

C'mon, give the NBA something.

The NBA ain't staying without a shiny new box for the Kings.

And no matter how much KJ brags about the fans, the NBA will not vote against relocation if they don't see an arena plan that makes sense right now.

Some say it's impossible to come up with a plan in such a short time.

I don't.  I think creative minds in a city filled with movers and shakers can get it done.

Just letting relocation maven Clay Bennett sink his toes into the muddy expanse of nothing at the Railyards won't work.  He needs to see how the vision becomes reality on paper.  And so does the NBA.

Time to take the last shot, Mr. Mayor.

Only a few seconds left.

Don't dish it off and expect to get the ball back.

Louisville's arena story: A compelling video on why Sacramento should build a new arena

Goldman Sachs helped to finance an arena in Louisville.  In doing so, they also put out one of the most compelling and concise video essays ever on why an arena would be great idea for Sacramento.

This should have been a campaign infomercial aired the night before the last ballot measure to build a new arena here in Sacramento.

Have a look...

http://miniurl.com/103358

Hail Mary attempts to keep the Kings and the sad honest truth

Hail Mary passes are fun.

Launched high in the air with a prayer, hoping for a deflection or two, a defender misjudging, a lunging grab, and then maybe, just maybe, a miracle.

There are a lot of Hail Marys being tossed in Sacramento of late, most notably "Here We Build," the brainchild of KHTK's Carmichael Dave.

It's basically an arena telethon. Make your pledge to finance a new arena and watch the tote board soar.

It would be easy to throw cold water on this attempt, but it's a chance for the common folk of Sacramento to feel a little bit in control of their fate. And that's important as Kings fans watch helplessly as their beloved team creeps out of town.

I say knock yourself out. Go for it. I will never criticize activism in the name of civic good.

But then there's this: the effort to collect signatures in Anaheim to put the city's bond measure on a public ballot.

It's an interesting strategy, but it's petty and silly. You wonder how people in Sacramento would feel if another city took to our streets to prevent us from luring a franchise back to town.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read further if you don't want to learn an important secret.

The Kings are gone.

Adios.

Out of here.

The city blundered with silly strategies. The Maloofs tore down the team and destroyed enthusiasm. And now it's over.

Only the Lakers, by bringing to bear an outrageous relocation fee, could even have the slightest chance in hell of changing the outcome.

So now it's time to think future, not past.

I doubt the money's here to build an arena without the Kings, but I'd still love to see an amazing development in the railyards. I'd still like to see a new entertainment facility for concerts and shows.

The main focus of the city should be economic development. Rebuild the base. Grow prosperity. Bring in corporate entities that may someday be willing to partner in an arena project down the road.

It may take a decade or more to see pro sports here again. It may never happen. But there's a city to grow in Sacramento. A city that can be vibrant and alive. Already, in parts of downtown, new restaurants and clubs have begun to make such an impact. There's a whole lot more to do.

The Kings added flavor and passion and their loss hurts. But now it's time for a rebirth.

WikiLeaks reveals Top Secret Behind-the-Scenes memos from the Kings organization (including latest memo on DeMarcus)

Lost among the thousands and thousands of confidential State Department memos released by WikiLeaks on Sunday was a slew of memos from the upper echelon of the Sacramento Kings organization.

They are revealing and sometimes embarrassing, but we are doling them out as a public service.

Nov 1, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Paul Westphal
From: Geoff Petrie

Hi Paul. Just wondering when you might be inclined to install an offense. I was peaking in at practice the other day and saw a lot of the fellas standing around and snacking. Any chance you could brief me on the progress.

Nov. 2, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Geoff Petrie
From: Paul Westphal

Thanks for spying on us, Mr. Busy Body. That was our offense. It's complicated, though. We do a lot of decoy stuff and many of the players say they enjoy watching my main man Tyreke just do his thing. You don't want me to start messing with our Rookie of the Year, do you?

Nov. 10, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Grant Napear
From: Gavin and Joe Maloof

Grant, we want to make sure you have the game plan for the new season. DeMarcus Cousins needs to be positioned as the team stud. Forget about the his immaturity, lack of jumping ability, and complete indifference on defense. Go nuts every time he touches the ball. Every time. Do you understand? Feel free to mix in plenty of that catchphrase of yours, "If you don't like DeMarcus Cousins, you're an inbred hillbilly" -- or whatever it is. We don't listen to you that much.

Nov. 16, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Gavin and Joe Maloof
From: Geoff Petrie

Hi boys. Just wanted to update you on our coach. I'm not so sure we made the right call on this guy. He seems to lack a little bit in the teaching department. And the strategy department. And the game-management department. And the ability to relate-to-his-players department. I was wondering if we could possibly eat his salary and hire a real coach.

Nov. 17, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Geoff Petrie
From: Joe and Gavin Maloof

That was a joke, right? We can barely afford the insurance payments on our matching lime green Lamborghinis. I suggest you suck it up and give the guy some coaching of your own. P.S. When did you become such a whiner?

Nov. 23, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Geoff Petrie
From: Paul Westphal

Hi Geoff. I was wondering if it's too late to add to those giant banners of DeMarcus and Tyreke on the side of the arena. Some of the players are asking why they aren't pictured. I agree. Luther Head and Pooh Jeter have scheduled photo sessions with the team photographer. I think it will exemplify our new team philosophy. By the way, I've come up with slogans for each of them: "Get Head" and "Smells Like Pooh." Whaddya think?

Nov. 24, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Joe and Gavin Maloof
From: Geoff Petrie

Hi guys. I think our coach has gone off the deep end. We really need to do something. I don't usually like to use this description, but we suck.

Nov. 26, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Geoff Petrie
From: Joe and Gavin Maloof

Hey Geoff, stop complaining about the coach. You haven't exactly made a trade that made either of our pants damp in a decade. All you do is stand in in the corner during the games and act all cerebral and stuff. You ain't so smart. I mean, Antoine Wright? Really?

Nov. 29, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Geoff Petrie, Gavin & Joe Maloof
From: Paul Westphal

Um, I don't want to sound scared, but I'm sending this memo from a cubicle in the locker room bathroom. I think that DeMarcus fellow is a little mad at me. He seems like he might have some anger issues and I was wondering if maybe we could get him some counseling. Wait, someone is pounding on the door. Oh, no... gotta go...

Nov. 29, 2010
Inter-office Memo
To: Gavin Maloof
From: Joe Maloof

We are so screwed.

Blockbuster Kings trade: Chris Bosh to the Kings. Would you do it?

Another game. Another blow to the enthusiasm of Kings fans.

Wednesday's loss to the Knicks was, once again, inexcusable.

You can't lose at home to a bad team playing the second of a back-to-back. Not when your slogan is "Here We Rise."

But there were some bright spots:

DeMarcus Cousins played with more intensity than we've seen all season.

Donte Greene was released from solitary confinement and actually looked capable of playing basketball.

And here's the best news: I just got off the phone with Geoff Petrie and he loves my new trade idea.

In fact, he says I should be the new Kings GM.

Then I woke up.

Seriously, here's a blockbuster deal that could shake up the league, get the juices flowing again, and perhaps change the direction of the entire Kings franchise.

Strangely enough, it's actually plausible. Improbable, perhaps. But very plausible.

So hold onto your jerseys, Kings fans, here's the game-changing trade:

SAMUEL DALEMBERT & CARL LANDRY & a No. 1 draft pick in 2012.

to the Miami Heat for

CHRIS BOSH

Yup, I told you it was a stunner.

So why does anyone make this trade?

Well, for the Kings, it's a matter of jump-starting the team's entire karma. Let's face it: Whatever's happening here is not working.

Dalembert and Landry are both solid veterans. But they are not the team's future. Neither figures to be around when the Kings are really set to contend.

Bosh instantly gives the Kings an impressive frontcourt scorer who has averaged 20 points and close to 10 rebounds for his career.

In addition, he is still very young (26).

On the contrarian side, Bosh has been called soft at times. I'm willing to overlook that since a certain Chris Webber used to suffer the same criticism and he seemed to do all right.

With Bosh onboard, Cousins moves back into the starting lineup at center. And he instantly becomes a much happier man.

For Miami, the reasons are less clear now but not entirely impossible to understand. The team has not fared well on defense and their lack of size is starting to make some people wonder about just how far they can go.

With Dalembert, the team instantly gets a large and extremely valuable inside defender and shot blocker. And he certainly won't be asked to score.

As for Landry, he gives them another honest NBA talent on a team that is very thin in that area. In many ways, Landry could fill the role he did with the Rockets. A solid-scoring, energy player off the bench.

But why would the Heat deal Bosh so soon after the arrival of "The Big Three?"

Well, it would certainly be an admission that their original strategy was faulty, but the results thus far prove that things aren't exactly going as planned.

Bosh's reputation is taking a beating and there are many who believe he didn't realize how tough it would be to become the third wheel. Reports say he looks uncomfortable and his scoring and rebounding averages are way down.

The trade also gets them out from Bosh's big-money deal and gives them some financial flexibility.

One caveat to this trade: It can't be finalized until after Dec. 15 due to contract considerations. However, it does work within the salary cap limitations.

Will this trade happen? Only if the Heat continue to struggle and panic a bit. And only if Geoff Petrie gets the go-ahead to get very creative with the team's money.

And probably only if I'm GM.

So I'm throwing my hat into the right now. Send your cards and letters to the Maloofs.

Ron Wenig for Kings GM.

Westphal should be dismissed

Kings coach Paul Westphal doesn't get it.

And it shows on the court. So right now, I'm calling it.

Fire Westphal.

Sure, I could wait until the All-Star break. Or for an 8-game losing streak. After all, the team is just 3-3.

But I'm not waiting.

Fire Westphal.

Why? Well, there are many reasons. Let's get to it:

OFFENSE

What offense? Too many times, the offense consists of Tyreke Evans dribbling for the first 10 seconds, then darting into traffic, only to A.) throw up a bad shot B.) dish off an unbalanced pass to a lunging teammate C.) make a spectacular shot.

There is zero movement. Back-door plays are non-existent. There is not enough cutting, no moving of the ball from side-to-side.

A smart offense needs a philosophy of sharing and team basketball. Whether Westphal is preaching it or not, there is none of that evident on the court.

Good teams need discipline. Teams with DeMarcus Cousins really need discipline. There is no way Cousins should be firing up three-pointers or getting free reign to shoot with his current frequency.

Look at these numbers: He has hit just 18 of 46 shots in five games. That is an awful percentage for a skilled big man. It is also a sign that he is not clear about his role. Now, he's lost his starting job -- and despite claims to the contrary, I'd bet he isn't very happy about it. This is when a coach earns his salary. I'm not sure Westphal has the ability to handle the ramifications.

Speaking of roles, does anyone on the Kings know their role? Westphal used Carl Landry as his go-to guy against the Lakers, but he was a benched no-show against the Grizzlies, amassing a grand total of 19 minutes, 4 shots and 4 points and barely getting a sniff down the stretch. Landry has to be confused. How are you "the guy" one game and the "non-entity" the next?

Jason Thompson is another guy with a mystery role. He's now a backup small forward. How in the world did that happen?

Donte Greene is on milk cartons now, his once glorious potential completely wasted.

Players have no idea when they'll play or what their role should be. Westphal's rotations are so bizarre they border on random. And that is an awful recipe for a young team that needs structure.

DEFENSE

Without Samuel Dalembert, the Kings are easily the worst defensive team in the league.

Not a single player seems fundamentally strong. Everyone reaches and pokes and gets called for silly fouls. Opposing teams shred the Kings from the 3-point line (opponents are shooting more than 40% on threes)

Tyreke Evans has been weak on defense early in the season, getting exposed by quicker point guards. Penetration is almost a given.

The Kings surrender points at an alarming rates. You knew this was going to be a problem when they allowed the Timberwolves to score 116 points in the opener.

Defense, like offense, is a philosophy. It's hard work. It's aggressiveness. It's moving your feet and being smart and helping teammates. None of this is evident on Westphal's team.

SO SHOULD WESTPHAL GO?

I'm saying yes. Sure, it's early to pull a move look like this. But here's a better question: Has anybody seen enough to think Westphal can take this team to the next level. I haven't.

This team needs someone with a clear philosopy and a disciplined approach. Someone who can bring structure and instill an unselfish attitude.

They need someone who can school Evans and Cousins about what they need to do to become great NBA players.

They need someone to inspire and teach.

Too much to ask? Maybe.

But I think the move has to be made.