The Kings, who previously furloughed some employees starting on June 1, have now laid off some staffers as well, according to Sean Cunningham of ABC10 Sacramento (Twitter links). According to Cunningham, no members of the Kings’ basketball operations department were part of this week’s layoffs.
Cunningham estimates that about 100 employees within the organization were impacted by the earlier furloughs. And based on a statement from John Rinehart, the Kings’ president of business operations, it sounds like a portion of those workers have now been laid off.
“As part of the organization’s ongoing evolution of efforts to align with the changes in our business, we have made the difficult decision to transition a portion of previously furloughed full-time roles to a reduction in workforce effective July 31 and extend the furlough period for the remaining segment of previously furloughed employees to tentatively November 1 due to continued uncertainty surrounding the resumption of live events at Golden 1 Center resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rinehart said, per Cunningham.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Kings center Alex Len, who reported to the NBA campus late after a bout with COVID-19, will likely miss the team’s first summer game on Friday, head coach Luke Walton said today (Twitter link via James Ham of NBC Sports California). However, it shouldn’t be too much longer before Len is ready to go.
- Within an ESPN.com piece about the Lakers‘ unusual 2019/20 season, Dave McMenamin suggests that LeBron James wasn’t thrilled about Lakers players being asked last fall to address the NBA/China controversy before commissioner Adam Silver or Rockets GM Daryl Morey did. Morey’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protestors instigated that dispute between the league and its Chinese partners.
- Lou Williams‘ violation of the NBA’s protocols means he’s serving a 10-day quarantine and missing at least two seeding games, but his Clippers teammates and head coach Doc Rivers have Williams’ back, as Mark Medina of USA Today writes. “Lou’s one of the most-liked guys in the whole organization and is always trying to get everyone together on the road,” center Ivica Zubac said. “Lou is a true leader. The fact that everyone is coming to the defense of him speaks everything about him.”
- Anthony Slater of The Athletic takes a deep dive into James Wiseman‘s potential fit with the Warriors, pointing out that if Golden State does end up using its top-five pick this fall, it will represent an opportunity to secure a long-term building block — not just a role player who can fit in with the current core.
Lebron was mad that he had to talk about someone else.
Would James Wiseman be any better than Deandre ayton? I don’t know enough about ayton. I’d rather trade the pick whoever it is and I think the Warriors have the same thing in mind.
The best idea is to trade Wiggins along with this pick To Pistons or Hawks Via third team
Most owners have cost saving program during pandemic
Golden State needs to get rid of one of their top 4 players who make a combined $130M/year. Wiggins is the obvious choice here.
They don’t have to.
They don’t want to.
If they wanted to, they would have let Kevin Durant walk for free and not brought in another Max guy. It was the smart thing to do because now you still have that Max slot active. Had Durant walked, the Warriors would NOT BE ABLE to sign a brand new free agent making big dollars like that. The trade for Russell made it happen. Genius in my opinion.
You can plug in whatever big dollar guy you deem appropriate. Right now it’s Wiggins because they needed a wing long-term more than they needed D’Angelo Russell. Notice how they are always improving. Ship out Russell bring in Wiggins + a first-round pick and the way the Timberwolves are set up for next season it should be a pretty high pick especially with the defense they’re going to play LOL.
Warriors don’t need to do that. They need low cost rookies to keep the payroll down. What people do not understand is rookies are cheap compared to bringing a player that is a star quality. What you are doing is trading a top pick and wiggins for another high payroll player. That doesn’t help them.
Top 10 pick makes as much or more than the Veteran’s minimum.
What you’re not seeing here is with curry and Thompson and green 30 + years old there’s a three-year window to do damage. They are going for the Gusto and not giving a second look at salary. This is an opportune time that very few get to experience. They know what it takes to get to the finals. They won 3 LOL. no no it’s not time to be cheap.
Don’t you understand if they wanted to keep payroll down they would have let Durant walk for noyhing? You can’t see that? They took back D’Angelo Russell salary to keep that spot in house. Shuffle Russell out Bring Wiggins in. If they can get Giannis they go for it and they can fit him in the salary cap because Wiggins would be shipped out. Same salaries. How can you not see this? Some teams never get to this point where are they have a team that not only capable of winning it all.. they’ve done it !! They just need to add a couple guys and they’ve got a three-year window. Now I’m repeating myself so I’ll shut up.
Arc89 you’re a Warriors fan and you think they’re going to go cheap now? You think they’re going to go ahead and reduce salary? You think they’ll get rid of Wiggins and bring in a a rookie or second round pick to replace him to keep the salary down? Wow. You’re not paying attention.
No gary i am saying the opposite. They will pick a young cheap top draft pick. Getting rid of Wiggins does nothing for the payroll since they would get a expensive player back and lose a top draft pick. That makes no sense at all. A top draft pick will be better than a vet at the minimum salary. So its a lose situation to trade the draft pick.
I hear you. Sounds good. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
If Pistons or Hawks overpay free agents they don’t have compensation
If they get Wiggins，they can get 1 of top 5 picks
Third team dump taxable salary like Covington J Richardson Gary Harris
Ayton is a nice talent. Wiseman has a chance to be better. Cause defensively he can be better. Both are the future bigs imo. Warriors have a few options. All can work for them. But this article is about Wiseman helping now. And being the foundation for the future. That’s a real thing. Wiseman can be a major part off the bench. At 20-25 mins a gm. Warriors have trade exception, Wiggins, plus future picks to use. Plus there will be a few vets. Who will take less to chase ring. The draft will tell a lot which direction Warriors will go. If I was a Warriors fan. I’d be ecstatic for next yr. They will definitely be back as top contender. For next 3-4 yrs.
NBA doesn’t need to get political with China. When in our own country. We can’t be without opposition for basic rights.
You bring up a great point Al. They can pick Wiseman and keep him because he’s ready to go now from what you say. Defensively and offensively. He’s better than ayton. Okay great.
Then they can still trade next year’s first along with Minnesota’s first that they own plus the trade exception of 17 mil and maybe a young guy like Paschal to get a superstar Wing guy. That’d be fantastic.
I still think the Warriors will trade their number 1 pick this year away but I like what you’re saying. Curry, Thompson, new stud Wing, green and Wiseman, Plus veteran minimum ring chasers on the bench. Or start Marquise Chris because he doesn’t need the ball and he’s a good passer and bring Weisman Off the Bench as your second unit scorer. Not too shabby, I like it Al.