George Karl fired by Nuggets

[Quetzalcoatl]

“Denver has parted ways with coach George Karl, league source says … Karl will not be brought back for the final year of his contract. He was informed this morning. In final year of deal, Karl was pushing for a contract extension, and ownership wasn’t prepared to give it to him, source says … Denver believes it can attract an elite coach with its roster; simply didn’t want to deal with an unhappy Karl in final year of contract.”

It was basically hinted that he was upset about the way the Nuggets handled the Ujiri negotiations, so they got rid of him for being upset about it.  Wow.  I would wish Vinny Del Negro on them if I didn't like their players so much.  What a disaster for Nuggets fans

[nickagneta]

My guess, Karl lobbied hard for the Iguodala trade and the McGee contract and made promises of going deep into the playoffs. When it didn't happen.....well, we now see the results.

[Fafnir]

My guess, Karl lobbied hard for the Iguodala trade and the McGee contract and made promises of going deep into the playoffs. When it didn't happen.....well, we now see the results.

My guess is that by moving on from their GM, they figure to let the new guy pick the new coach.

[Who]

Letting your GM and Coach go like this would have me furious if I were a Nuggets fan.

They seem happy.

http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/showthread.php?821923-ESPN-George-Karl-out-as-Coach-of-the-Denver-Nuggets&s=9c602197bcdc3e24bb71b7787ec3f8dd

A large portion of Nuggets have been calling for George Karl to be fired for a number of years.

I'd expect this to be a fairly happy day for the majority of Nuggets fans. Finally got their wish.

[Fafnir]

Letting your GM and Coach go like this would have me furious if I were a Nuggets fan.

They seem happy.

http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/showthread.php?821923-ESPN-George-Karl-out-as-Coach-of-the-Denver-Nuggets&s=9c602197bcdc3e24bb71b7787ec3f8dd

A large portion of Nuggets have been calling for George Karl to be fired for a number of years.

I'd expect this to be a fairly happy day for the majority of Nuggets fans. Finally got their wish.

True, but the process is the problem

They let their GM go because of money, and they framed this decision in terms on not wanting to give him an extension not thinking he's the wrong choice for the team.

Indicates that money instead of basketball is driving things, not a good indication of where the organization is heading.

[fairweatherfan]

The Brooklyn Nets and the LA Clippers just collectively jumped for joy.

Exactly - Karl seems like a better fit with the Clippers but the Nets seem to be getting turned down by everyone.

[Who]

Letting your GM and Coach go like this would have me furious if I were a Nuggets fan.

Agreed.  Top flight GM, top flight coach, and you let 'em both go.

Things like this are what keep certain franchises from having sustained success.

Disagree. I don't think either one is a top notch individual.

I have Karl as a middle of the pack to slightly above average head coach. Not difficult to replace.

Ujiri is still a major question mark in my eyes too. Refusing to rebuild and instead building around a bunch of guys who lack top tier talent. I would much rather have Kanter and Favors on my team right now than the package Ujiri took from New York. I think Denver were right not to pay him. Let him leave. They can hire someone for less than a fifth of the price who can do the same job.

Ujiri seems like the typical GM who is more interested in bulking up his CV by prioritizing short-term improvement than building a genuine Championship caliber team. And it worked; he got his big payday from Toronto. I worry this is Bryan Colangelo all over again for the Raptors.

The only guy I was less convinced by in the Nuggets organization than Karl and Ujiri is the owner - Stan Kroenke. Unfortunately they haven't got rid of him. So they'll likely just replace old problems with new problems.

Denver lacks leadership from all three non-playing staff departments. Coaching staff, front office and ownership. Can't build a title winning side without more quality off the court.

[RyNye]

George Karl is the most overrated coach of all time.

He was lucky to win 57 games this year (which was largely a byproduct of the Nugget's having one of the easiest, home-heavy schedules in the league). His playoff success is a lot more indicative of how poor of a couch he is.

Look at his coaching history and how terribly he has mismanaged talent and rotations. Hell, look at this season: his rotations were asinine. He consistently gives his best players fewer minutes than they deserve, and his worst players more minutes than they deserve. This has been going on for years.

The evidence is pretty overwhelming in favor of him being a bad coach.

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/08/30/ari-caroline-helps-dre-explain-why-george-karl-is-horrible/

http://wagesofwins.com/2013/05/09/why-george-karl-isnt-coach-of-the-year/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/01/11/george-karl-is-an-idiot/

[Who]

Letting your GM and Coach go like this would have me furious if I were a Nuggets fan.

They seem happy.

http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/showthread.php?821923-ESPN-George-Karl-out-as-Coach-of-the-Denver-Nuggets&s=9c602197bcdc3e24bb71b7787ec3f8dd

A large portion of Nuggets have been calling for George Karl to be fired for a number of years.

I'd expect this to be a fairly happy day for the majority of Nuggets fans. Finally got their wish.

True, but the process is the problem

They let their GM go because of money, and they framed this decision in terms on not wanting to give him an extension not thinking he's the wrong choice for the team.

Indicates that money instead of basketball is driving things, not a good indication of where the organization is heading.

This is the way it has been for several years now in Denver.

Since Marcus Camby was traded in a salary dump.

Stan Kroenke got sick of paying the luxury tax (in those Allen Iverson years with K-Mart on a max deal too along with big deals for Melo, Nene and Camby) with his team not advancing far enough in the playoffs to justify the spending.

Ever since then, Kroenke has been hugely reluctant to be a high spending team. Instead preferring to stay within the luxury tax limit, build an above average team that will make the playoffs and generate good revenues for the franchise. A team that is good enough to keep fans engaged and going to games, buying merchandise and following the team.

Got tired of losing money going all out for a Championship. Found a better financial model to follow. That financial model is what guides Denver. Not Championships. Have done for a number of years now.

[Fafnir]

George Karl is the most overrated coach of all time.

He was lucky to win 57 games this year (which was largely a byproduct of the Nugget's having one of the easiest, home-heavy schedules in the league). His playoff success is a lot more indicative of how poor of a couch he is.

Look at his coaching history and how terribly he has mismanaged talent and rotations. Hell, look at this season: his rotations were asinine. He consistently gives his best players fewer minutes than they deserve, and his worst players more minutes than they deserve. This has been going on for years.

The evidence is pretty overwhelming in favor of him being a bad coach.

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/08/30/ari-caroline-helps-dre-explain-why-george-karl-is-horrible/

http://wagesofwins.com/2013/05/09/why-george-karl-isnt-coach-of-the-year/

http://wagesofwins.com/2012/01/11/george-karl-is-an-idiot/

Of course those same numbers keep saying McGee is awesome, which he isn't.

A shotblocking rebounder who hurts his own team's overall rebounding  .

Can't take their thoughts on Karl seriously when its focused solely through the myopic use of their chosen rubric. (even if they've gussied it up with the PoP stuff and defensive rebound diminishing returns tweak)

[Fafnir]

Got tired of losing money going all out for a Championship. Found a better financial model to follow. That financial model is what guides Denver. Not Championships. Have done for a number of years now.

Yeah I agree with this, tp.

[Who]

I would hate to see the Clippers sign George Karl.

They need someone who can build structure and fluidity to their offense. Karl's teams have always been too loose and haphazard. I think he would be a really bad fit in LAC.

I would love to see Stan Van Gundy go to LAC.

[Fafnir]

I would hate to see the Clippers sign George Karl.

They need someone who can build structure and fluidity to their offense. Karl's teams have always been too loose and haphazard. I think he would be a really bad fit in LAC.

I would love to see Stan Van Gundy go to LAC.

Would CP3 like Karl's offense?

I don't think he would.

[Who]

I would hate to see the Clippers sign George Karl.

They need someone who can build structure and fluidity to their offense. Karl's teams have always been too loose and haphazard. I think he would be a really bad fit in LAC.

I would love to see Stan Van Gundy go to LAC.

Would CP3 like Karl's offense?

I don't think he would.

I have my doubts too. I would love to see someone get CP3 to play at a quicker tempo more often than he does though. I think he slows things down too often.

[LooseCannon]

It's funny to see that the Nuggets fans who hate Karl complain that he loves smallball too much, has bad rotations, is too reluctant to play rookies, and has a tendency to overplay his favorites and put other players in his doghouse.

It'd be hilarious if anyone who criticizes Doc Rivers for the same things wants to see Karl replace Doc.