In a vacuum, Dean Oliver and the Sacramento Kings splitting would not be that big of a deal. Analyitcs guys get replaced sometimes, especially when a new person (like Vlade Divac) is running personnel. We don’t have vacuums in the NBA however–this isn’t space, it’s Sacramento.
This is the latest in a long line of front office people being terminated seemingly at random by Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, and I’m certain that sort of thing leaves a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. It just looks bad.
Oliver joins former coach Michael Malone and former GM Pete D’Allessandro as people fired for no great reason with time remaining on their contracts, as George Karl maintains his head coaching spot despite having apparently campaigned dealing DeMarcus Cousins to Los Angeles.