Sacramento Kings: 5 Best Long-Term Coaching Options

November 30, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone (left) and assistant coach Tyrone Corbin (right) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Sleep Train Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Kings 97-85. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 30, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone (left) and assistant coach Tyrone Corbin (right) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Sleep Train Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Kings 97-85. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sacramento Kings
May 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl during the press conference announcing him NBA coach of the year at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

1. George Karl

With 1,131 wins and 25 years on his coaching resume, Karl is easily the most qualified candidate on our list. After coaching a few more seasons, Karl would most likely pass Don Nelson for the most wins in NBA history and if the Kings want somebody who will get this team out and running, there aren’t many better options than Karl.

In nine seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Karl’s teams never finished outside the top six in the league in pace. His last four seasons with the team, the Nuggets were top-five in the league in offensive rating. Karl’s WAY too smart to ever let that ludicrous 5-on-4 idea see the light of day, but he wouldn’t need to as long as he could turn Sacramento into a top-10 offense.

The last few years in Denver, the Nuggets’ offense somehow got better despite not having a bonafide star. Karl would need to figure out how to increase the tempo in Sacramento with his team’s best player being a center, and his lack of playoff success (eight first round exits in his last nine seasons) is less than encouraging. But if Karl really is interested in this imminent coaching vacancy, there should be nothing to think about here. Hire him.

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time