Sacramento Kings: Mike Woodson Makes Sense
Mike Woodson isn’t the biggest name available, but he would be a smart hire for the Sacramento Kings. At this point, that’s what they need.
For the better part of 10 years, the Sacramento Kings have been stuck in a constant state of disarray. The Kings have missed the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons, which has created an understandable feeling of resentment from local fans and, to some extent, loyal players.
Thus, the search for a new head coach is shaping up to be the most influential in franchise history.
There have been a number of names referenced in regards to the Kings’ coaching vacancy. Many will be interviewed, but the latest name to surface may end up being the most realistically ideal fit for Sacramento.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Kings will interview current Los Angeles Clippers assistant Mike Woodson for the head coaching vacancy.
"As part of a broad search process for head coach, the Sacramento Kings plan to interview Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson, league sources told The Vertical."
"The Kings sought and were granted permission by the Clippers to meet with Woodson in the near future, sources said."
It may not be the sexiest of moves, but it’s one that makes sense—something we haven’t been able to say about a Kings personnel decision in quite some time.
Woodson has done a solid job of helping teams return to relevancy in the NBA. He played an instrumental role in the rebuilding of the Atlanta Hawks, and did something similar for the New York Knicks.
If nothing else, Woodson would bring a sense of stability that hasn’t been present in quite some time.
Reaching The Playoffs, Part I
The Sacramento Kings missing the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons really doesn’t make sense. They’ve had a vast number of Top 10 draft picks over the past 10 years, and have built rosters with enough talent to get over the hump.
With a franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins, and nothing to show for it, the Kings’ current coaching search is being viewed as something of a last resort.
Cousins has two more seasons on his contract—2016-17 and 2017-18—but you can cut it down to just one. If the Kings fail to make the playoffs next season, then the entirety of 2017-18 will be spent fielding questions about whether or not Cousins will be traded.
If he isn’t, it’s hard to imagine a player re-signing with a team that’s given him seven consecutive seasons—the six that have transpired, and the hypothetical 2016-17 campaign—of missed postseason opportunities.
Cousins will receive a max contract once he becomes a free agent, and his statistics tell a very compelling story as to why. In 2015-16, he averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 3-point field goals made—numbers that should be enough to spark a postseason run.
If nothing else, the Kings need a head coach who can build a winning culture.
Reaching the Playoffs, Part II
Mike Woodson isn’t a championship-caliber coach. That isn’t to say that he’ll never win a title, but instead to acknowledge the fact that he never has before, and that the term, “Championship-caliber,” only applies to those who have.
What Woodson is, however, is a winner to a lesser degree—one which Sacramento has failed to reach in 10 consecutive seasons.
Woodson has nine years of experience as a head coach in the NBA. After spending his first three seasons in Atlanta helping to orchestrate a rebuild, he proceeded to make the playoffs in five of the following six years.
That includes three straight postseason appearances for the Hawks, and back-to-back berths for the Knicks.
In 2012-13, Woodson led the Knicks to 54 victories—the most New York had won since 1996-97. In 2009-10, he led Atlanta to 53 wins—the most the Hawks had won since that same 1996-97 season.
If Woodson can do for Sacramento what he did for Atlanta and New York, the Kings can finally build a winning culture.
Commitment to Defense
In 2015-16, the Sacramento Kings ranked dead last in points allowed per game at an absurd 109.1. The Kings were No. 24 in opponent field goal percentage, No. 23 in opponent 3-point field goal percentage, and No. 23 in points allowed per 100 possessions.
If nothing else, Mike Woodson would help the Kings play at a significantly higher level defensively.
Woodson helped the 2012-13 Knicks rank No. 7 in the NBA in points allowed per game with a core that included Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Amar’e Stoudemire. All three players performed at a star-caliber level, but they were also known as one-way contributors who placed a minimal emphasis on defense.
If Woodson can get Anthony, Smith, and Stoudemire to adopt a defensive mentality, he might as well start stepping on grapes and selling it as wine; this man can sell defense to anyone.
Woodson led the Hawks to Top 10 rankings in scoring defense in each of his final two seasons with the team, and had New York at No. 11 in said category in 2011-12—a season during which the Knicks spent 58 games under Mike D’Antoni, who wasn’t exactly the poster child for defensive intensity.
If Woodson is able to instill the same defensive-mindedness in Sacramento, the Kings could finally escape the depths of despair. There’s no telling how far he could take them beyond a return to relevance, but the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, Darren Collison, and DeMarcus Cousins create intriguing defensive potential.
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Assuming the Kings do an acceptable job in free agency, bringing Woodson to Sacramento wouldn’t be a terrible idea—a significant upgrade from the status quo.