Sacramento Kings Rumors: Coaching Candidates Galore
Recent Sacramento Kings rumors have their head coaching search expanding exponentially, as there are as many as 15-20 candidates under consideration.
Sacramento Kings rumors recently have revolved around their head coaching search. The Kings fired George Karl after he spent less than two seasons on the sidelines, as they had another disappointing season in 2015-16, compiling a 33-49 record. As a result, the Kings are casting a large net in their head coaching search as they look to finally bring some stability to their team.
The Kings have already conducted some interviews, as they have already talked to Sam Mitchell, Vinny Del Negro and Mike Woodson. They are also planning on interviewing former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale and former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek according to multiple sources and reports.
The list is only growing it would see, as the Kings are going to seek permission to talk with other potential candidates.
One of those people they plan on talking with is Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton. Walton was the interim head coach for the Warriors to begin the season when Steve Kerr was sidelined because of back surgery and was very successful, going 39-4.
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Walton is expected to be a hot candidate this offseason, as the Warriors have already given him permission to interview with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings are hoping they will get permission as well, but that has yet to come to fruition.
As @MarcJSpearsESPN noted, the Rockets (like the Lakers) have received permission to speak with Luke Walton. The Kings, I'm told, have not.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 28, 2016
The Kings will not wait around for Walton to become available to them though, as they have other candidates that they have gained permission to talk to. One of them is Memphis Grizzlies‘ assistant coach Elston Turner. If that sounds like a familiar name to Kings fans, that is because he has ties to the organizastion.
Turner has been with the Grizzlies since 2013, but previously was a member of the Kings’ coaching staff under Rick Adelman from 2000-06. Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee said that Turner was responsible for the defense on those teams and that Turner would receive consideration for the head coaching job.
Another name to keep an eye on is Nate McMillan. McMillan is currently an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers, who are in a playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. The Kings have asked perimission to interview him for their head coaching job as well, according to Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago.
Coaching watch: The Kings have asked Pacers for permission to speak with assistant coach Nate McMillan once playoffs are over, sources say
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) April 28, 2016
Waiting until the Pacers postseason run would seem to contradict some reports that are saying that the Kings are hoping to have a head coach in place by next week. But, if McMillan is someone that the Kings seriously want to consider for their head coaching vacancy, waiting until he is available to talk to is worth the wait.
McMillan has been a head coach in the NBA for parts of 12 seasons, compiling a record of 478-452 with the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trail Blazers. He also has a playoff record of 14-20 over that period of time, qualifying for the postseason five times.
While the Kings want a head coach by next week, it is tough to imagine that happening. Even if the Pacers lose on Friday night and are eliminated, allowing McMillan to interview sooner than later, there are so many people being considered that having a head coach named in a week does not seem possible.
In addition to the people named above, the Kings have also named Mark Jackson, Patrick Ewing, Brian Shaw, Jeff Van Gundy and a host of others as potential candidates.