Sacramento Kings: 5 candidates to replace Dave Joerger as head coach

SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 24: Head Coach Dave Joerger and General Manager Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings address the media at a press conference on September 27, 2017 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. Ettore Messina

Unlike Luke Walton, a candidate who actually IS currently available to be hired by the Kings is San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina. Members of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree are quick to be mentioned when head coaching jobs become available, and Messina has been the likely next one to go off on his own and get a head coaching job of his own for a while now.

Aside from being an NBA champion as an assistant with the Spurs in 2014, Messina has a glittering resume virtually unmatched in professional basketball from his time in Italy and the EuroLeague.

He’s won four EuroLeague championships as a coach and was named EuroLeague Coach of the Year twice. He’s been named to the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame, is regarded one of the greatest European coaches of all time and was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008.

As for what Messina himself wants, according to Amick it sounds like he’s interested in the Sacramento Kings job:

Monty Williams, now with Philly, will have interest beyond the Kings as well. As for Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, my understanding is that he would definitely want the job. The combo of being one of Europe's most successful coaches ever and a Popovich disciple is strong
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 11, 2019

Make sure to keep an eye on Ettore Messina as the Kings’ coaching search develops, as a mutual interest could be beneficial to both the coach and organization.

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