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 /

2. David Vanterpool

On Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers and their head coach Larry Drew parted ways, opening up their own head coach position. Within minutes, ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski had a list of possible candidates for the newly-vacant Cavs’ job:

As expected, Cavaliers opening search for a new head coach. Cleveland plans to run a wide-ranging process, but expect experienced NBA assistants like Utah's Alex Jensen, Portland's David Vanterpool and Nate Tibbetts, Denver's Wes Unseld Jr., to be among multiple candidates.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2019

While the Cavs may have some interest, the Kings should explore the possibility of hiring Vanterpool themselves.

A respected assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers, this won’t be Vanterpool’s first flirtation with a head coaching job. Last summer he interviewed with both the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets for their vacant spots.

Vanterpool may be the catalyst behind the steady defensive improvement the Blazers have made over the last few seasons, and he is one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA.

He has been an assistant with the Trail Blazers since 2012, and before that he was an assistant coach with the EuroLeague powerhouse CSKA Moscow. He played just one season in the NBA, appearing in 22 games with the Washington Wizards in the 2000-01 season, but he has played professionally all over the world, including China, Russia and Italy.

Vanterpool has won an Italian League championship, an Italian Supercup and a EuroLeague championship in his playing career.

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