At risk in the NBA bubble: Coaches on the hot seat

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Brett Brown head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on in the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 07, 2020 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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4. Luke Walton

Luke Walton’s seat may be starting to warm up a little. Trust that before long it will start to get scorching. Walton took over a Sacramento Kings team that was one of the fun stories in the league the previous season and expected to take a step forward and hopefully end the league’s longest playoff drought.

Instead, the team got worse and under-performed. He has a pretty frayed relationship with Buddy Hield, arguably the second most important player on the roster. In 2018-2019 they finished the season with a 47.6 winning percentage and finished 17th in offensive rating and 21st in defensive rating. While their defense improved their offense got worse, surprising for a team with De’Aaron Fox clearly improving and running the show.

Source also tells @TheAthleticNBA that Kings coach Luke Walton is safe. While the two were on the same contractual timeline (through 2022-23), and Vlade hand-picked Luke, there won't be another domino falling here.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 14, 2020

The comments from players indicating that they were completely unprepared for the bubble should have been the final nail in Walton’s coffin, even if it was only the first year for him on the job. Instead, Vlade Divac was let go and the team is starting a reportedly lengthy search for a new general manager. The reports indicate Luke Walton is safe for now but that should only be until a new head of the organization is named.

Whoever that new person may be will undoubtedly want their own coach. At that point, if he has not gotten the team back on track, it will be Luke Walton’s time. Considering every team in the Western Conference looks to be vying for a playoff spot next year, Walton’s chances are increasingly slim.