The Sacramento Kings’ coaching search is one of the more fluid ones we have ever seen. Since George Karl was fired at the conclusion of the regular season, the Kings have been linked to numerous coaches on the open market.
This week, the search is taking a step forward with the team set to interview a number of candidates for the job. The full list on this week’s docket includes David Blatt, Jeff Hornacek, Mark Jackson, Patrick Ewing and Corliss Williamson, according to both Marc Stein and Sam Amick. Jason Jones of the Sac Bee reports that they will also speak to Ettore Messina.
Blatt was fired from his position as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach earlier this year despite a trip to the Finals in his first year on the job. Hornacek was also let go mid-season after a disastrous season with the Phoenix Suns, but he was viewed as a bright, up-and-coming coach just two years ago when he led an over-achieving Suns squad to just narrowly missing the postseason.
Jackson last worked in Golden State where he helped launch the team’s run into contention but was not adept from a technical standpoint and alienated multiple players and members of management.
Ewing coached under Steve Clifford in Charlotte and has been well-known as a head coaching candidate for years now, although he has not been able to secure a job, yet. Williamson is the most unknown of these names, but he is well connected to the Kings as he served under Karl as an assistant. Messina is currently the San Antonio Spurs’ lead assistant and is viewed as one of the brightest minds in the league. He was linked to the Lakers’ opening before it was filled by Luke Walton.
The Kings have already interviewed Sam Mitchell, Vinny Del Negro, Mike Woodson, and Kevin McHale, according to Jones. Jones also reports that they are interested in Grizzlies’ assistant Elston Turner and it was reported last week that they would speak with Indiana Pacers’ assistant Nate McMillan.
This is a very extensive coaching search and depending on the situation with Frank Vogel in Indiana and JB Bickerstaff in Houston, it could become even longer. Out of these names, I personally think the best possibilities are McHale, Ewing, and Messina. McHale and Ewing may be the best suited to relate to and get the best out of Kings’ center DeMarcus Cousins, who has been notably unhappy in Sacramento and may or may not be on the trading block. Messina, meanwhile, is likely the best coach from a technical standpoint.
This is clearly an ongoing search and may not be finished in a long time. No word yet on whether or not I will be called in for an interview.
UPDATE:
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports Henry Bibby, former NBA assistant coach and head coach at USC and Kings assistant Corliss Williamson will also be interviewing for the job.
The Kings have added two more names to their list of candidates to replace George Karl as coach.
Kings assistant coach Corliss Williamson and former Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek will interview for the vacancy this week, according to sources.
He has a good relationship with several Kings players and Karl told The Bee last week that Williamson deserved an opportunity to compete for the position.
Williamson was known as one of the NBA’s toughest players during his career and it’s expected he’d bring the same mentality to the coaching job with the Kings.
Henry Bibby interview is on Monday, I'm told.
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) May 3, 2016
