A second round of talks between Dave Joerger and the Sacramento Kings has been scheduled for Monday, after substantive discussions on Sunday about the Kings’ coaching vacancy, according to league sources.
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The ESPN report hedges a bit with a line that nothing is done until it’s done, but that both “sides are working toward a four-year deal valued in the $16 million range that, barring any snags, is likely to include a team option for the fourth year”.
The Memphis Grizzlies have fired Dave Joerger after three seasons and three straight playoff appearances. Since Cousins got drafted in 2010, Sacramento has had five different head coaches, with Joerger being the sixth.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dave to the Sacramento Kings”, General Manager Vlade Divac said in a statement. However, they took a step back this past season with a record of 42-40, thanks to a rash of injuries that led to the club breaking a record for most players used in a single season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Karl was 44-68 in one-plus year with the Kings and had trouble getting on the same page with star big man DeMarcus Cousins.
When they opened up the search, the Kings pledged to go through a methodical, deliberate process and interview as many candidates as possible before making a decision. But as soon as Joerger was surprisingly made available, the Kings swooped in.
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The Grizzlies are the 10th team (and the third playoff team) this offseason to make a coaching change, though the Phoenix Suns hired interim Earl Watson as their new head coach. Divac fired one of Karl’s assistants, Vance Walberg, midway through this season and then parted ways with Karl. The team allowed a league-worst 109.1 points per game and gave up an NBA-record 839 three-pointers.
