ProBasketballTalk.com reports that the meeting the Kings held with former Warriors coach Mark Jackson was largely a smokescreen to try and obtain leverage against their preferred candidate, George Karl.
Now sources tell PBT that though the team is still very interested in hiring Karl, they are hesitant to pay an expected asking price in the range of $5 million per year or more.
In the meantime they have allowed themselves to be connected to former Warriors coach Mark Jackson, staging a not-so-secret meeting at Sleep Train Arena following Thursday's nationally televised game that Jackson called for ESPN.
Sources tell PBT that Jackson has “no chance” of being the Kings' next coach, adding that the meeting was both personal in nature and mutually beneficial for all parties – sending Karl a message at the negotiating table and for Jackson, keeping his name in the news as a future head coaching candidate.
via Sources: Kings prefer George Karl, not serious about hiring Mark Jackson | ProBasketballTalk.
That makes more sense than a team that wants an efficient, fast offense hiring Jackson, who is mostly a motivator who lacks real X's and O's firepower on the offensive end.
Karl of course makes the most sense, a proven (regular-season) winner who has been to the Finals (17 years ago) and who plays the kind of style that Kings ownership and management desires. He worked with GM Pete D'Allessandro in Denver, and can give them the push they need to get the most out of an athletic, skill-starved roster.
But Karl won't be fooled by those efforts, and is going to come back under the terms he wants. Firing Malone in-season puts even more pressure, as Ty Corbin is unlikely to thrive in a season in which the Kings have legitimate playoff hopes. The longer they go without a replacement, the more likely the roster becomes frustrated at the decisions the front office made about Mike Malone.
Either way, it's an important reminder that just because a coach is mentioned in interview talks, doesn't mean he's a serious candidate.
