It appears the Sacramento Kings are again looking for a new head coach.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sacramento Kings are probing University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari about his interest in taking over the franchise's front-office and coaching jobs. Calipari has been communicating with Kings' owner Vivek Ranadive and other members of the ownership group in recent weeks and ownership understands that it will take a multi-year financial package that would exceed $10 million annually to get Calipari to consider leaving Kentucky.
Last year Calipari signed a seven-year, $54 million extension with Kentucky and also turned down an 8-year, $60 million-plus offer to take over running the Cleveland Cavaliers (before Lebron James decided to return).
This all comes after friction arose between ownership and current Kings coach George Karl who was signed to a 4-year contract only 4 months ago. The rift centered around Karl's attempt to trade Kings' franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins, a move that was against ownership's wishes. Trade talks went as far as the Kings and Los Angeles Lakers exchanging the framework for a possible trade but talks did not move beyond that point. The attempted trade drove a wedge between Cousins, the Kings' organization and Karl.
Karl's relationship with Cousins seems to be damaged beyond repair and Karl's status as coach with the Kings is apparently on thin ice. According to ESPN, the Kings considered firing Karl during his attempt to trade Cousins ahead of the NBA Draft. If Karl is replaced in the near future, Sacramento will be introducing it's 3rd new head coach in less than a year.
It is believed that Calipari's relationship with Cousins, whom he coached at Kentucky, could help Cousins back down from his desire to be traded to the Lakers.
Calipari quickly took to Twitter to address the rumors of a courtship by Sacramento
For the 100th time, I have the best basketball coaching position in the world. I am not looking for any other coaching position.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 30, 2015
At no time has @Vivek offered me a job. I WILL BE AT KENTUCKY.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 30, 2015
Despite Calipari's tweets, the aforementioned Yahoo Sports report says that the legendary college coach has listened to scenarios in which Sacramento could offer him complete control of the franchise's operations to go along with coaching.
It's not the first time Calipari has been linked to an NBA team recently. Aside from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Calipari has also been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans and the Brooklyn Nets since a report surfaced that he was seeking a return to the NBA.
Calipari served as General Manager and Coach of the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets) for close to 3 seasons in the 1990's. Calipari was 72-112 with one playoff appearance during his tenure.
Sacramento is certainly looking to make a big splash after a rather fractured start to their offseason.
If they miss on Calipari then they are expected to stick with Karl moving forward.
