The Sacramento Kings fired coach Mike Malone on Sunday and promoted assistant Tyrone Corbin to interim head coach, according to multiple news outlets. With Malone out, former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl reportedly could be a candidate the Kings might look at.
Sacramento fired Malone on Sunday, according to both the Sacramento Bee and ESPN. The firing came less than 24 hours after losing to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, 95-90. One source told ESPN Malone was fired because the team "expected more," while multiple sources told The Bee there was a "chasm" between Malone and the front office that led to him being let go.
The Bee further reported part of the "chasm" was the ownership's desire for a more exciting offense, something Malone, who's a defensive-minded coach, seemed ill-equipped to provide.
The team has yet to officially confirm the firing of Malone.
Sacramento is 11-13 in their last 24 games, and they've won only twice in their last 10 games. Malone's situation wasn't helped any by the absence of star center DeMarcus Cousins, who's missed 10 games so far with viral meningitis.
It's uncertain if Sacramento will try to hire a new head coach this season, or if they will wait until the summer and let Corbin finish out the season. One potential candidate, regardless, reportedly could be Karl.
"It may be surprising that Kings fired their coach while their top player has been sick, but anyone who has watched them knows why he is gone," ESPN's David Thorpe tweeted Sunday. "... Fair to wonder how Kings would be playing for George Karl. Athletes. Depth. Potential for their (small forwards) to play (power forward) and go really fast."
Karl last coached the Nuggets in the 2012-13 season. Despite winning the Coach of the Year award that season, Denver chose to fire him after the team failed to advance out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
