Rumors and speculation about whom the Sacramento Kings would hire as their next head coach began shortly after the team fired Mike Malone on Sunday. Names linked to the vacancy, currently held by interim head coach Ty Corbin, include: George Karl, Mark Jackson and Vinny Del Negro.
Sacramento (11-13) decided to part ways with Malone just two months into the season. According to the Sacramento Bee, there was a "chasm" between Malone and the Kings' management, which reportedly wanted to run a fast-paced offense - something that doesn't play into Malone's skillset as a defense-first coach.
Karl immediately became the frontrunner to be hired, due to his previous working relationship with Kings general management Pete D'Alessandro. Karl not only has playoff experience, but he's accustomed to running an up-tempo offense and he's no pushover when it comes to players.
When asked about the coaching vacancy, Karl didn't shy away from saying he would be happy to consider it.
"I'm humbled," he told SiriusXM radio, via ESPN. "If they're interested in me, I'm interested in them."
Grantland's Zach Lowe said Karl would be "great" for how the Kings are currently constructed, and ESPN's David Thorpe also named Karl as a likely candidate.
"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," 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."
Other potential candidates, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, include Jackson and Del Negro; Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tossed Kings consultant Chris Mullin's name into the hat, in addition to Karl's.
It's uncertain when Sacramento is looking to hire a new coach, whether it be this season or in the summer. If they decide to wait and let Corbin finish the season, then Corbin - the former coach of the Utah Jazz - could end up keeping the job if the team plays well under him.
