Sources: Kings set trio of interviews for opening
Mark Jackson, Vinny Del Negro and Sam Mitchell are the first three candidates scheduled to interview for the Sacramento Kings‘ vacant coaching position, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Kings, who have been openly planning a deliberate search for George Karl’s replacement, have lined up sit-downs with Jackson and Del Negro as well as Mitchell, whose stint as the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ interim coach came to an abrupt end last week after the Wolves’ regular-season finale.
Jackson, who has been working as a broadcaster for ESPN since his ouster by the Golden State Warriors in May 2014, also is one of three known candidates to land an interview for the Wolves’ job alongside co-favorites Jeff Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau.
Former Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale and Indiana Pacers assistant coach Nate McMillan also are among the prime candidates on Sacramento’s lengthy list. Neither McHale nor McMillan has an interview formally scheduled with the Kings, but in McMillan’s case, that would be dependent on the Pacers’ playoff schedule.
The Vertical website reported Tuesday that the Kings also have secured permission to interview Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson, but the timetable for that meeting remains uncertain with the Clippers participating in the playoffs.
Other names who could receive consideration for the Kings’ post but have not yet been scheduled for interviews, according to NBA coaching sources, include former Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, current Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale, and former Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown.
It’s likewise believed that the Kings would have strong interest in speaking to Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton, after Walton posted a 39-4 record this season as the Warriors’ interim coach while Steve Kerr was sidelined. Kerr said Monday night that Walton will be granted permission to speak with any team he chooses about a head-coaching vacancy, but Walton’s availability for such interviews is likely to be restricted to windows between rounds this postseason.
Kings general manager Vlade Divac is heading Sacramento’s search after the first two full-time coaches to work under owner Vivek Ranadive — Mike Malone and Karl — were hired before previous GM Pete D’Alessandro and Divac, respectively.
