Luke Walton says he’s “very confident” he’ll be retained as the Kings’ head coach, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reports.
Monetary factors may work in Walton’s favor, Anderson notes. He’s reportedly owed $11.5MM over the next two seasons and first-year GM Monte McNair has publicly expressed support for Walton, pointing out the progress made by several key players.
Walton is focused on better results for next season.
“We have an offseason plan put in place from when they’re going to be in Sacramento, and what coaches will be working with them, and what we need them focused on,” Walton said. “Clearly, a big thing for all young players is developing in the weight room as well, but it’s good, after you get a taste of what the NBA is all about, to be able to really fine tune some things in the offseason.”
We have more on the Kings:
- Forward Louis King, who was signed to a two-way deal at the beginning of the month, erupted for 27 points, nine rebounds and three steals against Memphis on Friday. Anderson writes in a separate story that King is embracing his “opportunity to shine.”
- King and several other reserves will get extensive playing time in Sunday’s finale. De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes will not be in uniform, Anderson tweets.
- Having experienced, proven performers on the bench throughout the season could end the team’s playoff drought next season, James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. Sacramento didn’t have enough of those players until McNair acquired Terence Davis, Maurice Harkless and Delon Wright at the trade deadline.
If I were an owner, I’d give bottom line head coach 4 years contract with team option before 3rd year starts
Why would they fire Luke Walton? He went 39-4 as the Warriors interim coach.
I’d like to know where progress was made. I sure didn’t see any Progress made any where. Still ZERO Defense, They seem to think the Only Shot avail. are 3 pointers, Except for about 3 games that were semi close, all their losses were complete and utter Blow outs, not even close. Then when a Star Player goes down w/ an injury he puts the most atrocious Line Up out on the floor and it never works out. An 9 game losing streak and an 8 game losing streak, was pathetic. Teams you should be trouncing, are handing you your A** (ie sub-500 teams). PGs not dishing off the ball, Big men Not Rebounding or Blocking Shots, then there is Hield who is so inconsistent its unreal, and Bagley who gets injured looking at his own shadow.
Fire Walton, hire a REAL Coach; Trade Hield & Bagley; Build your Core Team around Fox, Haliburton, Barnes and Holmes. Resign Davis, Wright and send everyone else packing.
Sacramento needs to pray they get a top 3 pick and that Fox and Hall make at least mini-leaps next season (esp Fox).
Fox put up great PPG stats this year but if he could become even a league average 3 point shooter then he’d be a legit cornerstone.
They have roughly about a 10% chance of getting a top-3 pick.
Hence pray
Fox has improved. Hali was great. Barnes with a career high. Holmes is a good two way player. Buddy is a better playmaker. It was a gap year. Bagley in the starting five says it all. Bogdanovic plays in Atlanta. There was no time to train defense. Offense was good in transition. CoJo, Glenn Robinson and Whitside were a poor supporting cast. The new ones are good. There were also two 7/8 stretches. Play in only failed at San Antonio game without Fox, Hali, Barnes
“Walton is focused on better results for next season.”
Does he really think there’s any room left for this squad to the upside?