Less than a week after firing Head Coach Dave Joerger following the team’s winningest season in 13 years, the Sacramento Kings have hired Luke Walton to be their next Head Coach.
Vlade Divac got his man; Luke Walton is the new Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings. Just three days after firing Dave Joerger, who led to the Sacramento Kings to a surprising 39-43 record, Divac moved quickly to hire his first choice for a replacement, agreeing to a multi-year deal to make Walton the Kings’ new head coach, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
Walton mutually parted ways with the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, as the team reeled from the surprising resignation of their President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson. Walton coached the team for three seasons, improving their record year-over-year and compiling a career record of 98-148 as a Head Coach (went 39-4 as the Golden State Warriors’ Interim head coach).
He’s been widely scrutinized during his time as a coach in Los Angeles, however, as questions about his ability to develop talent, manage rotations and handle players properly swirled — with many expecting the Lakers to dismiss him mid-season with the Lakers.
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Still, Walton was a top-choice for the Kings’ head coaching gig when it opened last in 2016, but he was dead-set on joining the Lakers, and spurned the Kings — and all other organizations— to do so. Things have changed now, and the Kings’ head coaching vacancy is easily the most desirable opening now, and the Kings and Walton had mutual interest, which allowed the process to move very quickly.
Other names had been linked to the opening, such as Monty Williams (Philadelphia Assistant Coach) and Ettore Messina (San Antonio Assistant Coach), but neither were brought in for an interview. Messina, who’s widely regarded as one of the best head coach candidates out there, was reported to have had interest in joining the Sacramento Kings, but things never got that far.
As for how Walton fits with the Kings — it could be a seamless fit. Walton’s Lakers never finished below 5th in the NBA in pace, have been top-five in transition frequency in the last two seasons and have finished top-15 in defensive rating each of the last two seasons, as well.
Pace is what propelled the Kings to their surprising finish this season, and Walton is certainly capable of piloting a team that plays fast.
"“The Kings will offer Luke the roster he thought he had with the Lakers.” said The Athletic’s Bill Oram on Friday."
He’s not the only one who feels that way, either. A multitude of fans and analysts have pointed to a potential Luke Walton-Sacramento Kings pairing as “perfect”, and when you look at Walton’s strengths, it certainly seems that way.
Of concern, however, is Walton’s ability to develop players. He was seemingly on the right track in the 2017-18 season, but issues with Julius Randle highlighted an apparent lack of ability to properly utilize, and develop young players.
Will those concerns translate with the Kings? Potentially, but regardless, this organization has a clear direction and Divac got his first choice — hard to complain there.