How about Jeff Van Gundy?

[sactownfan]

im sure its been mentioned before but hes a defensvie coach. One i thought did a great job considering its not his fault that Yao kept getting injured. In fact with Yao out i thought his teams showed great heart and were amazingly scrappy while missing there super star player.

Im sure it wouldn't be super cheap to talk him into sacramento just like free agents. ha... but maybe he has the itch to come back......... and tackle the challenge of this roster mess? haha

 

[mr. moustache]

im sure its been mentioned before but hes a defensvie coach. One i thought did a great job considering its not his fault that Yao kept getting injured. In fact with Yao out i thought his teams showed great heart and were amazingly scrappy while missing there super star player.

Im sure it wouldn't be super cheap to talk him into sacramento just like free agents. ha... but maybe he has the itch to come back......... and tackle the challenge of this roster mess? haha

Something tells me he's open to coaching, but it's going to have to be a killer gig to ditch his posh gig right now. Coaching Cousins is about the opposite of "killer gig" you can come up with. 10m a year or round'abouts? Maybe.

Oh, and the Maloofs are broke and seem content to pay their team and their coach less than literally every other team in the entire NBA.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is an ahem topic since I have of course recommeneded it as a consideration.

My theory is that Jeff might have the stature to earn Cousins' respect, and comes from the Riley school of center loving coaches, and we've got maybe the youngest one with the most potential in the whole league. He also has coached a Reke/Couins type dynamic with Yao and Mac in Houston. On the other hand that Yao/TMac combo in Houston never got past the first round, and Van Gundy's offense makes Westphal's look like rocket science. For al the people complaining now, it would be moreof the same, albeit more focused on the stars. And then of course there is the whole slimey maneuver his borther puled on us a couple of years back. JVG is his own man, but still makes you feel if the Maloofs would be up for pursuing another Van Gundy or not.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Unfortunately, I fear that any coach with the stature to win the ear of DMC also has the patience and comfort in their current gig to steer clear of this debacle of a team.

 

[cuad]

I don't think you could convince him to come coach here.

 

[captain bill]

Unfortunately, I fear that any coach with the stature to win the ear of DMC also has the patience and comfort in their current gig to steer clear of this debacle of a team.

Certainly a lot of coaches would steer clear, but I think a lot would be intrigued with the chance of getting to take over a very talented team in a lot of turmoil and mold it to something better. In all likelihood it would have to be a coach with some personal familiarity with Cousins who has an idea of what he's getting into.

 

[Kings4life23]

What about Rick Pitino?

 

[Bricklayer]

What about Rick Pitino?

No thx. Seen him as a pro.

There are a few peopole who have suggested Calipari, givne his prior relatinship wiht Reke and Cousins, and there is a thought there. But he too has failed in the NBA (as have the great majority of college coaches). He's being paid very well to be a big name in college, and he's a slicker with a huge ego who would only come for big $$ and lots of control.

 

[Sac.1989]

Yep id take Jeff. We need a proven coach with stature who wont be walked over and will take reign. Id take Jeff over alot right now

 

[Glenn]

I wouldn't over analyze this. It's not like we can pick and chose. Get a coach with a proven track record.

 

[funkykingston]

I'd love Jerry Sloan, but it would need to be Jerry Sloan of a decade ago as clearly he's had his fill of modern NBA players.

Honestly, I wish the team would have brought back Rick Adelman this offseason. Given the history of RA and the Maloofs it was never going to happen, but this is a team that would absolutely flourish in his system.

Sure, Adelman prefers veterans and often frustrated me by sitting youngsters with potential but he also got guys to buy in and never (that I can recall) had issues with players, even ones deemed as problematic.

Why Petrie and the Maloofs settled on Westphal and his laissez-faire approach and history of dustups with players I'll never know. If it really was just about him being the cheapest then quite frankly the Kings deserve the turmoil they are experiencing now.

 

[bluntsnbball]

Jeff would be a great choice for the team, but theres no way the Maloofs will pay him enough to make him leave the broadcasting chair. No way. I wouldnt be surprised to see westphaul the whole season simply b/c he's under contract and they dont wanna dish out the money for another coach

 

[Glenn]

Why Petrie and the Maloofs settled on Westphal and his laissez-faire approach and history of dustups with players I'll never know. If it really was just about him being the cheapest then quite frankly the Kings deserve the turmoil they are experiencing now.

Clearly it was because he was the cheapest.

 

[ElRey]

We're really not going to get any good proven coach to come here because the Maloofs won't pay for it. Best chance is to have an up and coming coach who is looking for an opportunity. a guy like Thibodeau when he first started...

 

[Sac.1989]

or scotty brooks who we let walk

 

[Glenn]

We're really not going to get any good proven coach to come here because the Maloofs won't pay for it. Best chance is to have an up and coming coach who is looking for an opportunity. a guy like Thibodeau when he first started...

This is like taking a prayer on Theus, Knatt, and Muss. I don't give who ever makes these decisons any credit in knowing how to pick a coach. Let the next coach have a proven NBA record so there is no possibility of a screw up.

Your point is well taken however. Leaves us stuck, doesn't it?

 

[Sarunas]

 

[kennadog]

or scotty brooks who we let walk

Thanks to the Maloof's love affair with Theus. UGH.....

 

[bajaden]

Clearly it was because he was the cheapest.

Actually, Rambis was their first choice, and judging from how he worked out in Minny, not so sure he would have been any better, but who knows? Westphal was the default choice. At least if memory serves, which is always questionable..

 

[bajaden]

By the way, I'd be fine with Van Gundy. I still Calapari would be fine his second time around. He's a lot older now, he's smart, and used to dealing with young ego's. But I doubt he'd give up his gig at Kentucky where he's treated like a god.

 

[Tetsujin]

Actually, Rambis was their first choice, and judging from how he worked out in Minny, not so sure he would have been any better, but who knows? Westphal was the default choice. At least if memory serves, which is always questionable..

Actually, his insistence on the triangle offense may have actually worked better here as we actually have more of the personal necessary for that system. That being said, he's still a train-wreck

 

[PurpleHaze]

Actually, Rambis was their first choice, and judging from how he worked out in Minny, not so sure he would have been any better, but who knows? Westphal was the default choice. At least if memory serves, which is always questionable..

I thought Jeff's brother Stan Van Gundy was Kings 1st choice and Rambis 2nd. There was talk about a few other coaching retreads like Eddie Jordan, Terry Porter, etc., but as I recall only interviews or at least serious interviews were with SVG, Rambis, and Westphal - who clearly landed the job by default.

 

[Bricklayer]

I thought Jeff's brother Stan Van Gundy was Kings 1st choice and Rambis 2nd. There was talk about a few other coaching retreads like Eddie Jordan, Terry Porter, etc., but as I recall only interviews or at least serious interviews were with SVG, Rambis, and Westphal - who clearly landed the job by default.

SVG was the coaching cycle before that -- the one that landed us Theus. Last time the final three were Rambis/Westphal/Thibodeau/Jimmy the Bag Man if none of the others would take out lowball offer.