Kings Could Be In Store For Major Changes To Franchise

De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The Sacramento Kings could look drastically different in a few weeks than they do now. Currently, 5-8 and riding a four-game losing streak, head coach Luke Walton is on the hottest seat in the NBA.

Walton drew a lot of praise from the work that he did as the Golden State Warriors interim head coach at the start of the 2015-16 season. He went 39-4 in place of Steve Kerr, who was recovering from back surgery.

But, really anyone could have really taken over for Kerr on an interim basis and found success with a team that had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green entering the peak of their careers. That was the 73-win Warriors who lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the NBA Finals, blowing a 3-1 series lead.

Walton hasn’t come close to finding that level of success since leaving the Warriors. He was head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for three seasons, going 98-148 before both sides mutually agreed to part ways.

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The Kings hired him three days after that. He has found slightly more success, going 67-90, a win percentage of .427 compared to .398 with the Lakers. But, he may not even make it through a full third season for the Kings.

Sacramento is looking to snap a 15-year playoff drought, which is tied for the longest in NBA history. According to the paid subscription website The Athletic, Walton will not be afforded the leeway he was last season to turn things around.

If more losing streaks occur, Walton could very easily be given his pink slip. There was a sense from those close to the situation that only owner Vivek Ranadive would make a postseason berth, which determined if Walton retained his job or not. That ultimatum never came despite multiple losing streaks of nine games in the second half of the season.

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The players liking Walton and the relationship that he created with general manager Monte McNair were enough to keep him on the job at the time, but that may no longer be the case.

If Walton cannot get the Kings to consistently perform and get into the playoff picture in what is shaping up to be weaker than expected Western Conference, he will be looking for a job elsewhere.

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