Report: Dave Joerger is Kings' No. 1 option in coaching search
It sounds like Dave Joerger could have another job pretty soon.
•
2 min read
The Memphis Grizzlies fired coach Dave Joerger on Saturday, and the Sacramento Kings are reportedly trying to pounce on this opportunity to hire him. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that Joerger has "strong relationships" in Sacramento.
The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Joerger became the Kings' top choice as soon as he became available, and part of the reason Joerger was let go was that he wanted permission to talk to them:
It is unlikely that Joerger, 42, will be out of work for long. The Sacramento Kings have made him their No. 1 candidate and are planning to move quickly to secure a deal with him, league sources said. The Grizzlies sidestepped what could’ve been a lengthy negotiation with Sacramento about what would’ve turned out to be a conditional second-round pick as compensation for hiring Joerger, league sources said.
With the dismissal of Joerger, the Grizzlies can move quickly into a coaching search – and Joerger can get what he had been lobbying for – an exit out of Memphis.
Despite Sacramento’s inherent dysfunction, the Kings’ willingness to give Joerger a significant long-term contract – likely in the $4 million range annually – is a strong allure for a coach who spent 10 years making modest money in basketball’s minor leagues, league sources said.
Joerger had been seeking permission to speak to the Kings and Houston Rockets, league sources said.
The Vertical also reported that there is "significant momentum" already for Joerger to go to Sacramento. This is interesting because the Kings had been slowly conducting a wide-ranging coaching search, and Joerger has other options. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers are interested in him.
Sacramento has been dysfunctional for what feels like forever, but there are valid reasons for Joerger considering going there. Beyond the money, he would get a chance to coach DeMarcus Cousins, whose only real competition for the title of "best center in basketball" is the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol. Joerger also served as an assistant under Lionel Hollins when Rudy Gay was in Memphis.
It's no secret that the Kings want to push the pace, something that Joerger could never quite do with the Grizzlies' roster. Given that he's also a strong defensive coach, maybe he could help Sacramento finally find some sort of balance.
If the Kings manage to lure Joerger, it would be general manager Vlade Divac's biggest move as an executive, much more important than all the wheeling and dealing he did last summer. This has already been a crazy offseason for of big-name free agents on the coaching market, and Sacramento is lucky that Joerger is even available. The job he did this season with a depleted roster was extraordinary.
Since the Kings fired Rick Adelman in 2006, they have had eight coaches. This revolving door can't continue if they want to be taken seriously. It's hard to overstate how important the next hire is for this organization, and it's obvious that bringing in Joerger would be a home run. They should try to get this done as soon as possible.
