Dave Joerger is considering becoming the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, and the feeling from the other side of the table is mutual.
No decision has been made at press time (Sunday at noon Eastern), but the mere possibility that Joerger could stage a “Kings Landing” makes it worthwhile to explore this relationship.
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See the cover image for this story? That’s DeMarcus Cousins embracing former coach Mike Malone, whom the Kings inexplicably, idiotically, incomprehensibly fired just when the team was beginning to improve. Malone was leading the Kings in the right direction. Had he remained in SacTown, the Kings very possibly would have been good enough to nab one of the last two playoff spots in this season’s Western Conference. Yet, it’s impossible to fully answer that question, because in addition to changing coaches, the Kings brought in Vlade Divac as general manager since they fired Malone. They brought in Rajon Rondo, who is a substantially different player compared to his salad days in Boston.
Sacramento is an island of misfit toys and oddballs — not just on the court, but in the owner’s chair and at the general manager’s position. The pervasiveness of unproven entities and unknown quantities makes Sacramento a coaching job that’s hard to pin down… but also hard to trust.
Here’s the nitty-gritty, heart-of-the-matter question as far as the Kings are concerned: Can any coach of this organization trust Divac to furnish him with the right complementary pieces for Boogie Cousins? Joerger certainly thinks he can succeed Malone as the new “Boogie Whisperer.” If he can achieve that — and that alone — Joerger would improve Sacramento’s playoff prospects and the franchise’s overall future. Yet, that sole achievement can’t be the only objective for a coach.
Improving quality — not just reducing incompetence — must accompany a successful dance with Boogie. Only then can the Kings truly aspire to be an organization which wins playoff series. If Boogie is happy, the Kings could become an 8 seed. If Boogie is happy AND the Kings bring in a better supporting cast, they might be able to become a second-round team in 2018 or 2019. If the San Antonio Spurs finally lose steam and Kevin Durant leaves Oklahoma City, maybe — just maybe — the Kings could contend for a West Finals berth at the very end of this decade.
We’re getting ahead of ourselves, of course, but the point has been affirmed: If Joerger is hanging his hopes solely on his ability to get along with Mr. Cousins, and if the Kings value Joerger solely for his people skills with Boogie, both parties aren’t helping themselves or each other. Complete roster reconstruction — what, how, who, when, why — should be the foremost and central tension point of any Joerger-Kings negotiations.
The Kings, who have not shown any patience with their last few coaches, need to give Joerger the assurance they’ll be patient with him. From their perspective, that would be the wise and necessary political move to win Joerger’s trust. Yet, this negotiation is ultimately more about what Joerger thinks of the Kings than what the Kings think of him.
Joerger complained about the complexion of his roster in Memphis. The Kings might (appropriately) tell him they’ll be patient with him, but if Joerger isn’t convinced the Kings can hit various targets in terms of surrounding him and Cousins with the right roster pieces, he should refuse the offer to become the next wearer of the crown for the Kings.
The Game of Thrones in Sacramento won’t get a Kings Landing from Dave Joerger.
The ball’s in your Kings Court, Vlade Divac. Can you show that you can move pieces on a chessboard and — in the coming months — display the dexterity needed to turn Sacramento from a locus of dysfunction to an NBA job worth coveting?
