In a stunner, the Sacramento Kings fired head coach Michael Malone, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. Assistant coach Ty Corbin, himself fired by the Utah Jazz as the head man last year, will take over in the interim.
Kings fire head coach Michael Malone, according to report
Despite a surprising start to the season, Sacramento will fire its head coach after just over one year on the job.
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Malone guided Sacramento to a surprising 11-13 record against a difficult schedule in his second season in charge, all while missing DeMarcus Cousins for nine games due to illness. But that wasn't good enough for a Kings franchise expecting to take a big step forward this season. Owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Pete D'Alessandro haven't been shy about their desire to make the postseason before the team moves into a new arena in 2016. "Our ownership feels beholden to these fans that we need to get there faster, not slower," D'Alessandro told SB Nation's Paul Flannery before the season.
Among the specific complaints: Malone and D’Alessandro didn’t have a close relationship, the team’s style wasn’t ideal and management didn’t feel players were developing enough.
GM Pete D'Alessandro hadn't hired Malone, and had never been strong bond between them. Still, ownership's expectations are unrealistic.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 15, 2014
Continuing on @WojYahooNBA Malone firing news, source said Kings mgmt was disappointed with the player development, game plans & adjustments
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 15, 2014 Assistant Ty Corbin takes over. Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro, consultant Chris Mullin bristled over style at times. Malone hired before both
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) December 15, 2014 Style of play factor in Malone's firing, too. Malone's job was in jeopardy over summer, but quick start spared him -- until Cousins illness.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 15, 2014
The timing is still curious given Sacramento’s relative success this season. The Kings won just 28 games last year and let 20-point scorer Isaiah Thomas depart to Phoenix, but Malone had the Kings at 9-6 before Thanksgiving despite playing just one game against the weaker Eastern Conference. That was when Cousins, who was putting together an All-Star campaign, sat for the first time because of viral meningitis. The Kings have gone just 2-7 since, including a weekend loss at home to lowly Detroit.
Corbin will take over after compiling a 112-146 record as the head man with the Utah Jazz. He followed in Jerry Sloan’s footsteps and led Utah to a playoff appearance in 2011-12, but the team fell just short the year after and bottomed out last season, leading to his firing. Corbin will be given a chance to earn the job full time, according to Wojnarowski.
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