The Sacramento Kings made the league's first coaching change of the season in replacing Luke Walton with Alvin Gentry.
Rather than pursue a significant trade, the Kings' front office expects Genry, De'Aaron Fox and the rest of the Kings to recapture the play they exhibited when they started the season well.
Gentry remains under contract through the 22-23 season and will coach the team for the duration of the season barring unforeseen circumstances.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings are not currently holding significant discussions on a trade centered on Ben Simmons.
The Kings have deemed De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Halliburton as unavailable, while Tyrese Maxey has emerged this season as a legitimate starting point guard.
Heading into the season, there was chatter that a slow start by the Kings could intensify their pursuit of a trade for Simmons.
Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer (@JonathanTjarks) break down the NBA season so far.
They discuss the Kings’ decision to fire Luke Walton, the Suns’ November run, which situations they are watching most closely and much more.
Tristan Thompson called out the Sacramento Kings a week ago, saying that none of the franchises legends were coming to help them. Following the Kings loss on Monday to a Philadelphia 76ers team playing a lot of backups, Thompson blasted his team's soft play.
“You can’t be nice in this league. You can’t be nice. Nice teams always finish last or get excited about lottery balls.”
Thompson implored his teammates to play tough. After Kings center Richaun Holmes absorbed a hard foul during the game, Thompson was upset that no one stood up for their teammate by giving a hard foul or setting a hard screen.
As far as their play, Thompson said everyone needs to be better. He included players, coaches and executives as needing to improve.
Sacramento fired Luke Walton this week and promoted Alvin Gentry into the role of interim head coach. The loss to the Sixers was the Kings fourth in a row and dropped the team to 6-12 on the season.
The Sacramento Kings have fired Luke Walton as head coach. The Kings have lost seven of eight games and are now 6-11 for the season.
Alvin Gentry has been appointed interim head coach and will have a chance to win the job permanently.
Saturday's game between the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz was delayed for approximately 20 minutes after a fan vomited across the court. The incident occurred near the Utah bench at Golden 1 Center.
“I actually made eye contact with him,” Rudy Gobert said via The Salt Lake Tribune. “He was smiling. He was smiling and throwing up at the same time.”
“That was a strange situation,” Quin Snyder said. “We had gone on a pretty good run before that happened. We did a good job of keeping or concentration throughout.”
The Jazz won the game 123-105.
Tristan Thompson doesn't mince words when talking about his team and teammates. When speaking about he Sacramento Kings recent struggles, it's been no different.
"This is the NBA. No one’s going to feel sorry for you. C-Webb (Chris Webber) and (Mike) Bibby ain’t coming through that door, so you’ve go to keep pushing each and every day, keep getting better in practice, keep watching the film, learn from the mistakes," said Thompson. “What guys gotta understand is that those little things over the course of 48 minutes, the my-bads after the my-bads after the my-bads, is what’s going to cost you a game in the fourth quarter.”
Even while challenging his teammates, Thompson understands how important it is to the Kings to win.
“I know each and every guy, their heart is in the right place and they want to win. Every guy in there wants to win," Thompson said. "You see it in their eyes. I’ve been on teams — you see quitters, you see losers, straight out losers. But this team has guys that want to win.”
As for himself and Sacramento head coach Luke Walton needing to motivate the team, Thompson was blunt in his response.
Despite not having Marvin Bagley in the rotation for the start of the season, the Sacramento Kings are in no rush to find a trade for the big man. The Kings told Bagley before the season that he would not be a part of their plans for this season.
That declaration sparked a very direct message from Bagley's agent about Sacramento's mismanagement of his player. Jeff Schwartz said that any lack of development on the part of Bagley is due to the Kings failure to help him improve. Schwartz also suggested that if Bagley isn't a part of the team's plans, that Sacramento should trade him.
The Kings see Bagley's $11.3 million expiring salary as a good piece of salary-matching in potential trades. Thus, despite Bagley wanting to be elsewhere, it's not expected that Sacramento will be making a deal anytime soon. The NBA trade market will open up more fully on December 15, as that's when most free agents signed over the summer can be traded.
Buddy Hield has changed agents and is now represented by Diana Day of Icona Agency.
Hield was previously represented by Brandon Rosenthal of Landmark Sports following Rob Pelinka's departure to join the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Day was previously with Landmark Sports under Pelinka.
The job of Luke Walton is in peril if the Sacramento Kings continue their slide, sources tell The Athletic. The Kings started the season 5-4 before losing four straight.
The Kings are determined to break their 15-year playoff drought and Walton won't be given the same leeway to turn things around as he was last season.
Walton's approval rating with players and the partnership he created with Monte McNair allowed him to return this season.
Walton has this season and next guaranteed on his contract for a combined $11.5 million.
Sacramento Kings Wiretap RSS Feed