The Sacramento Kings face some important decisions this offseason regarding the team’s future. After firing Mike Brown, trading De’Aaron Fox, and parting ways with general manager Monte McNair following their play-in game, the Kings are at a crossroads. The key question remains whether interim coach Doug Christie will stay on.
Christie played a significant role in the Kings’ turnaround after Brown’s departure, and it seems he earned respect in the locker room. Under his leadership, Sacramento went 27-24 and secured the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Despite this, there is still uncertainty about Christie’s future with the team, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“Sources say there are whispers suggesting Christie has strong backing from his players. However, while the locker room wants him to stay, [Scott] Perry appears to have different plans,” Siegel reported.
“During his introductory press conference in Sacramento, Perry emphasized that, although he had spoken with Christie, he intended to meet with other candidates before making a final decision,” Siegel added. “Many are speculating that Perry might have a frontrunner in mind and could keep Christie as a backup option.”
With several top head coaches potentially available this offseason, it wouldn’t be surprising if Perry takes the time to explore other options and see if there’s a candidate he prefers.
Kings have big decisions to make in offseason
The Kings were expected to be one of the league’s up-and-coming teams after their breakout two years ago, but they were unable to meet those expectations. This season, they took a clear step back, starting with the midseason firing of Mike Brown. Following that, there seemed to be tension between the Kings and De’Aaron Fox, which ultimately led to his trade to the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite the struggles, the team remained competitive, and with the talent they have, they were expected to perform better than they did. The Kings are likely to make changes this offseason, and while it’s uncertain what those moves will be, the hope is that they can improve and become a stronger team moving forward.