In case you needed further evidence that the Sacramento Kings are a dysfunctional mess, here we have it.
USA Today’s Sam Amick noted on Thursday that the Sacramento coaching staff is in turmoil, with assistant Nancy Lieberman seen as a confidant of owner Vivek Ranadive and “exiled” by head coach George Karl.
Karl, it is reported, is nearly certain to be fired after the season, already having received two figurative stays of execution during the season. For that reason, Amick expects the team to field offseason interest in DeMarcus Cousins, but will likely resist moving him.
Cousins is well aware of the instability in Sacramento, as well as the criticism of Ranadive – and the fact that the owner fired Michael Malone, the only coach that Cousins has really bonded with during his time with the Kings.
Cousins and Karl have serious issues, and that firing is only a matter of time. It sounds as though the Kings will give things a shot with one more coach, but if that doesn’t fix things, Cousins is probably not long for Sacramento. Meanwhile, the Lieberman hire, which was hailed at the time, doesn’t seem to matter with Karl marginalizing her. If she is a Ranadive ally, this report makes a lot of sense.
