The NBA Kings this offseason "have their best chance to find their alignment" since Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive took over, as now the person in charge of basketball operations "is leading the coaching search and not inheriting a coach," according to Jason Jones of the SACRAMENTO BEE. If VP/Basketball Operations & GM Vlade Divac "truly is in charge and Ranadive allows him to do his job without interference, the Kings could begin making strides toward ending their decadelong playoff drought." But if the franchise is "not in sync, fans likely will see more of what they saw from the Kings this season -- a disjointed bunch of players mirroring the disjointed situation above them." Korn Ferry Vice Chair Jed Hughes, who has led several coaching searches for teams, said, "When things aren't working, there's usually something wrong with alignment. The owner, GM, they're out of sync." He added, "The first thing begins with alignment, meaning the owner, head coach, general manager all have to be in line with their vision" (SACBEE.com, 4/30). Recently fired Kings coach George Karl said, "I'm old school enough to think that a coach has to feel powerful, has to feel supported, and I never felt that level of support." In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin noted incidents last offseason included one in which while Kings officials, owners and coaches were assembled in a conference room on draft night, the ESPN ticker "flashed reports" that Ranadive was considering firing Karl. Karl said that the tension in the room "prevented any possibility of creative exchanges." Karl: "Vlade has a helluva task ahead of him. ... He is going to be in for an NBA free agency unlike anything we have ever seen" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/1).
NEW LOOK: In Sacramento, Andy Furillo wrote under the header, "Kings Have New Logos; Now How About a New Coach?" Furillo: "Some of us did not like the sacking of George Karl, and we retain the right to doubt whether the Kings will find anybody better." The Kings "may not have a coach, but they do have a number of new logos" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/30).
