NBA Dribbles: Ex-Cavs coach Karl in line for Kings job

By foxsports
Published

Random NBA dribbles as the Feb. 19 trading deadline nears:

1. It appears George Karl will be the next coach of the Sacramento Kings. Karl has coached the Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver. He took each of those teams to the playoffs, some overachieving considerably along the way.

2. Karl has a relationship with Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro. The two worked together in Denver. Karl is expected to attend the funeral for legendary college coach Dean Smith, who Karl played for at the University of North Carolina, on Thursday. He is expected to take over for Kings interim coach Tyrone Corbin immediately after the All-Star break.

3. None of this is finalized, reports Yahoo Sports. The website said Karl is in line to receive a four-year deal worth between $4 and $5 million a season. The Kings have lost 20 of 27 since firing coach Michael Malone in December.

4. Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee tweeted: "Hearing multiple players on Kings do not want George Karl as their coach. ... Apparently some folks are turned off at what they see as Karl's social media campaigning for the job."

5. Another team executive told FOX Sports Ohio that Kings management can't worry about what the players want. Karl has been successful. The current group of Kings has not.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mo Williams has been at the center of numerous trade rumors. One report had him going to the Charlotte Hornets, before the sides apparently backed out. Williams told the St. Paul Pioneer Press he's aware of the talk, and thinks about it quite often.

7. Williams to the Pioneer Press: "Obviously, right when the game is over with, I'm thinking about (my future. Before the game, I think about it. But I can block it out during the game and move forward."

8. Several teams are eyeing former Detroit Pistons point guard Will Bynum, currently playing in China. Bynum's agent, Mark Bartelstein, has already reached out to the Washington Wizards to gauge their interest. Bynum's season in China is nearly over. He spent 2008-14 with the Pistons, averaging 8.4 points and 3.4 assists, primarily off the bench.

9. The Wizards are also among the teams interested in Ray Allen, joining the Cavs, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and others. Some of those teams may want to sign the 39-year old shooter mainly to keep him away from the competition.

10. Few major trades are expected before or on the deadline. Most have happened already -- with the Cavs obtaining J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, the Dallas Mavericks landing Rajon Rondo, and the Memphis Grizzlies acquiring Jeff Green. So plenty of major parts have already changed places.

11. Along with Williams, Timberwolves shooting guard Kevin Martin could be on the move. The Mavs are said to be among those exploring a deal for Martin. If not, they could potentially look into Boston Celtics forward Tayshaun Prince, who's available.

12. Rather than making trades, several teams are strongly exploring the idea of signing D-League players. Prospects generating the most buzz lately: Erie guard Seth Curry; Grand Rapids guard Willie Reed; Rio Grande Valley guard Tourre Murry; LA forward Roscoe Smith; and Reno forward Jordan Hamilton.