Sacramento Kings Courting Rick Pitino for Head Coaching Job

Louisville head coach, Rick Pitino, is rumored to be very close to taking the Sacramento Kings’ vacant coaching position. It seems like a good fit as Pitino has a close relationship with the Maloof family who owns the Sacramento Kings along with the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, a city that Pitino likes to spend time in the offseason.

Since losing to Michigan State in the regional finals of the 2009 NCAA tournament, Pitino has been caught up in a very public extortion case involving the estranged wife of a basketball staff member. It would seem like a good time to look for a fresh start somewhere and many sources close to Pitino have stated he would like to get back to the professional ranks.

Gavin Maloof, the Kings co-owner has denied that the Kings have spoken with Pitino, but everyone always says that when they’re trying to keep something from the public. Several sources in both the NCAA and NBA circles have confirmed reports insisting that Pitino has been in contact with someone from the Maloof family, and I’ll bet a nickel they aren’t talking about the weather.

Originally, Pitino was not considered in the coaching search because the high-price tag didn’t seem to make sense for the small market organization. But the Maloofs are re-examining that as word that Pitino is showing interest in returning to the NBA. Currently Pitino makes more than $3 million a season in a multi-year deal at Louisville.

Pitino has had some ups and downs in the NBA. He had a successful two-year run as coach of the New York Knicks, who he let to the playoffs in consecutive years. After leading Kentucky to two Final Fours and a national title, Pitino took a $50 million contract to run the Celtics in 1997. Four years later, Pitino resigned with a 102-146 record and no playoff appearances. Not so good.

The knock on Pitino is that he demands complete control and is notorious for bumping heads with GM’s. It was a power struggle with GM Al Bianchi that pushed Pitino out of New York and into the job at Kentucky in 1989.

If Pitino doesn’t come west to coach the Kings it is said that Eddie Jordan, the ex-Kings and Washington Wizards coach, has been the front-runner while Paul Westphal and Mike Fratello are also in the running.