The Sacramento Kings have narrowed down their list of head coach candidates. ESPN has reported that the Kings are considering former head coaches Mike Brown and Steve Clifford. The Athletic reported that former head coach and current ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson is also on the list.

Sacramento GM Monte McNair has reportedly begun to inform candidates who are moving to the in-person interview phase.

Brown last led a team in 2014, when he was the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the last six season, Brown has worked on Steve Kerr's staff with the Golden State Warriors.

Clifford has coached both the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic. He was let go by Orlando in 2021. He's been working as a consultant to the Brooklyn Nets this season.

Mark Jackson coached the Golden State Warriors for three seasons and holds a career winning percentage of .526. Jackson has worked as a lead broadcaster for ESPN since the Warriors let him go after the 2014 season.

The Dallas Mavericks tried to trade up in the 2020 NBA draft in order to select Tyrese Haliburton, sources tell Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Dallas offered Jalen Brunson and the 18th and 31st picks, but couldn't find a taker before the Sacramento Kings sued the No. 12 selection on Haliburton.

Haliburton has become one of the NBA's better young guards and is now playing for former Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. 

The New York Knicks, who have been connected to Brunson, stayed put at No. 8 and selected Obi Toppin.

In addition to Mark Jackson and Mike D'Antoni, the Sacramento Kings have secured permission to interview a number of assistant coaches.

The Kings have plans to interview Mike Brown, Steve Clifford, Darvin Ham, Charles Lee and Will Hardy.

The Kings are hoping to hire a coach that can help end their extended playoff drought.

The Sacramento Kings are expected to target a head coach with prior experience, particularly in turning lottery teams into playoffs teams.

Kenny Atkinson, Steve Clifford, Mark Jackson and Mike Brown are amongst the candidates with prior experience. Milwaukee Bucks assistants Charles Lee and Darvin Ham are also candidates and would be first time head coaches.

Marc Stein previously reported that Clifford and Jackson, along with Mike D'Antoni and Terry Stotts were potential candidates for the job. 

The Kings parted ways with Alvin Gentry as interim head coach on Monday.

The Sacramento Kings had their playoff drought extended to 16 straight seasons and a report from Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee details issues within how the team has been run since Vivek Ranadive assumed ownership.

“I’ve been in the room with Vivek during draft time,” a former member of the team’s basketball operations staff told The Sacramento Bee, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “I’ve been on conference calls with him around the trade deadline. I think, like any successful business or organization, a lot of this stuff starts at the top.

“In an ideal situation, you hire someone you feel is qualified. You do your homework on them and then you trust that person is capable of doing the job. It’s one thing to be a fan and want to be involved from afar, but I think when you are meddling in decisions, I think the problem is you have an owner who’s too involved.” The source described a “toxic” work environment in which “people don’t trust each other” and “they are thirsty to get any advantage or any promotion they can.”

The source described a “toxic” work environment in which “people don’t trust each other” and “they are thirsty to get any advantage or any promotion they can.”

While Vlade Divac served as general manager from March 2015 to August 2020, at various times his power was usurped by special advisor Joe Dumars and assistant general managers Ken Catanella, Scott Perry and Brandon Williams, the source said.

Multiple sources told the Sacramento Bee that the dynamic has changed since Monte McNair replaced Divac in September 2020.

A minority said he believes McNair is currently operating without interference. 

“I’ve looked people in the eye and said, ‘We know this has been a problem. Is it a problem today?’ They’re telling me it’s not,” he said. “Does Vivek have the right to approve trades or give his input? Yeah, but I don’t believe Vivek is micromanaging Monte. I believe Monte is in charge and has total control.”

The Sacramento Kings have informed Alvin Gentry that he is no longer interim head coach of the team.

The Kings plan to do a comprehensive coaching search immediately.

Sacramento fired Luke Walton as head coach in November. The Kings missed the playoffs for the 16th season and did not qualify for the play-in. 

Marc Stein has previously reported that Mike D'Antoni, Terry Stotts, Mike Brown and Steve Clifford are candidates for the job.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Kings will discuss a front office role with Gentry.

Donte DiVincenzo is upset with the Sacramento Kings over his role with the team since the trade deadline. Sacramento traded for DiVincenzo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a four-team deal at the deadline that also featured the Detroit Pistons and LA Clippers.

DiVincenzo believes the Kings deliberately held him to less minutes to try and keep him more affordable as a free agent this summer. Sacramento reportedly wants to re-sign the guard to a contract that starts at less than the Mid-Level exception. DiVincenzo and his camp believe he'll have offers worth at least the full MLE.

With the Kings, DiVincenzo played in 24 games with one start. He played 26.5 minutes per game, which was more than he was logging with the Bucks. However, DiVincenzo was working his way back from an injury while with Milwaukee. 

The Sacramento Kings are not expected to make Alvin Gentry their permanent head coach coming out of a season in which they didn't make the playoffs. Gentry replaced Luke Walton on an interim basis this season.

Terry Stotts, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Brown and Steve Clifford have been mentioned frequently in coaching circles as potential targets for the Kings.

Sacramento is believed to prefer a proven head coach who can help end their 16-year playoff drought.

Monte McNair worked with D'Antoni previously when they were with the Houston Rockets.

Stotts is expected to be a coveted candidate during this coaching cycle after taking the season off following his dismissal by the Portland Trail Blazers.