The University of Arizona fired head coach Sean Miller on Wednesday. Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton, who played at Arizona, immediately began being discussed on social media as a potential replacement.
In Wednesday’s Kings media availability, the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson asked Walton about his name being mentioned, and if Arizona had contacted him. Walton responded:
No, no interest, Walton said. I love Arizona. I think Sean Miller did an amazing job there in his time, but I have a job. I have a job that I love. I have a group I love working with, so I’m very committed to being hear in Sacramento and keeping this going in the direction that we want it to go and getting this team back into the playoffs.
Of course, what isn’t captured in that quote is the implications behind the question. The reason Walton is being discussed as a candidate is because he’s considering to be on the hot seat as the Kings finish out yet another underwhelming season in which they try to chase the play-in.
Walton has two more years left on his contract, and it’s unclear if Monte McNair plans to replace Walton this summer. McNair has been supportive of Walton throughout the season, but it’s natural to think the Kings GM might prefer to bring in a coach of his own choosing.
I happened to have dialed into today’s media availability. Anderson’s question was certainly fair, but the implications involved made me laugh in the moment (luckily I was muted). Walton obviously was going to deny interest while still employed by the Kings, but Arizona would certainly be a pretty ideal landing spot for him if the Kings decide to make a change this summer.
Just like he has no interest in coaching this team to play above collegiate level…
Junior college, maaaaaybe
Evan, Lyle and Roger walk into a bar.
They are regular guys and it is a regular bar.
They order drinks from the person tending the bar.
The tending person asks them about the nature of the drinks.
“Ice and alcohol,” for me, says Lyle.
“Same,” say Roger and Evan.
“Things are nice here.”
“That’s our specialty,” says the bar person. “Later, a band will play. It is a good band that performs music you know in an urgent and skillful way.”
“Nice.”
“We are driving on 101 and will need a place to stay,” says Evan, “for a night or two. Is this another town along the way?”
“Yes. This is a place to stay. But they can’t make us. We can stay where we wish.”
Roger says, “Everyone submits to the control of authority over his or her actions, but not over his or her judgment and reason. The voice of the majority has the force of law, even here along the stretches of 101 where elementary cautions are ignored. The defect of democracy is its tendency to put mediocrity into power.”
“Who’s driving? Not me. I’ve drunk a good deal. Not one of us should drive.”
“Not one. We’re staying here. And we’re satisfied to be here. Another drink should help.”
“It will.”
Lyle, Evan, and Roger have another drink of ice and alcohol in the bar. They feel good. The game is on and their team is winning. The woman in the corner is cute. Time isn’t fleeting, space is flowing, and no one is driving.
Uh… What?
Gallo. This is a Kings fan forum…not your slam poetry group.
Wrong. This is a Kings fan forum AND Gallo’s outlet for weird and wistful prose vignettes.
I don’t really know what this is, but I’ve decided that I’m all about it.
I told Gallo a few days ago at AN that I haven’t understood them for years but do rather enjoy them.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh. Another white van adventure!!!!! I like it!!!!
Longtime Kings fan who grew up in Tucson and rooted for Walton as a Wildcat. I really don’t think he has any interest in coaching in college. College is a grind with the recruiting and dealing with boosters and NCAA BS. Not saying he’s long for coaching the Kings but even prior to nba coaching ive never heard anywhere he’s been interested in coaching in college.
I mean, I work for the State, so I understand that underwhelming mediocrity does not necessarily mean someone loses their job, but… how can I say this as classy and respectful as possible… how does this no-talent ass clown continue to be a head coach anywhere in the pros?
Hey now, I used to work for the state, and I can say with 100% confidence that there were many no-talent ass clowns with great job security! The best employees were often contractors, who technically weren’t employed by the state even though they did state jobs. Coincidence? I think not!
I just cannot freaking believe that Walton has two more years left on his contract………
As I looked at the record of the Suns….and they are 36-14, ranked at #2 seed right now…
and look how a good coach (Monty William), and a veteran (CP3) can made a HUGE difference….
I really hope we can tank, and add more talent via the draft…hire a good coach (e.g. Kenny Atkinson), lure a good veteran (e.g. Jimmer Butler) to join us in off-season….to see if we can make such a big leap like the Suns……..
Jimmy Butler would be sooooo sweet.
Hmm, now who was also available to hire when Divac picked Walton… looking at the list here… is that… is it really…. yes, it’s Monty Williams. Of course.
Well, good because no organization should have interest in Luke Walton being its head coach.
Please, Arizona, make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Salary, hotel rooms and a campus full of coeds?
I’m reposting this here because it wound up in the Kangz Rewind thread earlier:
Maybe Vivek can offer some cash considerations to the U of A boosters to take Luke off his hands. He can use some of the million$ he raised through his SPAC in the WeWorks deal:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/26/wework-reportedly-agrees-to-a-spac-deal-to-go-public.html
Ah, WeWork…the grift that keeps on giving.
Jesus, that’s a scumbag failing company. No one with any self-respect or business acumen should be involved with that company.
Arizona: “Luke, we’d like to hire you! Come back to Tucson!”
Luke: “No thanks, I am already making millions of dollars to lose games. I’m good.”
Arizona: “What–wait, you thought we want you to coach? HA! No, no, no. Students are coming back to campus soon, and we’re looking to hire some campus monitors to walk around at night and make sure the freshmen don’t trash the dorms too much. Observe and report, that sort of thing.”
Luke: “Will there be tape to watch? I like tape.”
Arizona: “What? Tape? Are you–never mind. Anyway, we want you. You WOULD need to wear a mask, of course. Properly.”
Luke: *click*
Walton:
Arizona:
.
I fully expect the Kings to set up that football with a win tonight, followed by renewed talk of playoffs from the local media folks and the eternal optimists.
Kenny You know they are just [x] games out of that play-in spot Caraway, yeah I’m looking at you too! 😉
It’s what the Kings do.
What in the holy heck is going on?
I have twice posted this comment in the game preview only for it to magically end up on this article!
This site is repeatedly adding comments to different threads than where they were originally posted. It’s making me look more stupid than normal.
George is getting frustrated.
I hope the Kings have interest in Luke Walton having interest in the Arizona job.
testing commenting
You suck, Akis.
Seems to work fine.
Test
4332 6871 9950 4001
testing…
LaBradford’d
Wow Greg broke the site
Please don’t (re)boo(t).
Test.
Failure.
SSDD
Did you mean to post this comment on this story? Or was this comment intended for a different story?
Were comments removed from the “Inconsistency” article? There are a couple comments of mine in there that I cannot find anymore, although they are listed in my comment archive.
I’m not sure why we didn’t throw our hat in the ring to go after Aaron Gordon or Vucevic if we were really going for it this year. This team has little chance of getting a good free agent – or an impactful draft pick.
Looking at those two deals and what Denver and Chicago gave up, the Kings would have had to offer their ’21 & ’25 1sts and Hield for Gordon, and Bagley, Barnes and two future 1sts for Vuc.
Nuggets gave up one first rounder for Gordon and it’s gonna be a late one. Gary Harris was not worth much as this point. Kings could have done a top-10 protected first and Bagley or Hield
The Nugs gave up Hampton & a 1st, which is greater than Bagley or Hield & a 1st when you consider contracts & what Orlando was after. You want Gordon? You have to do better than Hampton & a 1st.
Also, Harris has a shorter term on his contract than Hield, so you’re looking at either Hali or the 21 pick to better Denver’s package.
I don’t see any evidence that we’re really going for it this year.
They were buyers, not sellers at the deadline
I predict CoJo gets hung up on a simple screen, and whomever he is guarding either gets an easy layup or assist when someone else’s man covers. CoJo will slap his hands together in frustration like “aw shucks” as if the defensive breakdown wasn’t a direct result of the lack of effort, cause what can you do?!?
Looking at the next 10 games for MEM, SA, GSW, NOP and SAC, I don’t see the Kings being able to make up enough ground to catch the 10th spot.
The probable best case scenario for the Kings (meaning if things go VERY wrong for the other teams and things go ridiculously well for the Kings), after the next ten games, we’re looking at:
MEM 29-30
SA 26-32
GSW 29-32
NO 26-35
SAC 29-32
That means most of the teams above us go some variation of 2-8, 3-7, 4-6 and the Kings rattle off 7 wins in ten games.
More than likely, I think it’ll shake out this way:
MEM 30-29
SA 28-31
GSW 30-31
NOP 26-35
SAC 27-34
Only 11 games for SAC left after that, which include matches against LAL, UTAH(x2), DAL and SA. All hope isn’t lost, but if they lose tonight and against the Pels in a few games from now, I think it’ll be too much to make up.
I don’t know if I’ve been more disengaged with a Kings team this late into the season. I honestly have no real desire to watch the games right now. I don’t like the coach, I don’t like the “push” for the 10th seed, and I don’t like the current direction of the team
I’ll really only watch to see Haliburton and Fox, but other than that, I’m ready for the offseason. Now, if they fire Walton and/or play guys like Woodard and Silva over the likes of Harkless and Whiteside, I may pay more attention, but right now it’s like watching a block of ice melt.
This comment is a test to see if my commenting issue has been resolved.
bit of a ghost town around here these days. We need something crazy to happen tonight to get the collective juices flowin
???Luke has decided to start Harkless instead of Haliburton!
And my glitch is backI posted this comment in the preview thread!
Good God is Loose starting Harkless in place of Tyrese?
Moving the guy who makes everyone better and is in the mix for RotY to the bench???
Luke Walton is a straight up BOZO.
I was preaching patience, but it just ran out. Fire this scrub.
And to be clear, the patience was only because I didn’t think firing Walton matters that much (not that he deserves more time to prove anything).
I wonder where comments in this thread will show up.
I guess game thread comments will show up here in the Luke to AZ thread.
Loose is starting Harkless over Tyrese ð¤¦ï¸…he’s a UFA after this season! Why??????
Tyrese back to the bench?
Jeeze this is gonna be ugly.
I feel like we start in the hole every game with Walton coaching this team.
Diallo is on the Pistons? He might be very good in a few years.
Harkless is back. I’m totally confused with what is going on.
Commenting on the game but it’s showing up here.
Omg the Kings suck ð
Looks like five in a row…sheesh!
CoJo killing the Kangz
If Luke hasn’t already lost this team, I’m going to hate seeing what it looks like when he does.
@
I laughed checking the box score a few times.
I’d say burn this game tape, but Walton should be forced to watch it.
Tucson Tank Commander!
Is Cory now a max player ? He was the best player on the floor ! Just sayin !,,
Fuck it. Wake me up when Walton is gone and when we talk draft prospects. The season is done for me.
What an embarrassment.
It really irks me that when a guy like Edwards, Shroder, divincenzo, white gets a open 3, Mark and Doug say that’s the shot you want him to take and when Fox bricks a 3 in crucial moments they say that’s a shot he has to take like what? That the shot the other team wants him to take all night and no he doesn’t need to take that shot, Jimmy butler has only taken 72 3’s all season, Zion got 24 attempts, Derozan got 62 and they are still high impact players. So why does Fox NEED to shoot 281?
and thank you Luke for ruining the Haliburton experience for me. Take the only consistent player and give him the most inconsistent role on the damn team.
It really irks me that when a guy like Edwards, Shroder, divincenzo, white gets a open 3, Mark and Doug say that’s the shot you want him to take and when Fox bricks a 3 in crucial moments they say that’s a shot he has to take like what? That the shot the other team wants him to take all night and no he doesn’t need to take that shot, Jimmy butler has only taken 72 3’s all season, Zion got 24 attempts, Derozan got 62 and they are still high impact players. So why does Fox NEED to shoot 281?
and thank you Luke for ruining the Haliburton experience for me. Take the only consistent player and give him the most inconsistent role on the damn team
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