Coach George Karl and Rajon Rondo (Photo : Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport)
The NBA Rumor mill is abuzz with the events in Sacramento after DeMarcus Cousins proposed a "players only" meeting.
While previous instances of such meetings might be overblown, the Cousins-Coach George Karl relationship already has a backstory to make this a legitimate issue.
According to Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead citing "a person close to the situation," the Kings star center "stormed into the locker room and cursed out head coach George Karl with a torrent of obscenities" after they were beaten badly by the San Antonio Spurs.
The report also mentioned that after the players-only meeting, Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac and assistant GM Mike Bratz talked to the players and Divac asked the team, 'We don't know what to do with George [Karl], do you think we should fire him?'"
Now, USA Today has reported that "George Karl's job is in jeopardy." As it was always correctly presumed, a superstar will always take precedence over a coach if push came to shove.
"If the Kings' 1-7 record that prompted a team meeting on Tuesday gets even worse, his dismissal could come this week. Wednesday, the Kings - as irony would have it - face the same Detroit Pistons team that beat them last Dec. 13 and inspired the firing of coach Michael Malone. "
The Pistons match-up will be tough considering how Andre Drummond is playing, averaging near 20 points and 20 rebounds. This will be a much-awaited clash of the league's top centers.
If Karl were to be fired, the first name that would pop up to replace him would be Tom Thibodeau, formerly of the Chicago Bulls. He is arguably the best coach that is currently unemployed (discounting Phil Jackson) in a coaching function. Fansided reported earlier this year that the Kings already thought about this move.
The question is, will Thibs accept the challenge of coaching the Kings with all the turmoil around the team and the instability of the front office, especially if there are other options available, like the LA Lakers.
