George Karl, Kings Reportedly Reach Contract Agreement

In the midst of a disappointing 2014-15 season, the Sacramento Kings needed to search for an answer at head coach after axing Michael Malone unexpectedly. Several options have been rumored to be on the table, but the team reportedly has landed George Karl.

Continue for updates.

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Karl Reportedly Agrees to Be Kings' Coach

Thursday, Feb. 12

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Karl and the Kings have agreed on terms:

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George Karl has reached agreement on a four-year contract worth nearly $15 million to become coach of the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento plans to make a formal announcement soon.

The $14.5 million deal will include a $1.5 million buyout provision on the $5 million owed Karl in the final year of the contract.

Karl will earn $1.25 million for the rest of the 2014-15 season, which will begin with his Kings debut after the All-Star break on Feb. 20 against Golden State. Karl is set to earn $3.25 million in 2015-16 and $5 million per season in the final two years of the deal.

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On Wednesday, Wojnarowski reported the sides were still working on terms. At the time, Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee wrote the announcement wouldn't come until after the All-Star break because the "team doesn't want to detract from [DeMarcus] Cousins' All Star debut." However, ESPN's Marc Stein reported the team could possibly announce Karl's hiring Friday.

On Feb. 10, Stein and colleague Chris Broussard reported that a deal between the Kings and Karl was all but finished:

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Only a dramatic and unexpected collapse in the final stage of negotiations can prevent George Karl from becoming the next coach of the Sacramento Kings.

Although the Kings have yet to formally announce a done deal with Karl, sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the organization is already operating under the premise that Karl will take over the team after the All-Star break.

The parties, sources said, were still working Tuesday on the finer deal points of an expected four-year contract that will formally establish Karl, an ESPN analyst, as Tyrone Corbin's successor and Sacramento's third coach of the season starting next week.

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On Feb. 9, Wojnarowski first reported financial details, noting the two parties were nearing a four-year contract that would pay between $4 and $5 million per year, while Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher reported beforehand that the "Kings have made a contract proposal."

Also on Feb. 9, Voisin reported the franchise was pressing Karl on his health to see if he's a long-term fit for the franchise, given his medical history.

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Cousins, Corbin React to Karl Expected to be Named Kings Coach 

Tuesday, Feb. 10

DeMarcus Cousins released a statement on the Kings' imminent hiring of Karl, via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

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I wasn’t consulted when the decision was made to fire Mike Malone and I’m not being consulted now. I just hope they make a decision soon and stick with it. George Karl is an experienced, proven coach and if that is who they chose to coach this team, I will support it. I do not like all these discussions in the media while we have a coach in place. It is a distraction and not fair to Coach Corbin and this team.

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On Feb. 9, Voisin reported "Folks close to DeMarcus Cousins believe George Karl will be hired, if not today then shortly thereafter."

However, The Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones reported there are multiple players against the idea of Karl coaching the team.

Jones added: "Apparently some folks are turned off at what they see as Karl's social media campaigning for the job."

On Feb. 8, Voisin provided comments from Cousins' agent, who spoke about Karl potentially becoming Sacramento's head coach:

USA Today's Sam Amick reported on the potential impact Cousins might be having on Karl's talks with the team:

Amick later reported the two sides had made progress amid obstacles centering around Cousins' camp and Karl's contract:

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The Sacramento Kings made significant progress on a deal with coach George Karl on Sunday, when the once-sizable gap between the two sides on salary and length of contract was narrowed and confidence rose that a workable deal could be done.

According to three people with knowledge of the situation, the last hurdle in a possible partnership was the complicated component relating to the team's star player, center DeMarcus Cousins. Yet as of Sunday evening, there were signs that the resistance from Cousins' camp was waning and that the two sides could be nearing a deal.

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Jones also provided Tyrone Corbin's thoughts on the swirling rumors:

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Cousins' Camp Presents Resistance to Karl Joining Kings

Saturday, Feb. 7

Since firing Mike Malone as head coach in December, the Kings simply haven't made any measurable gains. As they continue to scuffle, it is appearing more and more likely that interim head coach Tyrone Corbin will be replaced.

According to The Sacramento Bee's Ailene Voisin, former Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl is engaged in talks with the Kings for their vacant position.

However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that people in the Kings', Karl's and DeMarcus Cousins' camps hold a "diminishing belief" that the veteran coach will wind up in Sacramento. Wojnarowski also noted that the team will come to a resolution by Sunday either way, even if that means riding out Ty Corbin as an interim option.

USA Today's Sam Amick reported that people in star player Cousins' camp are against hiring Karl:

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Cousins' day-to-day agent, Jarrin Akana, worked with Karl in Denver and was re-assigned from assistant coach to scout when Karl took over for coach Jeff Bzdelik in 2005. Dan Fegan, Cousins' lead agent, represented Karl's son, Coby, as a player for years before he was eventually replaced. That circle, by all accounts, has been against the notion of adding Karl.

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Voisin is also hearing that Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry, Indiana Pacers assistant Nate McMillan, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks are potential options if the Kings decide to go after someone other than Karl.

The 63-year-old Karl hasn't coached since parting ways with the Nuggets in 2013, but he has shown interest in returning to the ranks.

Karl has also been linked to the Orlando Magic's opening, and he recently expressed a desire to get back on the sidelines via Twitter:

With the Kings now emerging as an option, though, Karl could be back in the league very soon. According to Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com, Sacramento may look to make a change during the All-Star break:

While Karl would make a ton of sense based on success and experience, it's unclear if he's going to be the fit Sacramento is looking for. There are plenty of qualified candidates out there, so the Kings should have an opportunity to make a quality hire.

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