Sacramento Kings Pick Up Keith Smart's Option for 2012-2013

The Sacramento Kings announced earlier today that they have picked up head coach Keith Smart's option for the 2012-2013 season.

"Keith has done a terrific job of taking control of the direction of the team," said Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, in a written statement. "He is active, engaged and working hard to develop our young players along with a complementary style of play."

Smart started the season as an assistant on former head coach Paul Westphal's staff. But after a slow 2-5 start to the season and a run-in with the ultra-talented but at times immature DeMarcus Cousins, Westphal was relieved of his duties on January 5th.

This is Smart's third opportunity as a head coach in the NBA. In 2002-2003 he went 9-31 as the interim coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Smart coached the Golden State Warriors last season, leading the Warriors to a 36-46 record.

This season, the Kings have posted a 10-20 record since Keith Smart took over as the head coach.

Smart returning next season should help to provide some stability for the Kings, who have had four different head coaches since the 2005-2006 season.

Smart's already made a positive impact on the team, namely by helping to cause the emergence of rookie point guard Isaiah Thomas.

Thomas has averaged 9.2 points and 3.2 assists per game on the season. But his production has increased ever since Smart elevated him to the starting point guard eight games ago. Since that time, Thomas has averaged 16.0 points and 5.8 assists per game.

Now, with a little wiggle room to work the rest of the this season and next season, Smart has a chance to make his third stint as an NBA head coach a success.