Dave Joerger to Kings: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

Dave Joerger was fired as head coach by the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, but it didn't take him long to land a new gig.  

The Sacramento Kings announced Joerger's hiring Monday after The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the two sides had agreed to a deal. Wojnarowski reported Joerger's contract spans three years at $4 million per season, with a team option for a fourth year.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dave to the Sacramento Kings,” Kings general manager Vlade Divac said in the team release. “He is a strong and passionate leader with a proven track record of producing results. Dave shares our focus on creating a long-term culture of winning, and I look forward to a bright future ahead for the Kings with his leadership on the court.”

Chris Granger, president and chief operating officer of the Kings, shared an image of Joerger signing his contract:

"This is a great situation," Joerger said at his press conference on Tuesday, per NBA TV. "It's on the rise." 

"The best days are all ahead of us," Joerger added, per the team.

Joerger drew the ire of Grizzlies management after seeking permission to speak to other teams while still under contract, according to Wojnarowski, but there's no denying he did an admirable job during his three seasons with the Memphis franchise. 

After taking over for the jettisoned Lionel Hollins prior to the 2013-14 season, Joerger led the Grizzlies to two consecutive 50-win seasons.

His best stint on the bench came during the 2014-15 campaign, when the Grizzlies went 55-27 before the Golden State Warriors bounced them from the playoffs in a tough six-game Western Conference Semifinals series. 

And while the Grizzlies went just 42-40 during Joerger's final season in Memphis, that record was among the league's most impressive, given all of the roster turnover and injury woes the Grizzlies had to combat. 

Season	Record	Playoff Finish	Off. Rating	Def. Rating
2013-14	50-32	Western Conference 1st Round	106.3	104.6
2014-15	55-27	Western Conference Semifinals	105.7	102.2
2015-16	42-40	Western Conference 1st Round	105.4	107.8

Not only did Memphis lose All-Star center Marc Gasol to season-ending foot surgery, but point guard Mike Conley didn't appear in a game after March 6 because of an Achilles strain. Backup center Brandan Wright only played 12 games because of knee injuries, which left Memphis dangerously thin up front. 

Plus, the Grizzlies parted ways with rotation staples Courtney Lee and Jeff Green at the trade deadline in separate deals with the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. 

But despite encountering so much strife, Joerger hunkered down and maximized the productivity of a roster that featured also-rans such as Jordan Farmar, JaMychal Green and Xavier Munford alongside Matt Barnes, Vince Carter, Lance Stephenson, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen. 

After watching his team fight through adversity, Joerger cried once the San Antonio Spurs swept the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs:  

Now headed to the Kings, Joerger has a chance to play the role of savior. 

Sacramento has missed the playoffs in each of the last 10 seasons, and internal disputes have garnered more attention lately than on-court production. 

However, there's no denying the Kings have compelling pieces for Joerger to work with. 

DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the league's most dominant big man, and the 25-year-old's just now entering his prime after finishing the 2015-16 season as the only player to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, according to Basketball-Reference.com. 

The Kings also boast combo forward Rudy Gay—whom Joerger worked with in Memphis—2015 lottery pick Willie Cauley-Stein and a solid backcourt foundation composed of veteran Darren Collison and 2013 lottery pick Ben McLemore. Rajon Rondo, who started at point guard last season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

But regardless of whether Rondo returns, the Kings have a true superstar and a developing supporting cast for Joerger to mold as he sees fit. 

His time with the Grizzlies came to an unceremonious end, but his track record, as Divac highlighted, proves he's more than capable of churning out positive results year after year. 

And with an established talent base in Sacramento available to him, Joerger has a chance to lift to new heights a franchise that's encountered some bumps in the road of late.