Dave Joerger is the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings, according to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.
Amick reports Joerger has verbally agreed to a four-year deal worth $16 million, which is the same length and amount that was reported earlier in the day by ESPN’s Marc Stein.
The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly fired Joerger a couple of days ago because of his interest in coaching the Kings, Adrian Wojnarowski first reported. The Grizzlies and Kings were discussing a potential trade to send the coach to Sacramento for a second-round pick, but ultimately it was decided that he should just be let go.
After spending years coaching Memphis’ D-League team, Joerger got his first NBA head coaching gig in 2013. He led the Grizzlies to an overall record of 147-99, making the playoffs all three years. His final season was marred by an epic rash of injuries, during which time the team set an NBA record for most players utilized on the roster in one season.
Needless to say, Joerger is quite adept at making lemonade out of lemons.
He’ll need that skill to turn Sacramento into a winner. The Kings haven’t sported a winning record in a decade, and most years they’ve languished at the bottom of the Western Conference.