Luke Walton spent exactly one day to find a new job. He was fired — couched in “mutually agreed to part ways” terms — by the Lakers on Friday following an unprecedented sixth straight season out of the playoffs. He sat for a meeting with fellow purple-and-gold alumnus Vlade Divac on Saturday to discuss terms of his hiring as the Kings’ new head coach. After resting on the Sabbath, they then formally announced their partnership, signaling a new era for the franchise that still has to find its competitive footing since erstwhile Warriors co-owner Vivek Ranadivé took the reins in 2013.
To be sure, there is no small measure of irony in Walton’s portrayal as the Kings’ answer to their National Basketball Association-worst 13-year postseason drought. After all, he experienced famine with the Lakers, who painted him the same way when he was tapped for the hot seat in 2016. At the time, he had been fresh off a campaign in which he steered the Warriors to a 39-4 slate while filling in for head coach Steve Kerr, sidelined due to complications from back surgery. And considering the seemingly overactive manner in which the front office handles roster formation, there can be no downplaying the possibility of disappointment.
That said, the relationship Walton has with Divac, dating back to their time as Lakers teammates a decade and a half ago, should help the Kings form a vision that ensures complete collective buy-in. It certainly contributed to the general manager’s desire to sign him to a contract quickly, as well as to the length of the deal. Along with his suitor, he’s signed on for the next four years. In other words, he has carte blanche to frame the system as he sees fit — even with the understanding that immediate results are expected after significant strides made under predecessor Dave Joerger.
From all indications, Walton figures to do well with the Kings. He possesses the right temperament and style for their promising talents. And under his watch, they’re seen to improve on their inherent strengths, what with the likes of Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox meshing with his pace-and-space predilections. The question, of course, is whether the projected development will come fast enough for top management. Patience hasn’t been one of Ranadivé’s virtues, and Divac naturally wants to start off well as a GM with complete authority on basketball matters. How it is answered will determine the prevailing perception of his progress.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
