George Karl’s interest in the Sacramento Kings trading All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins is creating a rift between the coach and team management.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is weighing the possibility of firing Karl just four months after he hired the veteran coach in an attempt to turn around the struggling franchise, ESPN reported Thursday.
Ranadive is upset that Karl wants to trade Cousins and has refused to grant his request for a trade. Kings executive vice president of basketball and franchise operations Vlade Divac also is unhappy with Karl, according to an ESPN report.
Cousins and Karl already have a strained relationship and the two haven’t spoken for months, the Sacramento Bee reported. Cousins has not been a Karl supporter since he was hired in Feburary.
No decision on Karl’s future with the team is imminent, but reports indicated that Ranadive has discussed with management the possibility of parting with Karl.
Karl signed a four-year contract worth a reported $14.5 million, including $11 million guaranteed. The final year, which is non-guaranteed, has a $1.5 million buyout.