Report: Kings Ownership Unhappy With Coach Mike Brown

According to NBA insider James Ham, the Sacramento Kings ownership is unhappy with head coach Mike Brown. 

The Kings missed the playoffs this year after making it in 2023 for the first time since 2006. 

“Brown backed up year one with a 46-36 record in year two, but the Kings fell short of the playoffs, falling in the second of two play-in tournament games,” Ham wrote. “The failure to repeat the success of the previous year hasn’t sat well with ownership, according to sources.”

Brown won the 2022-23 Coach of the Year Award. The Kings went 48-34 and finished with the third-best record in the Western Conference.

Sacramento lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in seven games. 

The Kings went 46-36 this season. They beat the Warriors in the 9-10 play-in game but lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 8-9 play-in game. 

“According to league sources, Brown’s contract with the team was for three seasons with a mutual option for a fourth year,” Ham wrote. “He is set to make less than $5 million this season and with rising coaching salaries around the league, the fourth year option wasn’t exercised. It should also be noted that Brown’s current salary is less per year than the Kings paid their previous head coach, Luke Walton.”

Brown is entering the final year of his contract. It will be interesting to see what happens with the 54-year-old. 

In other Kings news, according to NBA insider Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid, Sacramento could be interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen. The Cavaliers could trade Allen this summer. 

“While Allen has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans for quite a while now, sources tell Right Down Euclid that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings could be interested in the former All-Star,” Dammarell wrote. 

Allen has two years and $40 million left on his contract. The big man averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks this season for the Cavaliers while shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.2% from the free-throw line.