Report: Luke Walton expected to meet with Kings after 1st round

The Sacramento Kings are casting a wide net in their coaching hunt, meeting with just about every potential candidate under the sun. Maybe when you've had 11 coaches in 11 years, it pays to be a little more scrupulous in your search for a 12th.

Lengthening their ever-growing laundry list of interview candidates, the Kings are expected to meet with Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton following the conclusion of the first round, according to Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has granted Walton permission to interview with other teams, but not while the team is in the middle of a series. The Warriors currently lead the Houston Rockets 2-0 in their Western Conference quarterfinal.

Since relieving George Karl of his duties last week, the Kings have also reportedly shown interest in Vinny Del Negro, Mark Jackson, Kevin McHale, Mike Woodson, Sam Mitchell, David Blatt, Monty Williams, Jeff Van Gundy, Nate McMillan, Jeff Hornacek, and Ime Udoka, to say nothing of owner Vivek Ranadive's longstanding John Calipari fetish.

According to Voisin, Kings vice president and general manager Vlade Divac is "particularly intrigued by a small group of potential candidates" that includes Walton, Tom Thibodeau, Scott Brooks, and San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina.

With Thibodeau and Brooks considered the front-runners for vacant coaching positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards, respectively, Walton and Messina would appear to be the most realistic candidates at the top of the Kings' wishlist.

Whether either of those assistants, each currently helping to coach an all-time great team, would be willing to jump ship to climb aboard the Kings' leaky craft - which hasn't ventured into postseason waters in a decade - is another matter.

The 36-year-old said in a recent interview that though he eventually wants to be an NBA head coach, he's comfortable with where he is right now, and won't "rush off into something else."

Walton, who coached the Warriors to a 39-4 start this season in Kerr's absence, has also drawn interest from the New York Knicks.