Luke Walton
Lakers are looking for a replacement for Luke Walton after they agreed to mutually part ways. In this picture, Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at the Barclays Center in New York City, Dec. 18, 2018. Al Bello/Getty Images

It’s certainly been an interesting couple of days for Luke Walton. The Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach was set to be fired before Magic Johnson resigned as the team's president of basketball operations. Now, it's unknown if Walton will be coaching the Lakers or another NBA team next season.

According to The New York Times Mark Stein, the Sacramento Kings could consider hiring Walton to be their head coach for the 2019-2020 season. The news comes after a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Kings president Vlade Divac will fire current head coach Dave Joerger.

Sacramento announced Thursday morning that they extended Divac’s contract through the 2022-2023 season. Joerger has one year left on his deal.

Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported in November that Joerger's job might be in jeopardy because the front office wanted him to give more minutes to the team's younger players. Sacramento ended up being one of the most improved teams in the league, going from 27 wins a season ago to 39 wins this year and in the playoff hunt for much of the season.

Joerger has been the Kings’ head coach since 2016. Sacramento has had nine different head coaches since they last made the playoffs in 2006.

Walton and the Lakers finished just two games behind the Kings in the standings, but the season was viewed far less favorably. Los Angeles had visions of making a deep playoff run when they signed LeBron James last July. The Lakers’ season went off the rails once James suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day, and the team won only two more games than they did a season ago.

Walton has missed the playoffs in all three years with the Lakers. He had his most success as a head coach while filling in for Steve Kerr during the first half of the 2015-2016 season that saw the Golden State Warriors set a record with 73 wins.

It's unknown what Walton’s future is with the Lakers. That will probably be decided by the person that takes over for Johnson.

Owner Jeanie Buss is reportedly fond of Walton, and he took part in the team's exit interviews Wednesday.

According to Wojnarowski, Walton has one year guaranteed left on his contract.

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