Kings, George Karl could be closer to a deal

Sam Amick | USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings made significant progress on a deal with coach George Karl on Sunday, when the once-sizable gap between the two sides on salary and length of contract was narrowed and confidence rose that a workable deal could be done.

According to three people with knowledge of the situation, the last hurdle in a possible partnership was the complicated component relating to the team's star player, center DeMarcus Cousins. Yet as of Sunday evening, there were signs that the resistance from Cousins' camp was waning and that the two sides could be nearing a deal. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the process.

Cousins' agents, Dan Fegan and Jarinn Akana, have been adamantly opposed to Karl's hiring. But general manager Pete D'Alessandro had appeared willing to make the move without their consent. If that has remained the case, and if Kings owner Vivek Ranadive approves as well, then the Kings will be on their way to fixing what's broken with their fractured team.

Karl has made his desires clear when it comes to contract wishes, and Ranadive must now decide if this is the cure for all that ails them. As of Monday morning, the Kings had not yet informed Karl or his camp that his desires will be met.

D'Alessandro was expected to discuss the situation with Cousins' representatives on Sunday afternoon. As it were, one of them told The Sacramento Bee on Sunday that they were not blocking the hiring. "Make the move; we don't run the team," the representative who was not identified by name reportedly said.

The Kings have lost 11 of their last 13 games and 19 of 26 since firing coach Michael Malone in mid-December.