The Sacramento Kings have had a bizarre season.
They looked like a surprise team early as DeMarcus Cousins rampaged through opponents. Then he contracted meningitis, missed three weeks and the Kings’ season derailed.
They fired a well-regarded coach, Michael Malone, and replaced him with the little-regarded Ty Corbin, and they tumbled towards the bottom of the Western Conference, where they had been expected to land.
And they replaced Corbin. The good news is that for all of their weirdness this year, they improbably have stumbled into what likely will be a lasting answer.
Sacramento last week hired George Karl, bringing the 63-year-old legend back to the NBA after a couple years away.
He offers a steady hand to a rocky organisation. He also brings one of the best basketball minds to a team badly in need of direction. He has more than 1,100 victories in the NBA and a record that spans 25 seasons and 22 play-offs appearances.
For a team starved of post-season play since 2005/06, that is a comforting record to welcome.
One thing Karl, a cancer survivor, has not done in all his years is win an NBA championship.
He will need to forge a relationship with Cousins, who can be difficult. He will need to check the impulses of the Kings’ actively involved owner, Vivek Ranadive.
He will, obviously, need to bring more talent to Sacramento.
It says something about his ambition that he has chosen such a project for his final act.
jraymond@thenational.ae
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
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