OKLAHOMA CITY – The Kings' coaching staff will look very familiar next season.
Coach Keith Smart plans to bring back assistants Jim Eyen, Alex English and Bobby Jackson.
Only English was hired after Smart replaced Paul Westphal, who was fired Jan. 5.
"This group has been good," Smart said. "They've managed to blend with each other and work with each other and have an understanding of how each other functions."
Smart said there also will be a role for special assistant Clifford Ray, who has been assisting with coaching the big men since last month. Smart said the schedule would dictate how much Ray would be with the team.
"That guy will always be around me no matter where I'm coaching," Smart said. "Even if I'm coaching my kids, he's going to be around."
No rush back – Kings leading scorer Marcus Thornton missed his third consecutive game because of a left quadriceps contusion.
Thornton's status for Thursday's season finale against the Los Angeles Lakers is uncertain. He's listed as day-to-day.
Smart said it wasn't especially important that Thornton play against the Lakers.
"If he can (play), he can (play)," Smart said. "If not, just to be there doesn't do a whole lot because we've got the whole summer to get ourselves ready. We've got the whole training camp to get ourselves moving in the right direction."
Thornton has missed 10 games because of left quad contusions. He has injured or aggravated the quad three times running into an opponent's knee on a screen.
Smart said he dealt with the injury during his playing days as a smaller guard running into screens.
"I used the pads and all those things until I built up the strength in my legs to take some of that stuff," Smart said.
Also out – Terrence Williams (illness), John Salmons (sore right hip) and Hassan Whiteside (sprained left ankle) also missed Tuesday's game.
Salmons has missed the last 15 games. Whiteside has missed the last five.
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