AC

Chris Mullin is resisting the invitation to make an in-season move from an advisory role to the bench ?of the Sacramento Kings, according to NBA coaching sources. Sources told ESPN.com that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has spent much of the last 24 hours lobbying Mullin to replace the fired Mike Malone despite his lack of NBA coaching experience. But sources say Mullin has reservations about making such a leap in the middle of the season, without the benefit of training camp or the time to assemble a veteran-laden coaching staff like Steve Kerr has as a rookie head coach at Golden State. Sources say that Mullin, in recent months, has indeed expressed some interest to associates about trying his hand at coaching down the road. But if he can ultimately be persuaded to take the Kings' job, sources say, chances are far greater that it would happen going into next season as opposed to an in-season appointment. Mullin has been serving as a top adviser to Ranadive with the Kings...