The Sacramento Kings hope to make a decision on their head coaching search by the end of the week, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The Kings are choosing between Mark Jackson, Steve Clifford and Mike Brown.

Jackson is considered the favorite and sources say he's the preferred candidate of Vivek Ranadive.

The Kings, however, insist that the three candidates are being considered evenly with Monte McNair given the leeway to make the final decision.

When the Kings parted ways with Michael Malone in 2014, Ranadive had a two-hour covert meeting with Jackson, other Kings officials and DeMarcus Cousins. The meeting led to questions of whether Jackson was being considered as the replamcent for Malone. Sacramento instead hired George Karl.

Brown has connections to the Kings via Wes Wilcox.