Longtime NBA executive Scott Perry is considered the frontrunner for the Kings’ general manager job, Sam Amick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic report.
The organization is looking for a replacement for Monte McNair, who mutually agreed with ownership to part ways after a five-year run. The Kings were eliminated from the play-in tournament by Dallas on Wednesday.
Perry was the Kings’ VP of basketball operations and has a strong working relationship with Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadive. Perry has a 25-year front office resume that has included stints with the Pistons, SuperSonics, Magic and Knicks. Former Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, who lost his job last week, is also expected to receive consideration.
While former GM Vlade Divac is still within the organization as VP of basketball and franchise operations, he’s not considered a candidate for the top executive job. Team sources tell The Athletic that Divac won’t be returning to the front office in any formal capacity.
As for the head coaching job, Doug Christie hasn’t been given any promises to have the interim tag removed, but he’s well-positioned to keep the job. Christie replaced Mike Brown in late December.
According to The Athletic, McNair didn’t want to fire Brown and he also recently clashed with ownership regarding Christie’s status beyond this season, with Ranadive backing Christie. The decision to acquire DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade last offseason and deal for Zach LaVine at the trade deadline may also have been driven by ownership, per Amick and Slater.
McNair, who spoke with the team minutes after the loss to the Mavericks, may not be out of a job for long. He could return to the Rockets, where his former co-worker, Rafael Stone, is the GM. He also has close ties with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
Booth’s potential candidacy and McNair’s potential reunion with Houston were previously reported.
Wow, what a disappointing loss. It’ll be definitely interesting to watch how the kings respond with their roster this summer.
Who do they keep, who do they trade? There’s a lot of big names and will the Kings try to plug in another veteran or two or break it down?
Everyone was praising the Mavs this morning but the way the Kings played it was like a disorganized team that never played together. Still wonder why they traded their best playerin Fox for a #3 player? Its like they just threw a bunch of players together. Whoever becomes GM willhave a tough decision to make rebuild or trade for a #1 option.
Sacramento fans deserve better ownership
He will certainly have a tough road ahead. They will need to get lucky in the draft…
Just a friendly reminder for all kings fans clamoring for new ownership that Vivek saved the team from Seattle or Anaheim . Has he been a “ good “ owner ? No, he has been quite the opposite. If it’s true that he’s backing Christie for the coaching spot then we kings fans need to prepare for more humiliating performances like this latest play in debacle. DC is a super guy but he literally doesn’t draw up plays. I’ll be honest I’m not excited about Scott Perry being the GM. At least the Giants are playing some good ball 🤷♂️
Could’ve drafted Doncic. Passed (surprisingly since Divac was still the exec in charge). Had Fox AND Haliburton. Now they have neither. Perry now the GM. Don’t think it can get any worse…