It’s official: Kings announce McNair as team’s new GM; Dumars will advise Ranadivé
Following a month-long search process, the Kings announced Thursday that Monte McNair is taking over as the team’s general manager and Joe Dumars will move into a new role as chief strategy officer.
McNair has worked exclusively with the Houston Rockets for 13 years since Daryl Morey hired him as an analyst in 2007, rising through the ranks to become the team’s assistant general manager. He comes from a front office that has also produced other top executives such as former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie, Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and Minnesota Timberwolves executive vice president of basketball operations Sachin Gupta.
Gupta was widely regarded as the leading candidate in Sacramento before the Kings hired McNair.
“Monte is one of the NBA’s top basketball minds who has played an instrumental role in building several winning teams in Houston,” Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé said in a news release. “I am excited to bring his extensive experience and vision onboard to lead our basketball operations department, and it is my pleasure to welcome Monte and his family to Sacramento.”
McNair said he is excited about the challenge that awaits him in Sacramento.
“I am thrilled to join the Kings organization and honored to shape the franchise’s bright future for the team’s loyal fans,” McNair said in a news release. “I would like to thank Vivek for this opportunity and look forward to becoming a part of the Sacramento community.”
McNair is a Southern California native who grew up in Ventura County. He played football at Princeton, where he majored in computer science. Listed as a 6-foot-1 wide receiver, McNair had four catches for 109 yards during the 2004 season, including a 31-yard touchdown reception against Harvard.
McNair served Houston in a variety of roles, most recently as assistant GM. He has focused on analytics and strategy for a team that has earned acclaim in those areas while going to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons.
McNair was named director of basketball operations in Houston in 2013, transitioned to vice president of basketball operations in 2015 and was promoted to assistant general manager in October 2018. In addition to his analytics work for the Rockets organization, McNair has been involved in all aspects of player evaluation, including trades, free agency and the draft.
“Monte has been absolutely critical to the success of the Rockets over his long tenure,” Morey said on the team’s website. “His unique combination of analytical skills and ability to work with our coaching staff was a key driver in our record-breaking season last year.”
The Kings also announced Dumars would step away from day-to-day basketball operations to “drive strategy across the organization’s entire portfolio of activities, including business, basketball, new ventures, entertainment and real estate.”
Dumars helped run the team after the August departure of Vlade Divac, who resigned as general manager after five years in the position. Dumars joined the Kings last summer as a special adviser to the general manager. Divac stepped down after Ranadivé made a move to shift decision-making power to Dumars.
Dumars was named interim executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager as the search for a replacement got underway. Throughout the search sources told The Sacramento Bee the presence of Dumars and uncertainty about his role with the organization was a concern among some potential candidates. A team source told The Bee the Kings intended to hire a top basketball executive who would report directly to Ranadivé.
McNair won’t have much time to acclimate himself to his new surroundings. There are a number of matters that will require his immediate consideration.
The Kings will have to prepare for the NBA Draft, which has been moved from Oct. 16 to Nov. 18. The Kings hold the No. 12 pick in the first round. They also have the No. 35, No. 43 and No. 52 picks in the second round.
McNair will also have a number of other personnel decisions to make. Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is eligible for a max extension, guard Bogdan Bogdanovic will be a restricted free agent and forward Nemanja Bjelica’s $7.15 million contract will become guaranteed if he is not waived before the start of free agency. McNair may also have to decide what to do with guard Buddy Hield, who signed a four-year, $86 million extension in October but has been unhappy since coach Luke Walton moved him into a backup role.
Walton just completed his first season with the Kings after being hired by Divac in April 2019. During the search process, sources told The Bee Walton’s job was safe and he would coach the 2020-21 season.
The Kings hired McNair a month after retaining the services of Sportsology CEO Mike Forde, who helped the team carry out their search. Forde’s executive search firm has previously worked with the New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and the 49ers.
Forde’s executive search firm helped the Kings formulate a list of candidates that included McNair; Gupta; former Atlanta Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox; Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth; New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon; and Miami Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon.
Langdon, Simon and Booth all withdrew their names from consideration. Ranadivé and his son, Aneel Ranadivé, conducted initial interviews with McNair, Gupta and Wilcox. Dumars participated in in-person interviews with finalists earlier this week.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 7:16 AM.