Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive isn't wasting any time in his rebuilding efforts with his new team.
According to two people with knowledge of the talks, the owner who formally took control of the team on Tuesday has already interviewed Golden State Warriors assistant general manager Travis Schlenk and Memphis general manager Chris Wallace for the Kings' general manager position. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the search.
As was reported by USA TODAY Sports on Monday, Ranadive has informed Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie that he intends on bringing in his own front-office people. Petrie's contract expires at the end of June, and he has agreed to assist during the transition that will lead to his exit. But while the general manager search is ongoing, it appears the coaching search may have already concluded so long as Ranadive gets his way.
Even though no formal announcement has been made about current coach Keith Smart, two people with knowledge of the situation said Ranadive is targeting Golden State assistant Michael Malone above all others and indicated that – if Malone agrees to come – his hiring could very well precede the hiring of a general manager. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the discussions. The order of those affairs would certainly be unorthodox, but Ranadive has been a fan of Malone's for quite some time and appears determined to bring him aboard.
Malone, whose father Brendan was a longtime NBA coach, was an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets before joining the Warriors two years ago. He has had a tremendous impact on the respective defensive units at every one of his stops, and interviewed for head coaching positions in Orlando and Charlotte last summer. The Clippers appear to be the most serious threat to hire Malone away from the Kings, as he has a strong relationship with point guard Chris Paul and is being considered for that vacant head coaching position.
Among the other known general manager candidates, San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford is not expected to have interest in the position and Oklahoma City assistant general manager Troy Weaver is not being permitted to speak with the Kings because the Thunder denied permission. Former Indiana Pacers general manager David Morway may also be considered, though it remains unclear if he will be interviewed.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/05/29/sacramento-kings-general-manager-coach/2368429/
I literally had no clue RIP scored 51 in a game and at the Garden?? I honestly had no clue about that, and it is never mentioned with all the players that have scored 50 at MSG.
Nah it is Dwight Howard in the middle. This pic was taken in 1998 when Dwight was 13.
at going after the Spurs GM. If Vivek is going to go after anyone from Indiana, it should be Granger.
