Vlade Divac resigned as general manager of the Kings, the team announced on Friday.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as general manager of the Kings,” Divac said in a statement. “I want to thank Vivek for the opportunity and acknowledge all the amazing colleagues I have had the great pleasure of working with during my tenure. Sacramento and the Kings will always have a special place in my heart and I wish them the best transfer forward.”
Divac joined the franchise in March 2015 as the team’s vice president of basketball and franchise operations, and was later named GM of the team in August. Divac oversaw the team selection of De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, among other choices. He also orchestrated the team’s decision to swap the All-Star DeMarcus Cousins center in 2017.
“This was a difficult decision, but we believe it is the best way to go as we work to build a winning team that our loyal fans deserve,” Kings owner and president Vivek Ranadivé said in a statement. “We are grateful for Vlade’s leadership, commitment and hard work both on and off the pitch. He will always be part of our Kings family.”
According to The Athletic, Coach Luke Walton, who was hired during the 2019 off-season, is safe.
According to The Athletic, former president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars will serve as acting executive vice president of basketball operations for the team and will take on GM duties. Dumars was recently a consultant on the team.
Dumars will work with the franchise to “develop a long-term strategy for the organization’s basketball operations structure,” the team said in a statement.
In April 2014, Dumars stepped down as president of the Pistons’ basketball operations. Dumars was vice president of Detroit player personnel during the 1999-2000 season before being promoted to president of basketball operations. Dumars was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2003, and the Pistons won another title the following season.
The Kings finished the 2019-20 season with a 31-41 record. They went 3-5 in the NBA bubble in Orlando.
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