Kings GM Monte McNair Parts Ways with Sacramento After Play-In Loss to Mavericks

Kings GM Monte McNair Parts Ways Following Disappointing Season

In a stunning postscript to their Play-In Tournament defeat, Kings GM Monte McNair parts ways with the Sacramento Kings, according to league sources.
Shortly after the team’s season-ending blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks, McNair met privately with team owner Vivek Ranadive at Golden 1 Center, where the two sides reached a mutual decision to split.

The Kings, who finished with 40 wins, now enter another offseason of uncertainty as they search for new leadership to reshape their future.

Scott Perry Emerges as Frontrunner After Kings GM Monte McNair Parts Ways

With Kings GM Monte McNair parts ways now official, attention quickly shifted toward McNair’s potential replacements.
League insiders report that Scott Perry — a familiar face in Sacramento’s past — is seen as the frontrunner. Perry served briefly as the Kings’ vice president of basketball operations in 2017 before joining the New York Knicks’ front office. His prior strong working relationship with Ranadive could give him a major edge.

Calvin Booth, recently dismissed from the Denver Nuggets, is also under serious consideration. Booth previously interviewed for the Kings’ GM job back in 2020 before McNair was hired.

Although former Kings executive Vlade Divac maintains an informal advisory presence around the team, sources confirm he will not be returning to the front office in any official capacity.

Coaching Future Tied to New GM After Kings GM Monte McNair Parts Ways

The next general manager, whatever it may be, is expected to have a significant influence over the Kings’ head coaching decision.
Interim coach Doug Christie currently holds the reins and has strong backing from Ranadive. However, no guarantees have been made.

“None,” Christie said when asked about his future. “But this is where I want to be. I need to finish what I started.”

With Kings GM Monte McNair parts ways dominating headlines, the coaching decision looms as another massive offseason storyline.

Monte McNair’s Tenure: From Executive of the Year to Fractured Leadership

Monte McNair’s five-year run as general manager had peaks and valleys.
After winning NBA Executive of the Year honors two seasons ago — thanks to hiring coach Mike Brown and assembling a record-setting offense around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis — McNair seemed to have broken the Kings’ 16-year playoff curse.
But the good times didn’t last.

The following seasons brought regression:

• Missed rotation upgrades

• An ill-fated signing of DeMar DeRozan

• A controversial firing of Mike Brown after a December skid

• Tension surrounding the trade for Zach LaVine

• Ownership disputes over Doug Christie’s role

League sources suggest McNair didn’t fully endorse key decisions like firing Brown, signing DeRozan, or trading for LaVine, leading to a loss of real power within the organization.

What’s Next for McNair After Kings GM Monte McNair Parts Ways?

Now that Kings GM Monte McNair parts ways with Sacramento, his future is wide open.
Sources say McNair, who spent 13 seasons with the Houston Rockets, could rejoin his old franchise alongside Rockets GM Rafael Stone.
Other potential landing spots include the Philadelphia 76ers, where McNair’s longtime ally Daryl Morey runs the show.

Before leaving the Kings for good, McNair reportedly addressed the locker room Wednesday night, offering players a broader message about their potential future.

His exit marks another seismic shift for a Kings franchise still searching for stability after decades of turbulence.