Kings part ways with general manager Monte McNair after play-in loss, will bring former Knicks GM Scott Perry

The Sacramento Kings mutually parted ways with their general manager, Monte McNair, late Wednesday after their season-ending loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA's play-in tournament, the team confirmed Thursday.

In a statement announcing the move, team owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé thanked McNair for his time with the club.

“I want to sincerely thank Monte for his leadership and the invaluable contributions he made during his time in Sacramento,” said Sacramento Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “He helped build a strong foundation for continued success here, and we wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

The Kings had previously fired head coach Mike Brown on Dec. 27 after starting the season 13-18. Sacramento went 27-24 under interim coach Doug Christie, an assistant on Brown's staff, but was routed 120-106 at home by the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday's play-in game.

McNair headed Sacramento's front office for five seasons and was named the NBA's executive of the year in 2023 after the Kings ended a 16-year playoff drought. Brown was also named the league's coach of the year that season.

With McNair out, the Kings will bring back former New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry, Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill confirmed. The 61-year-old Perry served as the Kings' vice president of basketball operations in 2017 before being hired away by the Knicks. Perry remained with the Knicks through 2023, was was not brought back by the team after his contract expired. 

The Kings reportedly also considered former Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth, who was surprisingly fired with just three games left in the regular season, per The Athletic.

Perry is expected to have control over who the Kings hire as their next head coach, though Christie is "well-positioned to keep the job," according to The Athletic.

McNair's exit completes a stunning housecleaning for a franchise that appeared to be on the rise just two years earlier. The Kings took a 2-0 series lead over the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 playoffs before ultimately losing the series when Stephen Curry scored 50 points in the decisive Game 7.

Sacramento went 46-36 last season and beat the Warriors in its initial play-in game before losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second game to miss the playoffs. Struggling to find traction this season, the Kings fired Brown then later traded franchise point guard De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal that netted guard Zach LaVine.

Neither move was enough to keep the Kings from again missing the playoffs.