Sacramento Kings Welcome Monte McNair Into New Era
Sep 23, 2020, 12:22 PM | Updated: 12:32 pm
(sacbee.com)
(sacbee.com)
The franchise introduced their new general manager on Wednesday morning
After 14 seasons without a playoff appearance, the Sacramento Kings are hoping for a change of direction with the hiring of new general manager Monte McNair.
The Kings introduced McNair to the press and public via Zoom on Wednesday morning, officially beginning a new era of basketball in Sacramento.
“Our goal is going to be to work hard and start building these winning habits. We need to be more consistent. We have some work to do,” McNair said on what his goals are for Sacramento.
McNair started his press conference with the assurance of head coach Luke Walton remaining in his position for the 2020-21 season.
“Luke is going to be our coach next year,” McNair said. “There’s a lot of talent on this roster and a lot of versatility. I’m really excited to work with Coach Walton on what we can improve.”
On what he thinks of the current roster, McNair praised De’Aaron Fox as an important piece in the hopeful success of the franchise.
“De’Aaron is an incredible young talent. He’s got a very bright future ahead of him,” he said. “De’Aaron’s speed and ability offensively to create is going to be a huge catalyst for how Coach Walton and I envision this team. Being uptempo, creating space to shoot threes and attack the rim.”
Sacramento entered the offseason with plenty of questions surrounding sharp-shooting guard Buddy Hield.
Hield, who has been one of the best three-point scorers in the entire league over the past two seasons, was rumored to be in the process of requesting a trade prior to former general manger Vlade Divac’s resignation.
McNair made it clear that the 27 year-old will be a big piece of the Kings offense:
The former Oklahoma Sooners standout inked a four-year, $94 million deal last September.
It makes sense that McNair has interest in utilizing Hield, seeing that the new GM had spent the last 13 seasons with a Houston Rockets franchise that loves to space the floor and shoot three’s.
Houston led all of the NBA in three-point field goal attempts in four-straight seasons.
Along with the decision on whether or not to move on from Hield, guard Bogan Bogdanovic will enter restricted free-agency this offseason. McNair claimed that he had reached out to Bogdanovic, stating that the 28 year-old was a big part of the team’s positive stretches this season.
“I was able to reach out and connect with Bogdan, he was a big part of the team’s best stretches last year. He’s a big part of this team.”
Be sure to tune in to The Jason Ross and Doug Christie Show today (Wenesday, September 23rd) at 4:30pm and tomorrow morning (Thursday, September 24th) at 7:30am on The Carmichael Dave Show for interviews with new Sacramento kings general manager Monte McNair.
