The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick have reported Monte McNair is joining the Sacramento Kings front office as the new head of basketball operations.

McNair spent nearly 13 years with the Houston Rockets, including the last two as assistant GM after nearly three years as vice president of basketball operations.  

This has been an offseason of changes for Sacramento. After missing the NBA playoffs for the 14th. consecutive season (second longest playoff drought in NBA history), Vlade Divac stepped down as the Sacramento Kings' General Manager.

Sacramento finished the season as the 12th. best team in the league at 30-41.

Charania and Amick from The Athletic reported Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadivé, his son Aneel and interim executive VP Joe Dumars held in-person interviews with their three finalists in San Francisco.  Among the finalists there were three important figures in the basketball world, including McNair, former Sixers VP of basketball operations Sachin Gupta, and former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox.

“Monte is one of the NBA’s top basketball minds who has played an instrumental role in building several winning teams in Houston,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “I am excited to bring his extensive experience and vision onboard to lead our basketball operations department, and it is my pleasure to welcome Monte and his family to Sacramento.”

“I am thrilled to join the Kings organization and honored to shape the franchise’s bright future for the team’s loyal fans,” said McNair. “I would like to thank Vivek for this opportunity and look forward to becoming a part of the Sacramento community.”