Vlade Divac has emerged as the new lead voice of the front office of the Sacramento Kings.

Divac was recently hired by the Kings under the seemingly broad title of vice president of basketball and franchise operations.

The Kings have yet to formally announce their new power structure, but sources say that Divac has supplanted both general manager Pete D'Alessandro and former Kings adviser Chris Mullin.

The future of D'Alessandro in Sacramento, especially after the departure of his closest ally in the organization in Mullin, is unclear. Sources say, however, that the Kings have already launched a search to add another front-line basketball executive to work alongside Divac whether D'Alessandro stays or departs.

Sources say that Mullin began to lose sway with Ranadive after refusing the owner's offer to replace Mike Malone as coach when Malone was abruptly fired in mid-December.

The Sacramento Bee reported earlier this month that Ranadive hired Divac over the objections of Mullin and D'Alessandro.