The Sacramento Kings had their playoff drought extended to 16 straight seasons and a report from Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee details issues within how the team has been run since Vivek Ranadive assumed ownership.

“I’ve been in the room with Vivek during draft time,” a former member of the team’s basketball operations staff told The Sacramento Bee, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “I’ve been on conference calls with him around the trade deadline. I think, like any successful business or organization, a lot of this stuff starts at the top.

“In an ideal situation, you hire someone you feel is qualified. You do your homework on them and then you trust that person is capable of doing the job. It’s one thing to be a fan and want to be involved from afar, but I think when you are meddling in decisions, I think the problem is you have an owner who’s too involved.” The source described a “toxic” work environment in which “people don’t trust each other” and “they are thirsty to get any advantage or any promotion they can.”

The source described a “toxic” work environment in which “people don’t trust each other” and “they are thirsty to get any advantage or any promotion they can.”

While Vlade Divac served as general manager from March 2015 to August 2020, at various times his power was usurped by special advisor Joe Dumars and assistant general managers Ken Catanella, Scott Perry and Brandon Williams, the source said.

Multiple sources told the Sacramento Bee that the dynamic has changed since Monte McNair replaced Divac in September 2020.

A minority said he believes McNair is currently operating without interference. 

“I’ve looked people in the eye and said, ‘We know this has been a problem. Is it a problem today?’ They’re telling me it’s not,” he said. “Does Vivek have the right to approve trades or give his input? Yeah, but I don’t believe Vivek is micromanaging Monte. I believe Monte is in charge and has total control.”