Report: Kings to formally add Chris Mullin to front office
Former Warriors great and EVP of basketball operations Chris Mullin will soon take on a new front office role for the Kings. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
The business of basketball is founded on working relationships, and in the case of Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro and former Warriors GM Chris Mullin, that connection has now come full circle. D'Alessandro broke into the NBA after being hired by Mullin during his Warriors tenure, and according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, D'Alessandro will return the favor by formally adding Mullin in his front office staff with the Kings.
Mullin was previously offered a position with the Kings in a consulting role, but Stein's report suggests a more formal capacity for his continue work under D'Alessandro. Stein also notes that Mullin's endorsement was a factor in D'Alessandro getting the Kings job in the first place, as Sacramento majority owner Vivek Ranadive -- who also has Golden State ties, via previous co-ownership of the team -- sought Mullin's opinion of D'Alessandro during the interview process:
When Ranadive hired D'Alessandro, he credited Mullin's strong recommendation as a key factor, saying: "[Mullin] told me Pete's the smartest guy out there."
Mullin is highly regarded for his 16-year, Hall-of-Fame career as a player, but his track record as an executive is a bit uneven, to put it kindly. Here's an abridged overview of some of the moves made during Mullin's tenure as executive vice president of basketball operations of the Warriors from 2004-2009:
+ Acquired Baron Davis for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis in 2005
+ Drafted Monta Ellis with the 40th pick in the 2005 Draft
+ Signed Matt Barnes to a minimum-salary deal in 2006
+ Signed Kelenna Azubuike to a minimum-salary deal in 2006
+ Trade Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, and Keith McCleod for Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell in 2007
+ Drafted Marco Belinelli with the 18th pick in the 2007 Draft
- Re-signed Adonal Foyle to a six-year, $42 million contract in 2004
- Signed Derek Fisher to a six-year, $37 million contract in 2004
- Extended Mike Dunleavy for five years and $44 million in 2005
- Drafted Patrick O'Bryant with the 9th pick in the 2006 Draft
- Traded Jason Richardson for the draft rights to Brandan Wright in 2007
- Drafted Anthony Randolph with the 14th pick in the 2008 Draft
- Re-signed Andris Biedrins to a six-year, $63 million contract in 2008
- Signed Corey Maggette to a five-year, $50 million contract in 2008
Ronny Turiaf
