Fact sheet: Front office candidates for Vivek Ranadivé and the Sacramento Kings

Pictured: Spurs GM R.C. Buford (left) and Warriors GM Bob Meyers (right)

It should come as no surprise that the Sacramento Kings are looking to severe ties with Geoff Petrie.  Sam Amick of USA Today Sports reported yesterday that new owner Vivek Ranadivé informed the long-time president of basketball operations last week that the franchise would be going in a different direction.

There appears to be several prominent candidates that Ranadivé is considering to lead his new front office.  We’ve compiled a list breaking down each below.

R.C. Buford: President of Sports Franchises, San Antonio Spurs

• 22 years with the Spurs.
• Buford’s official title with the Spurs is President of Sports Franchises, which he earned in 2008.  He serves as general manager of the Spurs and oversees the sports administrations of its affiliates including the Austin Toros of the D-League, San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA and San Antonio Rampage of the AHL.
• In 2002, Buford was named general manager of the Spurs.
• In 1999, he was promoted to vice president/assistant general manager.
• In 1997, Buford became the Spurs’ director of scouting.
• After a brief return to college basketball with the University of Florida during the 1993-94 season, returned to the Spurs in 1994 when Gregg Popovich hired him as their head scout.
• Started with the Spurs as an assistant coach on Larry Brown‘s staff in the summer of 1988.  Left with Brown for the Clippers in 1992.
• Began his coaching career at the University of Kansas in 1983.  The Jayhawks made the NCAA tournament each year during his stay and won a national championship in 1988.
• Playing experience: Texas A&M and Oklahoma State

Travis Schlenk: Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel, Golden State Warriors

• Nine years with the Warriors.
• Schlenk is now Golden State’s assistant general manager/director of player personnel.  He reports to general manager Bob Mayers and is responsible for the management of all day-to-day basketball operations.
• In 2009-10, Schlenk moved into the Warriors’ front office and worked as the team’s director of player personnel for two years.  Duties included assisting with trade and free agent acquisitions, player contracts and adherence to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• In the five seasons prior, Schlenk worked as a scout and assistant under former coaches Mike Montgomery and Don Nelson.  His duties included preparing scouting reports, individual player development and advanced scouting.
• Began as a video scout for the Warriors in the 2004-05 season.
• From 2000-2004, worked for four seasons as a video coordinator for Pat Riley and the Miami Heat.
• Served as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia during the 1998-99 season under former coach Ron Jirsa.
• Got his start in the NBA as an intern for the Orlando Magic’s basketball operations staff during the 1997-98 season.  Worked under late hall of fame coach Chuck Daly.

Chris Wallace: General Manager, Memphis Grizzlies

• Six years with the Grizzlies.
• Has worked for seven different NBA franchises since 1986.  Wallace has worked with the likes of Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, Danny Ainge, Jerry West and current Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
• Prior to joining the Grizzlies, he spent 10 seasons as the general manager of the Boston Celtics  (1997-2007).
• Served as the director of player personnel for the Miami Heat in the 1990s.  Among his duties were scouting all levels (college, international, minor and major leagues).
• Prior to working as Miami’s director of player personnel, Wallace also worked for four seasons as a Heat scout.
• Worked in scouting capacities for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks.
• Served as a draft consultant for the United States Basketball League.
• Was part of the selection committee for the ABCD high school camps, which evaluates many of the country’s premiere prep prospects.
• Official title with the Grizzlies is general manager/vice president of basketball operations.
• Some career highlights: Trading Quentin Richardson for Zach Randolph, drafting Marc Gasol with one of the second round picks acquired in the trade that sent Pau Gasol to Los Angeles and drafting Paul Pierce to the Celtics.

David Morway: former General Manager, Indiana Pacers

• Spent 13 years with the Pacers before resigning after last season.
• Joined the Pacers in 1999 and served as senior vice president of basketball operations.  Morway was responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of Pacers basketball.
• Promoted to Pacers general manager in 2008.  His duties were expanded to include overseeing the Pacers’ salary cap and assisting former president Larry Bird with personnel decisions.
• From 1985-88, worked for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.  Morway’s responsibilities included contract analysis and negotiation.
• From 1988-98, worked as a sports agent for 10 years.  Founded Professional Excellence Sports, Inc. and represented a number of players in the NBA (David Benoit and Ed Gray) and NFL (Junior Seau and Darren Woodson).

Troy Weaver: Vice President/Assistant General Manager, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Five years with the Thunder.
• Has worked in his current position of VP of basketball ops/assistant general manager for three seasons.  He assists current general manager Sam Presti with roster development, preparation for the NBA Draft, free agency and fielding OKC’s summer league team.
• Worked in Salt Lake City as the Utah Jazz’s director of player personnel during the 2007-08 season.
• From 2004-07, served as the Jazz’s head scout.
• From 2000-04, Weaver worked as an assistant coach under Jim Boeheim at Syracuse Unversity.  Played a significant role in recruiting Carmelo Anthony to the Orangemen, which culminated in a national championship for Syracuse in 2003.
• Spent time as an assistant coach at New Mexico (1999-00) and Pittsburgh (1996-99)
• Coached AAU basketball in the Washington D.C. area before taking his talents to the college level.  Posted an 85-17  record and won the 1996 AAU Tournament of Champions.

Note that former Minnesota Timberwolves executive David Kahn is not included in the list.  There is speculation about Kahn’s possible candidacy to take over for Petrie after the ex-head of Wolves basketball operations made an appearance at last week’s rally in Sacramento.  However, his presence was likely due to his expertise in arena development after overseeing the construction of Bankers Life Fieldhouse during his tenure with the Indiana Pacers.