The Sacramento Kings may have an old face joining a new voice in the front office.
Chris Webber is reportedly interested in an executive role with the organization, according to Sean Cunningham of KCRA3. Cunningham said on the Sept. 30 episode of “The Kings Beat” that Webber has wanted a front office job for a “long time,” and he believes the conversation between Webber and general manager Scott Perry could happen, with the door open.
Perry already brought the franchise icon into the fold for training camp, and Webber spent the entire week around the team. That connection matters. Perry and Webber have a strong friendship, and both were born in Detroit, Michigan, a place with a special place in Kings history.
The bigger question is what kind of job would actually fit Webber. The source of the interest is clear, but the role itself is not.
He could end up in an advisor position, similar to what former Kings general manager Monte McNair did with the Clippers. That kind of setup would allow him to offer guidance as Sacramento works through its rebuild.
Webber’s basketball background gives the idea some real weight. The 53-year-old was a two-way force over a 15-year career, putting up averages of 20.4 points, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. He also helped guide Sacramento to its deepest playoff run in 2002.
That postseason run ended in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers. The Kings pushed it to a decisive Game 7, and Webber delivered huge numbers in the series, averaging 24.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Sacramento still fell short, and Los Angeles moved on to the NBA Finals to complete its three-peat.
Perry’s early moves have already hinted at the direction he wants the roster to take. He has signed two-way players in free agency and during training camp, a sign that he is trying to shift the team’s culture and shore up a weakness that has lingered for several seasons.
Still, there is a real wrinkle here: Webber has no previous front office experience. His perspective could help with decisions, including free agency, but this would also be a gamble for Sacramento. Even so, the league has plenty of examples of former players making that jump successfully.
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