Michael Winger hired as president of Monumental, will hire GM
Wizards hire Winger to oversee front office originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Wizards' search for a new front office architect is over, as Michael Winger has been hired as president of Monumental Basketball, prying him away from his post as general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers.
This is a new position within Monumental Basketball with Winger set to also oversee the Mystics and Go-Go. His next step will be hiring a general manager for the Wizards to have direct involvement in basketball operations.
Winger was GM of the Clippers for five years, operating under Lawrence Frank, after leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder where he served as assistant GM under Sam Presti. He also previously worked in the Cavaliers front office under Danny Ferry.
Winger's front office experience dates back to the mid-2000s. He has also served as legal counsel for teams in addition to his basketball operations duties. That could come in handy as the league enters a new collective bargaining agreement.
Once Winger hires a GM, the Wizards could operate similarly to the Washington Capitals, who are also owned by Ted Leonsis. The Capitals have Dick Patrick as president with Brian McLellan as his GM overseeing the front office.
Leonsis set out in the Wizards search looking for someone outside the organization to provide a fresh perspective on the roster and the organization's long-term plan. Winger will do that while bringing experience managing resources, star players, agents and all that goes into running a front office.
Winger replaces Tommy Sheppard, who was dismissed as Wizards president on April 19. Sheppard was let go following their fifth consecutive losing season. The Wizards spent five weeks interviewing candidates before Winger emerged as the choice.
Winger comes to Washington with less than a month until the NBA Draft where the Wizards will hold the eighth overall pick. He will now have to build out a front office staff; not only with a GM but assistant GMs, scouts and the like.
What is already in place is the coaching staff, as the Wizards opted to keep head coach Wes Unseld Jr. and his group of assistants despite parting ways with Sheppard. Though Unseld Jr. recently let go of two of his coaches, the staff will mostly be intact.
As for the rest of the front office, it will be up to Winger to evaluate positions and people before going forward. That could lead to some continuity in the pre-draft process, as the scouts and front office personnel already in place have been evaluating players through the college season, draft combine and pro days.
Throughout that time, Winger has been an active member of the Clippers front office, so he should have a foundation to go off of with the eighth pick. That will be his first major decision in terms of constructing the roster. After the draft, he will navigate the Wizards through free agency when it will be decision time for two of their top players, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma, who can each opt out of the final years of their contracts.
In the meantime, Winger will get settled in D.C. and start the search for a GM. A new era in Wizards basketball has arrived and Winger will be tasked with turning the page.
