Former Clippers GM Wenger hired as Wizards' new president of basketball operations

2023-05-25 15:12

Former Clippers GM Wenger hired as Wizards' new president of basketball operations


Monumental Sports & Entertainment has hired Los Angeles Clippers general manager Michael Wenger to replace Tommy Shepard as the organization's general manager, NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reports.


Wenger will also oversee all of the organization's basketball operations, including the company's NBA Washington Wizards , WNBA Washington Mystics and NBAG League Capital Go-Go.


Wenger worked in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the Clippers in 2017. He is also known as a salary cap expert, and he and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer planned to hire Tyronn Lue to take over the head coaching position of Doc Rivers. In 2021, lead the team to break the team history record and reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time.


Former Clippers GM Wenger hired as Wizards' new president of basketball operations


And the Clippers general manager has always been hands-on in handling basketball operations, and the work content has exceeded his remit. He not only manages the arena facilities, but also is responsible for building the Clippers' future in Inglewood. The new arena, the Intuit Dome, is expected to open next fall.


However, with Wenger's departure, there is a vacancy in the Clippers' management, and his position is the second highest-level basketball executive after President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. At present, the Clippers have also become the only team in the NBA that currently has a vacant general manager position.


It is understood that the Clippers are looking for potential general manager candidates, and the list includes assistant general managers Mark Hughes and Trent Layden, who joined the Clippers since 2017.


Wizards general manager Shepard, who was fired in April after 20 years on the job, first entered management in 2003, was promoted 10 years later to senior vice president of basketball operations, and general manager in 2019.


Wenger will now succeed Sheppard on the Wizards, while also overseeing all basketball operations for the team's G League affiliate Capital Go-Go and the WNB Mystics.