Wizards express interest in Bob Myers as general manager search shaping up

The Washington Wizards have reportedly expressed “formal interest” in Golden State Warriors president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Myers to replace former executive Tommy Sheppard. 

But as Washington’s search shapes up, the feeling might not be mutual. 

NBA insider Marc Stein reported over the weekend that Washington has reached out to see if Myers — the architect of four championship-winning teams in Golden State — has “any interest in taking over the Wizards’ front office.” And though Myers’ contract with the Warriors is set to expire at the end of June, Stein’s report added that Myers may not rush to take another NBA job so soon if he departs Golden State. 

If the Wizards were able to land Myers, the 48-year-old’s arrival would be the exact sort of splash that the franchise has missed over the last few years. Of all the rumored candidates connected to Washington’s vacancy, Myers is the most accomplished — helping Golden State win four titles. A former agent, Myers joined the Warriors’ front office in 2011 before being promoted to general manager a year later. His more notable moves include the hiring of coach Steve Kerr and the 2016 signing of Durant. 

Still, according to Stein, there’s an expectation in Golden State that if Myers does leave the franchise, it’ll be to take a break and spend time with his family. Or Myers could stay with the Warriors. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Warriors have offered to make Myers the highest-paid executive in the NBA, while ESPN reported that Myers is “torn” on the decision.

The Warriors’ season ended earlier this month with a second-round exit to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

“Bob is such an important part of our organization, not only as one of the faces of the organization, out there in the NBA world meeting with other executives and agents and representing us in that regard, but also with his relationships with our players,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s got such credibility with our guys.”

So far, the Wizards are the only team on the market with a general manager vacancy. While the team may be waiting to see about Myers, Washington has started to conduct interviews with candidates. So far, according to reporters, the Wizards have spoken with New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon and Los Angeles Clippers general manager Michael Winger. 

Though both men already have the title of general manager, Langdon and Winger aren’t the lead decision-makers for their respective teams. Langdon, for instance, is second in command to Pelicans president of basketball operations David Griffin, while Lawrence Frank holds the same title with the Clippers.

If either Langdon or Winger was hired by the Wizards, they would reportedly be named the team’s president of basketball operations.

The Wizards have also touched base with Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager Milt Newton, a former Wizards executive who worked for the team from 2003 to 2013. Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said in a statement that Sheppard’s replacement would come from outside the organization, though it’s unclear whether Newton previously working for the Wizards would prevent him from landing the job. 

Unlike Washington’s previous search in 2019, Leonsis has opted to not hire a search firm this time around to help with the process. Instead, former Georgetown coach and Wizards vice president of player programs John Thompson III has reportedly been involved to aid Leonsis.