Report: Kings' employees didn't know Vlade Divac was running team until they saw media reports

The Kings’ franchisee has never stopped tinkering with his front office since acquiring the team in May 2013, eventually adding enough members that no one outside the walls really knew who reported to whom. (The midseason hiring of George Karl, a known personnel meddler from the sidelines, only complicated the issue.) D’Alessandro showed his hand by offering a “no comment” when asked about Divac’s arrival once it became clear Vlade would be more a decision-maker than a community ambassador.

This is the craziest thing about Divac’s arrival: According to league sources, no one but Divac and Ranadive actually understood he’d be in a powerful basketball operations position until a few days after the announcement. It was assumed that because Divac has extremely limited front office experience — one year as a scout for the Lakers — and deep business connections, he’d be a glad-hander instead of a personnel boss. Even folks in the front office, according to sources, were unclear Divac had personnel power until the big man said as much in the media and Ranadive confirmed. Imagine getting a new boss and not realizing it until a few days after s/he arrives. That’s some serious professional whiplash.