RealGM

Mike Winger, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant general manager/team counsel
Those with an intimate knowledge of Thunderology say the strength of the structure in Oklahoma City is in large part due to the complementary quality of the Weaver-Winger duo. Whereas Weaver excels as a talent evaluator, Winger is process-driven and exceptionally well-organized, skills that are more coveted than ever as front offices (and their budgets) grow exponentially larger.

Relationships with the league office serve a team well, and Winger would bring that strength to any organization. He initiates many of the Thunder's front-end conversations with other NBA teams and is one of the more competent CBA-heads in the NBA. Like Weaver, Winger has an awareness of his limitations and would pursue the sharpest basketball personnel people if given the top job.

A couple of business-side folks volunteered that, with the cap number exploding and organizations spending more than ever, they anticipate seeing even more team counsel/administrative types at the helm of basketball operations. If that prediction plays out, Winger will soon be in an owner's suite making his case for the position.

If he does in fact leave, I hope there'll be a quality replacement for his role.

Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN - Mar 30, 2017

"We don't view free agency as an event. It's really just another opportunity in the chronology of the franchise to improve the team or improve the team's future."

Scott Davis, Business Insider

mkwest wrote:I hope Minny goes with somebody else that they're looking at. If you have quality assets, somebody's going to want them. It would be great for him to help further/finish what he has helped start here, but I understand if he wants the promotion to run the show elsewhere.

The Clippers’ Front Office Might Lose Michael Winger and Trent Redden this Summer

The job that they, Frank, and West have done in the past two years has been nothing short of extraordinary. The entire roster has been turned over and refreshed with young talent, all while the team has remained competitive. The Clippers have no onerous long-term contracts, and will have room for at least one max player this summer, with the flexibility to create more. And, most importantly, they’ve added players who could be franchise cornerstones for years to come in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet, as well as tough, gritty, respected vets such as Lou Williams and Pat Beverley. The Clippers have made brilliant moves time and again, and are now regarded as one of the best, smartest organizations in the NBA.

Having such great young minds comes at a cost, however: other teams want them too, and can offer them greater responsibilities, power, (and salary, presumably) to be in bigger roles elsewhere. To wit: Winger was reportedly given permission to interview with the Minnesota Timberwolves as President of Basketball Operations yesterday, while Redden has been reported to be the top choice of the Pelicans’ new POBO David Griffin to be GM in New Orleans.

The Clippers’ still have one of the brightest futures in the NBA, and THEY would have their pick of replacements for Winger and Redden if they were to depart. The Clippers’ GM role and Assistant GM role would immediately be two of the best, most desired front office positions in the NBA, and it would not be shocking if both were filled by people as qualified as Winger and Redden were two years ago.

Robert Flom, ClipsNation

Trent Redden, Cleveland Cavaliers senior vice president of basketball operations
In the 11 years since he began his tenure in Cleveland as an intern, Redden has seen the full emotional spectrum of an NBA organization -- the early LeBron years, consistent success, the inability to fill out a team around a mega-superstar, the ashes left in the wake of LeBron's departure, The Return, a close call and finally an NBA title.

This circumstantial range is a gift to a young executive with aspirations, which is why those who know and have worked with Redden believe he's primed to head a front office in the coming years. They describe a worker bee who both looks the part and has the requisite qualifications, from X's and O's to taming superstar ego to jiu-jitsu with agents.

Redden is popular within the organization on the basketball and business side, as is his colleague, assistant general manager Koby Altman, who is another name to watch.

Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN - Mar 30, 2017

Redden interviews with Pelicans

Clippers assistant general manager Trent Redden interviewed Tuesday with the New Orleans Pelicans for their open general manager position, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who was unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The interview lasted throughout Tuesday evening but will not carry over into Wednesday. It is not yet known whether a second interview has been scheduled. Redden and new Pelicans president of basketball operations David Griffin already know one another well after working together in Cleveland. They were part of a front office that built the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA championship team.

Redden joined the Cavaliers as an intern and over the next 11 years rose to vice president of basketball operations. He and Griffin left the Cavaliers at the same time in June 2017. Redden joined the Clippers in August 2017. He oversees the team’s amateur scouting.

Brad Turner & Andrew Greif, LA Times

Ranma wrote:

Read on Twitter