The Sacramento Kings on Thursday announced they have hired Detroit Pistons executive Ken Catanella as their assistant general manager.
ESPN.com first reported Wednesday that the Kings had selected Catanella to serve as the top aide to Vlade Divac, the team's vice president of basketball operations and general manager.
"I'm excited for what the future holds in Sacramento," Divac said Thursday. "Adding Ken is a significant step in improving our team going forward."
Sources told ESPN.com that the Kings were drawn to Catanella's versatile background. Catanella joined the Pistons for the 2011-12 season as director of basketball operations, was promoted to assistant general manager in 2014-15 and has worked extensively on salary-cap matters and in the field of analytics.
Before moving to Detroit, Catanella worked with a focus in analytics in the league office and previously with the Brooklyn Nets.
"I'm very excited," Catanella said Thursday. "It's a tremendous, tremendous opportunity. I'm so appreciative that they've offered me this opportunity to be the No. 2 to Vlade.
"His basketball credentials speak for themselves. With my basketball background, along with the help I can provide in the salary cap and analytics domains due to my education in those areas, I think we'll work great together."
Sources say Mike Bratz will remain with the Kings as adviser to the GM and director of scouting. He has developed a strong rapport with Divac since Divac, a former Kings center, returned to the organization last season.
ESPN.com reported March 30 that former Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks executive David Morway had emerged as the leading candidate for the post under Divac, but sources say those talks fizzled in recent days, with the Kings shifting their focus to Catanella.
"I really look forward to working collaboratively with the team and helping them with player evaluation, scouting, cap management, analytics, sports science, player development ... everything we can do to put our players first and foremost," Catanella said.
"Anyone who's been around this league knows about the fans in Sacramento. They're among the best in sports. With our new building and a new practice facility, you can feel that the energy in the city is palpable. Vlade and [Kings owner] Vivek Ranadive are building something special that Sacramento can be proud of and I wanted to be a part of it."