The Milwaukee Bucks are in the midst of searching for a new GM. It seems that Indiana Pacers Vice President Pete Dinwiddie has caught their eye.
According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Milwaukee Bucks have asked the Indiana Pacers for permission to interview Pete Dinwiddie, the VP of basketball operations, as well as a handful of other candidates for the position of general manager.
Sources: Bucks GM search called for permission today on Pete Dinwiddie (IND), Arturas Karnisovas (DEN), Ed Stefanski (MEM), Wes Wilcox (ATL)
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 31, 2017
Dinwiddie, who has been affiliated with the Pacers in some form since 2006, has been floated as a GM candidate before. In 2014, he was a finalist to be the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies, but declined further consideration. Dinwiddie has a great reputation among NBA front office executives. In February, he was named to the annual “Forty under 40” list of the Indiana Business Journal, per Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports.
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Milwaukee’s Situation
The Bucks are in need of a new general manager after John Hammond was hired to be the new GM of the Orlando Magic. Hammond was hired by the new Magic president, Jeff Weltman, who spent last season as the GM of the Toronto Raptors.
It was a poorly kept secret that Bucks assistant GM Justin Zanik would take over for Hammond once the former GM decided to step down. That makes this more open search a bit of a surprise.
Dinwiddie appears to have goals to someday run an NBA franchise, but his loyalty to the Pacers is also undeniable. An Indianapolis native, Dinwiddie graduated from Cathedral High School. He started his Pacers career working in the ticket office, a job he was severely overqualified for since he had just graduated from New England Law School in 2004.
I would be shocked if this ends with Dinwiddie moving to Milwaukee. The most likely outcome is still that Justin Zanik takes the top job. If the Bucks opt for an outside hire, then maybe. However, the other candidates that Woj mentioned have their own impressive reputations as well. Arturas Karnisovas is largely seen as responsible for the Denver Nugget’s spectacular European scouting staff.
Next: Pacers Player Review: Paul George
It’s possible that the Pacers’ front office could look even more different than we thought this summer, but I wouldn’t place any bets on it.