Kings assistant GM, ex-Cavs front office man Wes Wilcox finalizing deal with Utah

The University of Utah is targeting veteran NBA executive Wes Wilcox to become the school’s new men’s basketball general manager, sources confirmed to Hoops Wire.

A deal is expected to be finalized soon, which would make Wilcox the highest-ranking current NBA front office member to transition into a college basketball role, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Wilcox, currently the assistant general manager of the Sacramento Kings, boasts nearly two decades of experience in the NBA. His career includes a notable tenure as the general manager of the Atlanta Hawks from 2015 to 2017, following several years as the assistant general manager of the Hawks from 2012 to 2015.

He also held positions as the director of player personnel for the Cleveland Cavaliers and general manager of the G League’s Canton Charge, where he played a key role in hiring current Utah head coach Alex Jensen as the Charge’s head coach.

Having joined the Cavaliers in 2003, Wilcox has worked across virtually every role within an NBA front office. His move to college basketball coincides with a growing trend of professionalization in collegiate sports, with schools poised to begin paying athletes directly through revenue sharing starting in the 2025-26 season.

Wilcox’s hiring could signal the beginning of more front office professionals from the NBA making similar transitions into the college ranks.

At Utah, Wilcox would bring a wealth of experience in managing salaries, constructing rosters, and navigating the complexities of the NBA’s salary cap, skills increasingly valued in the evolving landscape of college athletics.

His potential arrival comes at a time of transition for Utah’s basketball program, which saw the firing of coach Craig Smith after a 16-16 season. Jensen, a former star player for the Utes, takes over the program with the hope of guiding Utah back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016.