Sources: Clips GM interviews for Wizards’ top job

Los Angeles Clippers general manager Michael Winger has interviewed to become the Washington Wizards‘ head of basketball operations — the second known candidate to meet with franchise officials, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

Winger joins New Orleans GM Trajan Langdon as the two executives known to have had substantial in-person meetings with Washington owner Ted Leonsis and organizational leadership, sources said.

The Wizards have been conducting a methodical month-long search for a new top basketball executive to replace Tommy Sheppard, who was dismissed in April. The Wizards missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

Winger has previously spurned overtures to remain with the Clippers, where he has worked with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and owner Steve Ballmer. The Clippers reached the Western Conference finals for the first time in history in 2021.

Prior to his seven years working as an executive with the Oklahoma City Thunder and president Sam Presti, Winger was an executive with the Cleveland Cavaliers under GM Danny Ferry from 2005 to 2010.