Rumors of former Philadelphia 76ers GM Sam Hinkie inquiring for a job with the Sacramento Kings a couple of weeks ago were quickly refuted by the team in a statement. But despite of it, the belief amongst many journalists and sources close to the team is that they are in fact, lying.

A report from Chris Mannix of The Vertical confirms these prior rumors, and while Hinkie has been known to have little interest in the job, it does not mean the organization has stopped looking for someone to put above their general manager and vice president of basketball operations.

“I was told expressly by multiple people there that they were not just snipping around that possibility. This is a likelihood they find somebody to place above Vlade Divac.”

“It was reported last week that the Kings are talking to Sam Hinkie and, in a general sense, they are looking for an executive to put above Vlade Divac. Now, Sacramento came out and immediately denied that was happening. They’re lying.”

The Kings have taken a huge hit from their fans after trading away their only All-Star in center DeMarcus Cousins prior to the trade deadline — infuriating fans with the poor product they got in exchange (Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a first-round pick, and a second-rounder for this upcoming NBA Draft).

While Sacramento got plenty of pieces in return, they did not get the quality expected. Divac even went on to claim he had a better deal on the table days prior, which he turned down.

Ever since, the rumor mill has good ole' Vlade in the hot seat, while ownership vehemently denies there's a shakeup about to happen (just like they promised Cousins he wouldn't be traded weeks before his departure).