Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will "chair a new search committee" for the NPBA Exec Dir position, according to Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com. The union said that Johnson will "head up a committee of 'outside professionals' to complete the search" for the replacement of ousted Exec Dir Billy Hunter. The NBPA "expects to fill the job by the start of next season." A source said that Chicago-based exec search firm Reilly Partners, "retained by the union in September 2013, remains involved in the process." The NBPA said that Johnson was "selected to help the union finalize its choice for Hunter's replacement after he consulted with NBPA president Chris Paul and all members of the players' executive committee." The source said that the committee that Johnson will chair "has not been selected yet, though it will not include an active player agent." The union's exec committee met in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend and "narrowed the field of candidates to two finalists -- David White of the Screen Actors Guild and corporate attorney Michele Roberts." After that meeting, some "prominent agents privately vented about the selection process." Paul characterized Johnson's role "as not to start the process over, but rather 'lead that effort across the finish line'" (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/7). Johnson said that he "plans to meet with each team's player representative over the next few weeks." The union in a statement said it will keep players and agents "consistently apprised of the plan and pending decisions at all times" (USATODAY.com, 4/7).
