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Wizards hire former Browns VP during front-office shake-up

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The Washington Wizards are promoting interim general manager Tommy Sheppard to a permanent role, the team announced Monday, and the move was just one of many involving the franchise's front office.

Washington is also hiring former Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown as the chief planning and operations officer for Monumental Basketball, a new ownership group that will oversee the Wizards along with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, the Capital City Go-Go of the G League, and Wizards District Gaming of the NBA2K League.

Brown was named Cleveland's executive vice president of football operations in January 2016 and remained in that role until being fired in December 2017. Prior to his two years at the Browns' helm, he was the team's executive vice president and general counsel beginning in 2013.

"We have formed a new leadership team with a forward-thinking structure to adapt to the 'new NBA' that requires every possible strategic advantage to compete and win," Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said in a statement. "We are building a leadership brain trust with deep Wizards and NBA experience and with sports professionals from inside and outside the NBA to challenge our thinking and adapt to an ever-increasing competitive environment."

The Wizards are also hiring former Georgetown head coach John Thompson III to be the head of an "athlete development and engagement department" at Monumental Basketball. Thompson managed the Hoyas for 13 seasons, leading them to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and one Big East Tournament title.

Daniel Medina, most recently the vice president of athlete care with the Philadelphia 76ers, will also join the new group as its chief of athlete care and performance.

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