Source confirms Stefanski to interview for GM job with Toronto

Stefanski
Stefanski
By BOB COONEY, cooneyb@phillynews.com
Posted: July 16, 2011

Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski will interview for the same position with the Toronto Raptors early next month, an NBA source told the Daily News.

The Raptors got in touch with Stefanski before the team's sale to a group led by Joshua Harris was even reported in June. Stefanski is among the "front-runners" for the job, Yahoo Sports reported Thursday, also identifying former New Orleans GM Jeff Bower and San Antonio assistant GM Dennis Lindsey.

Bryan Colangelo recently received a contract extension as Toronto's president of basketball operations and has operated without a GM. He is searching for another person to handle some of the workload. The Raptors hired Dwayne Casey as head coach last month.

The source also said Stefanski is on a short list of candidates to become president of the Knicks. Their former president, Donnie Walsh, decided not to return to the team when his contract expired last month. There is no timetable for a meeting with the Knicks.

Part of Harris' group includes Jason Levien, a former agent and Kings front office executive. League sources have indicated that they wouldn't be surprised that if and when the sale is approved by the NBA's Board of Governors in the next couple of months, Levien will have a big say in the basketball operations.

Stefanski had been president and GM since being hired by the club in December 2007, but was relegated to GM duties when Rod Thorn was brought in as president last summer. The two worked in those same positions together successfully in New Jersey.

Thorn's hiring came after Stefanski hired Eddie Jordan for one disastrous season, in which the team won only 27 games. Stefanski rectified that blunder by bringing in Doug Collins last May. Collins improved the team by 14 wins and a playoff bid. Stefanski, whom Collins holds in high regard, has a year left on his contract with the Sixers. *

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