Toronto hires Stefanski as vice president of basketball operations

Posted: October 27, 2011

FORMER 76ERS president and general manager Ed Stefanski, relieved of his duties with the team just 9 days ago, last night was named executive vice president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors.

Stefanski joined the Sixers in December 2007, leaving the same position with the New Jersey Nets take a job in his hometown. Stefanski, a Monsignor Bonner and University of Penn grad, spent 9 years with the Nets in a variety of roles, including the last 2-plus years as GM before moving to the Sixers. He was with New Jersey during its Eastern Conference championship runs in 2002 and 2003.

With the Sixers, Stefanski is best known for giving maximum contracts to Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala and drafting Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. He fired fan favorite Maurice Cheeks as the team's head coach, brought in a bust in Eddie Jordan for one season before hiring current coach Doug Collins, whom many see as the savior of the franchise.

It was announced last Tuesday by the Sixers' new ownership group that Stefanski would no longer be a part of the organization. That writing had been on the wall since the summer of 2010 when Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider brought in Rod Thorn to take over the presidency, slashing that title from Stefanski, who remained GM last season.

"I am very excited to join Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors organization," Stefanski said. "Toronto is a world-class city and the Raptors fans are strong supporters. The team has a young nucleus of players that have a big upside."

- Bob Cooney

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