76ers hiring Thorn as president; Stefanski to stay

The 76ers have reached an agreement to hire veteran NBA executive Rod Thorn as team president, a source with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday night.

Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that the 69-year-old Thorn had confirmed the deal in a text message. The Sixers are expected to make a formal announcement on Thursday.

Ed Stefanski, who as of Wednesday was the president and general manager of the Sixers, will remain in his role as general manager, but now he will work under Thorn.

The pair worked together in similar roles for six years with the New Jersey Nets, where Thorn was president for a decade. When Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought the Nets this spring, Thorn opted against signing a short-term contract and said he "felt my time was up" in New Jersey. He left the Nets on July 16.

Stefanski could not be reached for comment. His future with the organization has remained in doubt since the conclusion of the Sixers' 2009-10 season, one in which the team finished 30-52. His tenure has included a handful of questionable decisions, including the hiring of coach Eddie Jordan, who has since been dismissed, and the signing of free agent Elton Brand.

Before joining the Nets, Thorn served as the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations from 1986 to 2000.

Thorn was general manager of the Chicago Bulls for seven years, starting in 1978. The club selected Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft, and Thorn was instrumental in that decision.