Rob Thorn 'steps down' as Nets president

[elcheato]

Rod Thorn will step down as president of the New Jersey Nets on July 15, according to league sources.

Thorn, the Nets president since 2000, is under contract through June 30 but will remain for two weeks to help the club through the first two weeks of the free-agency period.

Thorn is not being forced out by the Nets' new owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, and there is no tension between the two, according to sources.

"They've given Rod everything he could want," a league executive said. "This is entirely his decision."

Thorn had no comment on the report in a telephone call with The Associated Press on Friday night.

"I appreciate your inquiry," Thorn said.

The move leaves the Nets in a quandary. There is no apparent successor within the organization and the uncertainty will undoubtedly hurt the Nets' ability to recruit free agents.

Thorn gave no indication he was stepping down when talking to the media on Friday. He discussed Thursday's draft and felt the league-worst Nets got two key pieces by taking power forward Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech with the third pick overall and acquiring the rights to small forward Damion James (No. 24 overall) from Atlanta for two other draft picks.

He said that the next thing on the agenda is July 1, and the long-awaited free-agency signing period. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh might all be available, and the Nets are ready to put $27 million on the table as enticement.

"We expect to be players and we expect to be in the mix," Thorn said Friday. "Hopefully, it will work out and we will be successful. Until you get out there, you don't know."

Thorn was named executive of the year in 2002 after the Nets went to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Prior to working for the Nets, he was the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations from 1986 to 2000.

Thorn was the general manager of the Bulls when Chicago landed Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

Would be willing to bet they hire Kevin Pritchard. Probably the reason Thorn 'stepped down'.

 

[VC15]

This hurts us in a few ways, but it could help us in other ways.

 

[elcheato]

The Nets already have undergone a major facelift this offseason with a new owner and coach. They will be looking for a new president, too.
Rod Thorn is retiring, according to sources close to the team.

Thorn, 69, has been in charge of the Nets’ basketball department since 2000. His current contract expires June 30, but he has yet to sign a new deal. Thorn has been telling people close to him, “I’m here until I’m not here.” A source said, Thorn told some staffers he is leaving in the next few weeks.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants Thorn back. But Thorn will help the Nets through the free-agent process, which starts next week, but won’t be around much longer.

“I have no comment,” Thorn said.

Former Suns chairman and current USA basketball director Jerry Colangelo is the leading candidate to replace Thorn, who will be involved in picking his successor.

Prokhorov wants a big name and likes the job Colangelo did with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team. Colangelo also has relationships with the top free agents in the upcoming class, which could help the Nets in recruiting them as well as ease the transition from Thorn’s reign.

A league source said Colangelo will be offered a three-year deal for roughly $12 million to $15 million.

But Thorn will lead the Nets through the start of free agency, which includes a major sales pitch to LeBron James. Seeing the Nets through this will be Thorn’s last act as team president.

“It will play out very quickly,” a source said.

Thorn, the architect of the Nets’ back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003, has been focused on trying to turn around a team that went 12-70 last season to leave them in good hands.

He hired Avery Johnson as coach last week, picked Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors third in Thursday’s NBA Draft and traded the No. 27 and 31 picks for the 24th choice, Texas forward Damion James. Now Thorn is preparing for free agency.

The Nets have $27 million available. Thorn is trying to make moves to clear more cap space so the Nets can sign two max players. James and Chris Bosh are the top two players on the Nets’ wish list.

They are looking to trade Yi Jianlian ($4.05 million) or Kris Humphries – assuming he picks up his $3.2 million option next week – before July 8 to have more money to spend. That’s the date teams can start signing free agents.

Thorn has been acting like someone with retirement on his mind. Sources said the Nets were involved in potential deals throughout Thursday’s draft. They made the one for James and finalized another trade Friday.

The Nets sent swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts to Milwaukee for a 2012 second-round pick. It gives the Nets five second-round picks the next two years, assets Thorn could use to sweeten deals that cut salary or in sign-and-trades in free agency.

 

[Pugz]

this is going to help the nets a lot. if they do get pritchard or jerry. i guess id say its a good move, but time will tell.

 

[VC15]

this is going to help the nets a lot. if they do get pritchard or jerry. i guess id say its a good move, but time will tell.

Jerry wants the job and is the leading candidate right now. I expect us to make a strong push for Pritchard as well.

 

[elcheato]

WojYahooNBA

Danny Ferry and Billy King have emerged as finalists for president's job with Nets and both interviewing with team Tuesday, sources tell Y!

http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA