Raptors' GM search hits snag
By RYAN WOLSTAT, QMI Agency
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The search for a new Raptors general manager does not appear to have come to an end after all.
A week after reporting that the team was in the advanced stages of talks with Philadelphia 76ers GM Ed Stefanski, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports cautioned Friday that two sources had told him the talks had “hit a snag.”
According to the report, Jeff Bower, who led the New Orleans Hornets to a division title and two playoff appearances despite working under one of the most challenging owners in the league, is back in the picture, along with former Portland GM Kevin Pritchard.
Stefanski is believed to be in the mix for Portland’s vacant GM job. The Blazers recently re-started their search, with Pritchard and Bower gaining traction as options there.
It is not known why talks with Stefanski broke down.
Bower helped rebuild the Hornets from a lottery team into a contender following Hurricane Katrina and served as GM, director of scouting, director of player personnel and as a scout for the organization.
Whoever lands the job in Toronto is expected to be second in command to Bryan Colangelo, a two-time NBA executive of the year. Bower placed third in voting for the award in 2007-08.
Pritchard helped build Portland into one of the most promising young teams in the league, but took some criticism for his attitude, for selecting the brittle Greg Oden over eventual MVP candidate Kevin Durant and for gambling on all-star Brandon Roy, despite major medical red flags.
