Stu Jackson Takes Over Thorn’s Duties

Stu Jackson, the NBA’s senior vice president for basketball operations, will assume the duties previously held by Rod Thorn as head of the basketball operations department on July 1, the league announced Tuesday in New York.

Thorn left the league last week to become president of the New Jersey Nets.

Jackson will chair the league’s competition and rules committee, oversee officiating and impose discipline for misconduct by players and coaches.

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In one of a series of moves, the Detroit Pistons appointed former standout guard Joe Dumars president of basketball operations.

“I can make a difference here,” Dumars said at a news conference in Auburn Hills, Mich. “I’m only here for one reason: to bring us back a championship.”

In other moves, the Pistons signed George Irvine to coach the team for three more years and brought back former assistant coach Brendan Suhr to be director of player personnel.

If they can retain star forward Grant Hill, the Pistons’ chances of becoming one of the NBA’s elite teams would be even better. Dumars said he was confident Hill, who has an opt-out clause in his contract this summer, would stay in Detroit.

“We’ve talked a lot in the past few weeks,” Dumars said of Hill. “My personal relationship with Grant is what I base my confidence on.”

Dumars, who played for Detroit for 14 seasons, including the Bad Boys era when the Pistons won consecutive NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, will relinquish his duties as director of player personnel to become president of basketball operations.

Suhr, a top assistant to former coach Chuck Daly during the championship years, will take over Dumars’ old job.

Rick Sund, Dumars’ mentor during the past year, retains his basic role as general manager while relinquishing his basketball operations chores to Dumars.

“There should be no doubt that the future of this franchise lies on the shoulders of Joe Dumars,” said Tom Wilson, president of business operations. “Joe will be the one demanding results, and getting results. He will turn this thing around.”