Grizzlies Continue to Revamp Their Front-Office Personnel

Stu Jackson, who guided the Vancouver Grizzlies through their turbulent first five NBA seasons, resigned Tuesday as president and general manager.

His departure came a day before new owner Michael Heisley was expected to announce his firing and one day after coach Lionel Hollins was fired.

Jackson, the first person hired by the Grizzlies when they began operations in 1994, left to become senior vice president of basketball operations with the NBA office in New York.

“Today is very bittersweet for me,” said Jackson, 44. “I look back and I feel very good about the five years here. We have garnered the emotions of our fans for this team.”

Hollins, also an original member of the organization, was told of his dismissal when telephoned at his Phoenix home by Dick Versace.

Versace, a former NBA coach and broadcaster, is expected to become president of basketball operations; Billy Knight, the Indiana Pacers’ vice president of basketball operations, the new general manager, and Tony Barone the director of player personnel.

Hiring a coach could take longer. One of the leading candidates, Indiana assistant Rick Carlisle, is still involved in the playoffs. He also could be considered for the Pacer job when Larry Bird leaves after the season.

Hollins’ firing was expected but the manner in which it was conducted angered some, including Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Abdur-Rahim said during the season he would seek a trade if Hollins and Jackson were replaced.

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Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets and Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls reportedly will share the rookie-of-the-year award.

The two tied in the voting for the award, which will be announced Thursday. The winners were reported by the Houston Chronicle, Chicago Tribune and CNN/SI.

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An MRI confirmed that Philadelphia point guard Eric Snow will miss the rest of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pacers. . . . Former NBA star Sidney Moncrief quit as coach of Arkansas Little Rock to become an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. . . . Detroit Coach George Irvine, who after being named interim coach late in the season said he wasn’t interested in being a full-time coach, has changed his mind and will begin negotiations with the club. . . . John Nucatola, 92, an original NBA referee and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, died Monday, the league announced.