Despite report, Sixers GM Thorn not retiring

Changes are anticipated when it comes to the Sixers this off-season and on Thursday a report on CBS Sports said that team president and general manager Rod Thorn was contemplating retirement.

But Thorn responded in an e-mail to CSNPhilly.com that he has every intention of staying on in his current role.

Thorn was hired as the Sixers president in Aug. 2010. At the time, the team was still owned by Comcast-Spectacor. Thorn replaced Ed Stefanski as team president but Stefanski stayed on as general manager. Last summer, when the current owners led by Joshua Harris took over, Stefanski was relieved of his duties, handing them over to Thorn.

Thorn, like all NBA front office people last summer, was limited by the lockout. Conversations could not be had and time was short when the work stoppage ended. The two biggest moves the Sixers made prior to the start of the season were signing restricted free agent Thaddeus Young and giving Spencer Hawes a one-year qualifying offer that enables the seven-footer to become a free agent on July 1.

The Sixers had player movement during the compacted 66-game season when they moved Marreese Speights to Memphis for a trade exception and acquired Sam Young from the Grizzlies in mid-March.

Last year's draft was the first during Thorn's tenure and picks Nik Vucevic and Lavoy Allen, at different times, gave the team a real boost.

The Sixers have the 15th pick in the 2012 NBA draft as well as two second-round selections. They have eight players under contract, including Lou Williams, who has a player option which he will likely exercise.