Joe Dumars says he has not been interviewed by the New Jersey Nets for their soon-to-be-vacant general manager job.
However, an NBA source told ESPNNewYork.com on Monday that the Nets are very interested in Dumars, the current Detroit Pistons president/GM.
Landing Dumars would have been viewed as a pipe dream a few years ago, for a couple of reasons.
He's entrenched in Motown, winning back-to-back titles as a player with the Pistons' Bad Boys team.
He also owns other businesses in the Detroit area. Plus, he is highly regarded in NBA circles because he is one of the few GMs who has been able to win a championship without a true superstar.
But things have changed with the passing of longtime Pistons owner Bill Davidson on March 13. The team is currently up for sale. If Dumars, 47, would ever be open to a new opportunity, the time is now.
The Nets' current president/GM, Rod Thorn, has already announced that he is stepping down on July 15.
So far, the other names mentioned as a possible replacement for Thorn include New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower, Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti and USA Basketball executive Jerry Colangelo.
Rob Parker is a columnist for ESPNNewYork.com.