Report: Charles Barkley interested in Sixers' general manager position

Charles Barkley has expressed an interest in the Phialdelphia 76'ers general manager position. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Charles Barkley confirmed that he is interested in the general manager position with the Philadelphia 76'ers, the team that drafted him with the fifth pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, according to a report from Spike Eskin of CBS Philly:

94WIP’s Anthony Gargano is reporting that Charles Barkley would be interesting in becoming the new Sixers general manager. Gargano asked Barkley via text message if he’d be interested in being the Sixers GM, and Barkley responded “yes sir.”

Barkley, who spent eight seasons with the team before being traded to the Phoenix Suns, has never held a front office position in the NBA. He is currently an analyst on TNT's Inside the NBA.

According to Bob Cooney of the Daily News, the process of replacing Rod Thorn, the current general manager and president of the team, could take up to a year. Interviewing did not begin until after the Sixers playoff run ended in the second round in May, but once the right candidate has been identified, Thorn would step down immediately.

Cooney reported that Thorn, who would stay with the team for five years as a part time consultant once he has been replaced, is currently interviewing a list of candidates that includes:

San Antonio vice president of operations Danny Ferry; Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey; Jeff Bower, who was a general manager for the New Orleans Hornets; Oklahoma City assistant GM Troy Weaver; Atlanta GM Rick Sund, whose contract expires at the end of June; and Milwaukee GM John Hammond, who has a year remaining on his deal. Hammond, who was denied permission to talk to Portland last month, was an assistant coach for Doug Collins with Detroit.