The Sonics granted the New Jersey Nets permission Sunday to speak with former general manager Rick Sund about the Nets' vacant GM position.

Sund, who is a consultant with the Sonics after being fired in June, is in the final year of his contract. The Nets' job became open when Ed Stefanski left to become GM of the Philadelphia 76ers.

When Sund was relieved of his duties by now-departed vice president Lenny Wilkens, he remained with the organization but did not want to step on the toes of new management with any suggestions. So he has essentially remained out of the spotlight, except for an appearance on Fox Sports Northwest as a Sonics analyst last week.