Orlando Adds Dr. J To Executive Suite

Julius Erving accepted an offer Wednesday to join the Orlando Magic with duties that include evaluating new business opportunities for RDV Sports, the team’s parent company.

The Hall of Famer will serve as vice president of RDV Sports and executive vice president of the Magic, who will hold a news conference today in Orlando, Fla., to officially welcome him to the organization.

The move came one day after the team lured Chuck Daly back into coaching with a three-year contract worth $15 million. The coach said his interest in the job heightened last week when he learned the Magic were pursuing Erving, a studio commentator for NBC since 1993.

“It is with great excitement and anticipation that we add a true living legend to our organization as we continue in our pursuit of being the professional sports model of the 21st century,” Magic general manager John Gabriel said.

John Starks of the Knicks, winner of this season’s NBA Sixth Man award, had surgery to repair ligaments of a partially dislocated joint on his left middle finger.

Detroit coach and general manager Doug Collins is expected to sign a new contract next week that will keep him under agreement to coach the team for at least two years, a Pistons spokesman said.

John Wallace’s girlfriend said in Greece, N.Y., that she wants to withdraw a harassment charge alleging the New York Knicks rookie punched her in the face and choked her during a quarrel over their son.