After firing general manager Rob Hennigan at the end of the regular season, the Orlando Magic have a gaping hole in their front office — causing a problem with the draft and free agency on the horizon. Matt Lloyd has taken the reins in the interim, but the team has reportedly started kicking around a bunch of other names.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders has some of the details:
There has been talk of Warriors executive Bob Myers, however, the Warriors and Myers extended his contract last summer, increasing his pay and adding more responsibility to his job function. Sources peg poaching Myers from the Warriors as the longest of long shots but admitted that Warriors assistant general manager Travis Schlenk is on the radar and will likely be interviewed.
There has been talk of something of a Frank Vogel reunion with former Pacer executive David Morway being linked to the Magic. Morway was last with the Milwaukee Bucks before exploring the Sacramento Kings front office. It’s believed Morway was well on his way to being the Kings president before the team shifted course and went with Vlade Divac. Morway is a long-time veteran executive, which suits the Magic’s desire for a top-down leader.
Current Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard was also mentioned by league sources in much the same way as Morway.
Kyle also mentions that the Magic are considering higher-end names like “Toronto general manager Jeff Weltman, Cleveland’s David Griffin (who is in the final year of his contract) and long-time Rockets executive Gersson Rosas.”
It’s a bizarre situation. The Magic’s front office opening is the only one of its kind right now. The list of candidates is bound to be long.
The Magic’s situation doesn’t help matters. They have no direction. They’re about to draft in the top five for the fourth time in five years, and yet they don’t have a clear franchise cornerstone. Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon are extension-eligible, while Bismack Biyombo and Evan Fournier are combining to make $34 million per year.
Can you continue investing in this core? Can you champion a small-ball-friendly attack with both Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic on the roster? What’s the plan for Mario Hezonja? Do you have enough trade assets to pivot and start over? Do you even want to start over? If not, can you parlay your cap space into quality free agents who fit such an uncertain rebuilding timeline? And can you do that without having to overpay? Are you confident in your ability to hit on this year’s draft pick? Do you draft or try to sign a point guard with Payton in the fold?
There is so much for the Orlando Magic to consider right now. It makes sense that their list of replacements for Hennigan is both long and all over place. It perfectly encapsulates the state of flux the entire franchise is currently in.
