Since the departure of Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic have struggled to put together a roster that can at least compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
This has featured five straight years missing the postseason while compiling no more than 35 wins in any of those campaigns. However, it appears that the Magic have finally taken a big step forward toward changing that stigma with the hiring of Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond to hold that same position with the franchise under a multi-year deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Sources: Milwaukee GM John Hammond has agreed to a five-year deal to become Orlando's GM. Hammond will work under president Jeff Weltman.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 23, 2017
This decision comes a few hours after it was revealed that the Magic had brought aboard Toronto Raptors general manager Jeff Weltman as their new president of basketball operations. Weltman had spent five seasons as the assistant general manager under Hammond in Milwaukee prior to joining the Raptors' front office in 2013.
During Hammond's nine-year tenure as the general manager with the Bucks, the team made the playoffs four times including this past season. He also helped construct a team full of promising young talent headed by All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker.
Orlando had initially express heavy interest in Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin, but their request for an interview was denied by the organization.
With new management in place in the front office, the Magic are hoping this big change could lead to the franchise finally making progress toward once again being relevant in the league.
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