NBA rumors: Orlando Magic interested in Kevin McHale for team president

As they look to move out of a cycle of mediocrity, the Orlando Magic have another notable name on their radar to lead the front office.

After yet another non-playoff season, the Orlando Magic fired general manager Rob Hennigan on April 13. So new front office leadership is in order, and the Magic have had interest in Cavaliers’ general manager David Griffin, who is without a contract beyond this season, to take on the role of team president.

Larry Bird resigned as team president of the Indiana Pacers on Friday, and Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported possible interest from the Magic for him to fill the same role there. But one of Bird’s long-time teammates is also a rumored candidate for the lead front office role in Orlando.

According to Sam Amick of USA Today, the Magic have serious interest in Kevin McHale as team president. Since his Hall of Fame playing career ended in 1993, McHale has worked continuously as a television analyst, front office executive and head coach in the NBA. He is currently working for TNT, after being fired as Houston Rockets’ head coach 11 games into the 2015-16 season.

McHale’s most notable tenure in any role was from 1995-2009 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, serving as vice president of basketball operations with two separate stints as head coach. His work in Minnesota’s front office was a mixed bag, to put it kindly. But McHale did put together the last roster that made the playoffs for the franchise in 2004, and the Timberwolves made the playoffs regularly under his watch. If he’s hired by the Magic, team owner Rich DeVos will clearly have similar expectations.

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A bad ending in Houston, with two big-name stars struggling to (or unwilling to) co-exist, can not entirely be held against McHale. If he wants to be a front office leader again, and leave TNT to take on the pressure of that job, Orlando’s interest is well-founded.