Former Raptors GM Jeff Weltman becomes Magic president of basketball operations

The Orlando Magic have hired Toronto Raptors GM Jeff Weltman as their new president of basketball operations.

The Orlando Magic will hire former Toronto Raptors GM Jeff Weltman as their next president of basketball operations. ESPN reports that Weltman will sign a five-year contract.

"“Jeff Weltman brings tremendous experience and a team-first approach to our president of basketball operations position,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins. “Jeff is a strategic thinker and strong leader, has great relationships in the industry and will bring a collaborative approach to our basketball operations leadership.”"

Weltman will take over for Rob Hennigan, who was fired at the end of the season. Hennigan failed to lead Orlando out of the post-Dwight Howard era and had a tenure marred by underachievement. The Magic did not make the playoffs once during his tenure.

Thus begins a tall task for Jeff Weltman. Orlando owns the sixth pick in next month’s NBA Draft and has about $14 million to spend in free agency in July. The man certainly has his work cut out for him despite having talents in Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton on the roster.

Orlando fans should be excited about this hire, given Weltman’s experience. He joined the Raptors in 2013 and was promoted to general manager last year. Working in tandem with team president Masai Ujiri, he played a key role in building the successful Raptors teams of the past few seasons.

Weltman also has experience working in the front offices of the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. Matt Lloyd, who served as Orlando’s interim GM following Hennigan’s firing, is expected to be retained and have the interim tag removed.

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A five-year playoff drought is a long one in NBA years, so here’s hoping that Jeff Weltman can be the man to finally right Orlando’s ship.