Report: John Hammond leaving Milwaukee Bucks to be Orlando Magic GM

In a bit of a shocker, John Hammond will reportedly leave the Milwaukee Bucks to be the next general manager of the Orlando Magic. He will serve under Jeff Weltman.

Maybe the Orlando Magic are finally done getting in their own way? After the end of the Rob Hennigan era in Central Florida, the Magic have made two excellent moves to recalibrate their front office. Former Toronto Raptors executive Jeff Weltman has agreed to be the Magic’s new president of basketball operations.

Replacing Hennigan will be none other than Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond. The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that “Milwaukee GM John Hammond has agreed to a five-year deal to become Orlando’s GM.”

Leaving Milwaukee, an organization that many feel is an emerging title contender, for the worst team in the Eastern Conference the last five years in Orlando is very much a head-scratcher. Yes, getting to work with Weltman and head coach Frank Vogel does sound very appealing, but why would anybody consider leaving Giannis Antetokounmpo’s side while he just entered his prime?

Maybe Hammond is looking for a new challenge? He will certainly have one in the roster Hennigan left for him to sort out. Hammond will have to make sense of a frontcourt logjam, even after the Serge Ibaka trade with the Raptors, a bunch of wings not named Evan Fournier that can’t shoot and whatever is going on at point guard.

If Hammond can make Orlando respectable again in this revamped rebuild, more power to the guy. He does have several assets he can trade, but has nothing close to a near-superstar like he had in Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.

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Hammond had to have been paid out the wazoo to take this job. Not to say that Orlando isn’t an attractive front office gig, but how does one leave Antetokounmpo behind? Milwaukee now becomes the best available front office gig by a wide margin.