The Orlando Magic are expected to begin scheduling interview for prospective General Managers on Friday, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Their search begins days after the team dismissed Otis Smith, the team's President of Basketball Operations, and will include the likes of Indiana Pacers GM David Morway and Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard, as well as Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. Though Kupchak has one season remaining on his contract with the Lakers and is unlikely to leave Southern California, Magic CEO Alex Martins is expected to ask Los Angeles for permission to interview him.

Kupchak took over the Lakers prior to the 2000/01 season and has won four championships with the club during that span. His most successful recent move was acquiring All-Star big man Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008.

Donnie Walsh, a consultant with the New York Knicks and their former President, also ranks highly among the Magic's list of GM candidates, as does former New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower. Martins has said he will look to hire a GM first before beginning the search for a new head coach to replace Stan Van Gundy, whom the team dismissed Monday after five seasons.

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