NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic Interested in Donnie Walsh for Front-Office Position, According to Report

The Orlando Magic may be looking to shake up their front office in the summer of 2012, reports Ken Berger, and "could be interested" in bringing aboard New York Knicks consultant Donnie Walsh. According to Berger, adding Walsh "could create an atmosphere of respect and accountability to calm the Dwight Howard drama, which has not been extinguished but only delayed." The CBSSports.com scribe believes pairing Walsh with a "day-to-day" general manager such as Jeff Bower "would put the Magic on solid footing," and that Howard would have to be "completely out to lunch" not to recognize as much.

As the Knicks' President, Walsh shed enough salary, and quickly, to ink Amar'e Stoudemire to a five-year, $100 million deal in the free-agent bonanza of 2010. He advised against trading productive, cheap youngsters Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari to the Denver Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony, but team ownership overruled him and ultimately stripped him of his job title at season's end.

The Magic are desperate to keep Howard, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2013, for the long haul, and the most recent roster moves Otis Smith, the incumbent President of Basketball Operations, haven't restored the team to its 2009 NBA Finalist form.

Berger praises Bower, the former GM of the New Orleans Hornets, as "one of the understated talents in the league." He also touts the international expertise of Tony Ronzone, formerly of the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwoves, and believes he could persuade former lottery pick Fran Vázquez to sign with Orlando in 2012.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post reported Orlando's interest in Walsh in March.

Berger names several more so-called "executive free-agents," but only mentions the Magic in the contexts of Walsh, Bower, and Ronzone. Should the Magic oust Smith, who is under contract through the 2012/13 season, in the summer of 2012? If so, which of the candidates Berger suggests would be the best fit for Orlando?

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