NBA Rumors: Jeff Bower "The Favorite" as Orlando Magic's Next General Manager, According to Report

The Orlando Magic's search for a new General Manager continues, but it's likely to end well before the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28th, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. "Orlando is on track to have a GM in place with 7-10 days to spare" ahead of the draft, Berger writes. Such a timetable is in keeping with CEO Alex Martins' stated goal of having a front-office in place before the Draft.

Further, Jeff Bower, the former GM of the New Orleans Hornets, is "believed to be the favorite" for the role. Though the Magic have declined to comment publicly about their GM search, Martins has reportedly received permission to interview Troy Weaver and Rob Henningan of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dennis Lindsay of the San Antonio Spurs. Indiana Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard is also believed to be in the running.

Martins and Bower worked together in New Orleans in the early 2000s, where Martins served as the Hornets' senior vice president for marketing and branding.

According to Steve Kyler of HOOPSWORLD, Orlando doesn't want "a singular dominating personality to take over the team," but rather "a personality that’s experienced and has a proven track record of playing well with others." Bower fits that bill.

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