Magic to hire Jeff Turner as television color analyst, according to report

The Orlando Magic will hire Jeff Turner as their new television color analyst, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. The Magic declined comment for Robbins' story and the hiring is not yet official, but the Sentinel report indicates that Turner "is expected to sign a multiyear deal."

Turner, now 51, played the final seven seasons of his 10-year NBA career with the Magic. Since retiring as a player, Turner has served as a color analyst for the Magic's radio broadcasts and as a coach for Lake Highland's boys basketball team.

The Magic's decision not to renew the contract of Matt Guokas, which Robbins first reported in May, created a vacancy for Turner to fill. David Steele is still Orlando's play-by-play man.

Turner filled in for Guokas on some telecasts in 2012/13 while Guokas was out due to illness.

A poll of Orlando Pinstriped Post readers after Guokas' ouster revealed tepid support for Turner, Tony Battie, and Richie Adubato, the three most obvious candidates for the position. Turner garnered 24 percent of the vote, with Battie getting 27 percent. The most popular response was "none of the above," which received 37 percent of the vote.

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