Magic hire Raptors GM Jeff Weltman as President of Basketball Operations

Multiple outlets, including Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, reported that the Orlando Magic have finalized a 5-year deal with Toronto Raptors GM Jeff Weltman to make him the Magic’s President of Basketball Operations.

Weltman joined the Raptors in 2013, and was promoted to GM under Masai Ujiri last year. Before that, he had stretches with the Clippers, whom he started his NBA executive career with, as well as the Bucks and Nuggets.

The move signals a shift in the leadership structure of the Magic to a President-GM relationship, an increasingly popular arrangement throughout the NBA. Weltman will have the authority to select his GM, though if the structure mirrors his experience in Toronto under Ujiri, Weltman will still have final say on personnel decisions.

Early indications are that interim and former assistant GM Matt Lloyd will be retained in some role, though its unclear what that will be. The Magic telegraphed the hiring today when it was reported by Michael Scotto that several members of the front office were laid off.

The move comes in the wake of the Magic moving on from GM Rob Hennigan, their first GM in the post-Howard era. While early signs were that the Magic were building toward something, moves in the past couple seasons have left the team lacking in both wins and talent. With all signs pointing toward the Magic still aiming to win in the short term, Weltman and his new staff will have their work cut out for them.