Orlando Magic Daily
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2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 1-17: The Best of the Best

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – JUNE 22: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman addresses the media during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

8. Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic

Change is always hard, even when it is necessary. The Orlando Magic had run their course with Rob Hennigan. Whether fair or not, his rebuild was going nowhere. No clear star had developed after years of painful losing and his win-now gambles all failed. The Magic’s 29-win season was a major step backward and left the team in a difficult hole to climb out of.

As often happens in the NBA, the team goes from one extreme to the other. The hard-driving coach is followed by the player-friendly coach. In this case, the inexperienced, bright-eyed, new-ideas general manager is followed by the extra-experienced president of basketball operations.

That does not make the job any less daunting. The changes the Magic will have to go through to get back to contention — or even to get into the Playoff discussion are still large. The new management group will still have to deal with the mistakes from the past. Bismack Biyombo‘s contract is not going away.

Yet, there is optimism again. Or at least the belief that after seeing how Hennigan struggled with inexperience, Weltman (and his 20-plus years in the NBA as everything up to assistant general manager and general manager) will be the one to right the ship and turn things around.

Someone will have to be the one to get the Magic out of this franchise-long Playoff drought. So far the reviews for Weltman are, at least, good.

Weltman did not have a ton of maneuverability this offseason. So he largely would be judged on who ohe drafted with the sixth overall pick and whether he further tied up the Magic’s limited cap resources.

The jury might be out on Jonathan Isaac, but no one is upset with the pick. He seems to be the kind of versatile, athletic defender NBA teams covet. If Weltman has a type, it would seem that is it.

In free agency, his patience was rewarded. He signed Jonathon Simmons, a player many believed would go for a heftier price tag, to a very team-friendly deal. Then he added some quality veterans on a minimum contract.

Few are ready to say the Magic will make the Playoffs this year. But it seems they are headed back in the right direction. It is the next move that will make Weltman’s vision of the Magic more concrete. For now, he is just trying to get out of the hole.

At least, he got a good start.