Thunder Assistant GM Rob Hennigan Reportedly Accepts GM Position with Magic
After severing ties with general manager Otis Smith, the Orlando Magic have been engaged in a search for his replacement at a key turning point in the franchise's future.
The Magic's search had come down to three candidates, including Oklahoma City Thunder assistant GM Rob Hennigan, San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey and Jeff Bower, former general manager of the New Orleans Hornets.
Now, it appears the Magic have settled on Hennigan as their guy.
UPDATE: Wednesday, June 20 at 7:10 p.m. ET
David Aldridge is now tweeting that Hennigan has accepted the gig:
"Source: OKC Asst GM Rob Hennigan has accepted offer to become next GM of Magic. Yahoo!, CBSSports.com had reported advanced talks.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 20, 2012"
-----End of update-----
Since Hennigan's current team is still in the midst of the NBA Finals, an official announcement will have to wait, according to BHSN's David Baumann:
"Magic source to @BHSN: Thursday is an unlikely day for a press conference because Hennigan's #OKC team plays an elimination game that night.
— David Baumann (@DavidBaumann33) June 20, 2012"
Some view the 30-year-old Hennigan as a guy who could bring an innovative approach to the inevitable period of reshuffling on Orlando's doorstep.
With superstar center Dwight Howard likely on the verge of being traded, the next two summers will be critical junctures in the franchise's future. Finding the best possible return for Howard will be a very obvious first step.
From there, Hennigan will be tasked with figuring out what to do with an aging supporting cast that includes the likes of Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson. Both have burdensome long-term contracts that threaten to limit the club's roster flexibility—unless, of course, one of them can be pawned off in a deal involving Howard.
Hennigan's role with the remarkably successful turnaround of the Thunder appeared to make an impression on Orlando. OKC went from a struggling franchise to NBA finalists in virtually no time at all, thanks in large part to smart draft picks and savvy roster management.
Hennigan will get his first shot at revitalizing Orlando's roster on June 28, when the Magic have the 19th and 49th overall picks in the NBA draft.
From there, Howard's future will take center stage, as will the search for a new head coach after Stan Van Gundy was fired in May.
