Magic to hire Raptors GM Jeff Weltman as new president of basketball operations

Jeff Weltman worked in the Toronto front office for four years

The Orlando Magic have hired Toronto Raptors general manager Jeff Weltman as their new president of basketball operations.

Weltman now begins a search for his first major hire: the Magic's next GM. Weltman takes over in Orlando after spending the past four years in the Toronto front office. He began as the Raptors' vice president of basketball operations before being promoted to general manager in September.

Toronto GM Jeff Weltman has agreed to a deal to become the Orlando Magic's President of Basketball Operations, sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 22, 2017

Weltman was considered very much an unknown when promoted by Toronto, but has clearly made a name for himself across the league if the Magic are willing to make him their president of basketball operations. He has spent the majority of his time in Toronto working under Masai Ujiri, but don't let his relative anonymity take away from his credentials. He has worked in the NBA for a long time and earned his promotions.

Now, Weltman will begin the process of forming his own front office. Magic CEO Alex Martins said the president of basketball operations would be given the task of hiring his own GM. Who Weltman decides is up to him, but current interim GM Matt Lloyd is currently the favorite.

Cavaliers fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Weltman's hiring means Orlando apparently has given up on its pursuit of Cleveland GM David Griffin. The rumors between Griffin and the Magic were exclusively related to their president position and it seems unlikely for Griffin to make a lateral move that has him working under someone else.