The Big Decision Maker?

According to ESPN, the Orlando Magic will likely meet with Shaquille O'Neal about their vacant general manager position. Let that one sink in for a second. Soak it up. Drink it down.

Obviously Shaq has substantial ties to the Magic organization as he began his playing career there and still seems to think of it fondly. Maybe the meeting is more of a courtesy from owner Rich DeVos. Maybe Shaq just wants to see what it's like. Or maybe the Dwight Howard nightmare caused everyone in Orlando to lose their minds.

Shaq retired a year ago and has been serving as a TV analyst for TNT. He always has been opinionated and often was influential about roster transactions for the teams he played for. I don't think that necessarily qualifies you to be a GM, though.

It's not unusual for former players to be in front office positions. A large number in the league were former players -- Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, formerly Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Ernie Grunfeld, Joe Dumars and a few others. Obviously, it's a normal thing, but it just doesn't seem like Shaq is the type of guy that fits in that group.

Starting with the 1992-93 season, Shaq spent the first four seasons of his career as the Magic's center. He led the league in scoring with 29.3 points per game with Orlando in 1994-95. He then left the Magic to play for the Lakers.

The Magic are coming off quite the embarrassment of not being able to keep anything in house, firing Stan Van Gundy, parting ways with Otis Smith and likely losing Howard in the near future. If you're an organization to be taken seriously, I'm not sure interviewing this guy is the best way to do it.