The Orlando Magic are looking for new leadership, and they are reportedly considering two former Boston Celtics legends. Shortly after reporting that Larry Bird was leaving the Indiana Pacers on Friday, The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Magic are interested in him:
Sources: For now, Bird's plan is consulting, but Orlando's search firm has been asking around about him as possible candidate for president.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) April 28, 2017
USA Today's Sam Amick then reported that Orlando has "serious interest" in McHale, who has been working as an analyst for TNT after being fired as the coach of the Houston Rockets early in the 2015-16 season. McHale, of course, has previous experience in the front office, having spent 13 years as the Minnesota Timberwolves vice president. USA Today also reported that Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin is the "frontrunner" for the position, given that he does not have a contract beyond this season.
Griffin's candidacy appears to be playing a part in the methodical pace of the search, as he is not likely to speak with the Magic until the Cavaliers' title pursuits are over – if at all. While the Magic have hired a search firm to help with the process, they have not yet spoken to candidates. What's more, with Magic owner Rich DeVos and CEO Alex Martins leading the way in this process, it remains possible that interim general manager Matt Lloyd could be retained on a more permanent basis in that position.
It's unclear whether or not the Magic will be able to lure Griffin away from LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but it sounds like they aren't in a rush to hire anybody. Orlando fired general manager Rob Hennigan just about as soon as the regular season ended.
