Jeff Weltman

Last updated
Jeff Weltman
Orlando Magic
PositionPresident of Basketball Operations
League NBA
Personal information
Born New York City, New York, U.S.
Career information
College Oberlin College

Jeff Weltman is an American basketball executive who is the president of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). [1]

Contents

In 2020, Weltman received one 1st place vote for NBA Executive of the Year. [2] [3]

Early life and career

Weltman grew up in New York. He was raised by his father, Harry Weltman, and his mother, Arlene. Harry Weltman was a former GM for the now defunct ABA's Spirits of St. Louis in the mid-1970s and for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets in the mid-1980s. As a teenager, Weltman played pick-up basketball in the South Bronx and Harlem on Saturdays. Weltman played basketball at Oberlin College in Ohio. [4]

At the start of Weltman's career, he was hired by the Clippers as a video coordinator in the late 1990s. Weltman then served as the director of player personnel with the LA Clippers, director of basketball administration with the Detroit Pistons, assistant GM with the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks and EVP of basketball operations and GM with the Toronto Raptors. [5] [6] Before Weltman joined the Raptors, the Raptors were on a five-year playoff-drought. During Weltman's four-year tenure with the Raptors, the team qualified for the postseason every season and won three playoff series. He then was offered the job of President of Basketball Operations for the Orlando Magic. He took the position and moved to Orlando with his wife, Alexis, and his twin daughters, JJ and Lucy.

Orlando Magic

On April 13, 2017, the Magic fired GM Rob Hennigan and assistant GM Scott Perry following a five-year run of not making the playoffs. In the seasons leading up to these events, the organization did not have luck in the NBA draft lottery and decided to make more short-sighted trades with the hope to overcome their postseason losing streak.

On May 22, 2017, the Orlando Magic hired Weltman as their new president of basketball operations, and they announced they would give up their less desirable 2018 second-round NBA draft pick to the Raptors as compensation. [7] Around this time, the Orlando Magic had promising young talent with Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic. In the 2017 NBA draft, the Magic selected Jonathan Isaac with the 6th pick.

In May 2018, Orlando added new coach Steve Clifford on a four-year deal. [8] Weltman said "Steve is widely regarded throughout the NBA community as an elite coach and developer of players at all stages. His teams have always been disciplined and prepared and have embraced the concept of playing for each other.” [9] In the 2018 NBA draft, the Magic selected Mohamed Bamba with the 6th pick, and Melvin Frazier with the 35th pick.

Following the 2018–19 Orlando Magic season, Weltman re-signed Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams and acquired Al-Farouq Aminu. In the 2019 NBA draft, the Magic selected Chuma Okeke with the 16th pick. In the 2020 NBA draft, the Magic selected Cole Anthony with the 15th pick.

In 2021, Weltman said the group was confident that Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac would fully recover from their injuries but that the current situation was a "toxic brew". [10] Under Weltman's leadership, the Magic moved Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Aaron Gordon (who requested a trade) in three separate deals at the 2021 trade deadline, acquiring three future first-round picks, Gary Harris, an expiring contract in Otto Porter, as well as Wendell Carter and R. J. Hampton. [11] [12] [13] With the absence of those veteran players, young talent such as Mohamed Bamba, Chuma Okeke and Dwayne Bacon would be given more minutes to showcase their skills.

Weltman said "Anytime you trade a player like Nikola Vucevic, it is a tough decision to make...Vooch' will go down as one of the best players to ever wear a Magic uniform".

On April 8, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic waived Khem Birch who is an unrestricted free agent following the 2020-21 season. On April 12, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic signed free agent Robert Franks to a 10-day contract. [14] On April 13, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic waived Karim Mané after signing a two-way contract on November 27, 2020. [15] On April 16, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic have signed guard Devin Cannady to a two-way contract. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Magic</span> National Basketball Association team in Orlando, Florida

The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The franchise was established in 1989 as an expansion franchise, and such notable NBA stars as Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard have played for the club throughout its history. As of 2024, the franchise has played in the NBA playoffs 17 times in 35 seasons, and twice went to the NBA Finals, in 1995 and 2009, losing to the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jameer Nelson</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Jameer Lamar Nelson Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who serves as general manager for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Saint Joseph's Hawks, where he was named national college player of the year in 2004. Drafted 20th overall in the 2004 NBA draft, Nelson spent the first ten years of his NBA career with the Orlando Magic. In 2009, he was named an All-Star and made an appearance in the NBA Finals with the Magic. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons.

John Hammond is an American basketball executive who is the senior advisor to the president of basketball operations of the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Previously, Hammond had been the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as the assistant general manager with the Detroit Pistons, where he had also worked as an assistant coach. He had also been an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and Houston Baptist University. He is a graduate of Greenville College. He has a daughter named Lauryn Hammond, who attended Marquette University. He is best known in NBA circles as the general manager who drafted NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Bucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timofey Mozgov</span> Russian basketball player (born 1986)

Timofey Pavlovich Mozgov is a Russian former professional basketball player. Mozgov won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, becoming one of the first Russians to do so, alongside Sasha Kaun. As a member of the Russian national team, he won the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2011. Mozgov signed with the Lakers in 2016 before being traded to the Nets in the 2017 offseason. In the 2018 offseason, he was traded to the Magic before returning to Khimki in 2019.

The 2010–11 Phoenix Suns season was the 43rd season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time in eight seasons, the Suns were without the play of power forward Amar'e Stoudemire, a 5-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year who joined the New York Knicks in the summer. The Suns traded Jason Richardson on December 18, 2010 as part of a trade that brought Vince Carter to the Suns. On February 24, 2011, the Suns traded Goran Dragić and the draft pick they got earlier from Orlando in exchange for Aaron Brooks. Alvin Gentry was head coach and the Suns played their home games at US Airways Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masai Ujiri</span> Nigerian-Canadian sports executive

Masai Michael Ujiri is a British-born Nigerian/Kenyan-Canadian professional basketball executive and former player who is the president of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Nicholson (basketball)</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1989)

Andrew Fabian Nicholson is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for St. Bonaventure University before being drafted 19th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikola Vučević</span> Montenegrin basketball player (born 1990)

Nikola Vučević is a Montenegrin professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans before being drafted 16th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Pete D’Alessandro is an American businessman, currently the Executive Vice President of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. Prior to joining the Magic, D’Alessandro was the general manager for the Sacramento Kings and an assistant general manager with the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets twice.

The 2017–18 Toronto Raptors season was the 23rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The 2017–18 Orlando Magic season was the 29th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On May 23, 2017, the Magic announced that John Hammond would be the new general manager, thus officially ending his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. Finishing with a 25–57 record, the Magic extended their postseason drought to six consecutive years. On April 12, 2018, Frank Vogel was fired by the Magic after the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuma Okeke</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

Chukwuma Julian "Chuma" Okeke is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Okeke played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers before being drafted 16th overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Cannady</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Devin Cannady is an American professional basketball player for the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Princeton Tigers.

The 2020–21 Chicago Bulls season was the 55th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On April 13, 2020, Arturas Karnišovas was named executive vice-president of basketball operations by the Bulls. The Bulls replaced Jim Boylen, with former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan on September 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Dowtin</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Jeffrey Dowtin Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Rhode Island Rams.

The 2023–24 Chicago Bulls season was the 58th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They failed to improve on their 40–42 record from last year, suffering a second consecutive losing record, at 39–43. On April 1, 2024, despite losing to the Atlanta Hawks 113–101, due to having a 2–1 record against them in the regular season, the Bulls were able to secure their second consecutive postseason with a play-in berth. The team failed to improve on their record from the previous season, finishing 39–43 and as the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference. In the Play-In Tournament, they defeated the Hawks in the first stage, but fell to the 8th-seeded Miami Heat in the second stage for the second consecutive time to end their season.

References

  1. "Magic Name Jeff Weltman President of Basketball Operations". Orlando Magic. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  2. "Lawrence Frank wins 2019-20 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  3. "An investigation into who voted for Orlando Magic's Jeff Weltman as executive of the year". Orlando Magic Daily. 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  4. "Magic's Weltman known for toughness, kindness - Orlando Sentinel". digitaledition.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  5. "Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic, President of Basketball Operations - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  6. "New Raptors GM Jeff Weltman unfazed by his anonymity". torontosun. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  7. Polacek, Scott. "Jeff Weltman Reportedly Hired by Magic as President of Basketball Operations". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  8. WKMG. "Magic sign new coach to four-year deal". Florida Today. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  9. "Steve Clifford agrees to 4-year deal to coach Magic". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  10. "Jeff Weltman: Orlando Magic in the midst of a "toxic brew"". Orlando Magic Daily. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  11. "Jeff Weltman Discusses Magic's Deadline-Day Trades". Hoops Rumors. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  12. "Orlando Magic choose a new direction to inch closer to a championship". 26 March 2021.
  13. "Orlando Magic Trade Grades: Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon deadline deals". 26 March 2021.
  14. "Magic Sign Robert Franks to 10-Day Contract".
  15. "Orlando Magic Waive Karim Mané".
  16. "Orlando Magic Sign Devin Cannady to Two-Way Contract".