| Orlando Magic | |
|---|---|
| Position | President of Basketball Operations |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Oberlin College |
Jeff Weltman is an Americanbasketball executive who is the president of basketball operations for theOrlando Magic of theNational Basketball Association (NBA).[1]
In 2020, Weltman received one 1st place vote forNBA Executive of the Year.[2][3]
Weltman grew up inNew York. He was raised by his father,Harry Weltman, and his mother, Arlene. Harry Weltman was a former GM for the now defunctABA'sSpirits of St. Louis in the mid-1970s and for theCleveland Cavaliers andNew Jersey Nets in the mid-1980s. As a teenager, Weltman played pick-up basketball in theSouth Bronx andHarlem on Saturdays. Weltman played basketball atOberlin 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 theLos Angeles Clippers, director of basketball administration with theDetroit Pistons, assistant GM with theDenver Nuggets andMilwaukee Bucks and EVP of basketball operations and GM with theToronto 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.
On April 13, 2017, the Magic fired GMRob Hennigan and assistant GMScott 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 theNBA draft lottery and decided to make more short-sighted trades with the hope to overcome their postseason losing streak.
On May 22, 2017, theOrlando 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 withAaron Gordon,Elfrid Payton andNikola Vucevic. In the2017 NBA draft, the Magic selectedJonathan Isaac with the 6th pick.
In May 2018, Orlando added new coachSteve 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 the2018 NBA draft, the Magic selectedMohamed Bamba with the 6th pick, andMelvin Frazier with the 35th pick.
Following the2018–19 Orlando Magic season, Weltman re-signedNikola Vucevic,Terrence Ross andMichael Carter-Williams and acquiredAl-Farouq Aminu. In the2019 NBA draft, the Magic selectedChuma Okeke with the 16th pick. In the2020 NBA draft, the Magic selectedCole Anthony with the 15th pick.
In 2021, Weltman said the group was confident thatMarkelle Fultz andJonathan Isaac would fully recover from their injuries but that the current situation was a "toxic brew".[10] Under Weltman's leadership, the Magic movedNikola Vucevic,Evan Fournier, andAaron Gordon (who requested a trade) in three separate deals at the2021 trade deadline, acquiring three future first-round picks,Gary Harris, an expiring contract inOtto Porter, as well asWendell Carter andR. J. Hampton.[11][12][13] With the absence of those veteran players, young talent such asMohamed Bamba,Chuma Okeke andDwayne Bacon would be given more minutes to showcase their skills.
Weltman said "Anytime you trade a player likeNikola 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 waivedKhem Birch who is an unrestricted free agent following the2020-21 season. On April 12, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic signed free agentRobert Franks to a 10-day contract.[14] On April 13, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic waivedKarim Mané after signing a two-way contract on November 27, 2020.[15] On April 16, 2021, Weltman announced the Magic have signed guardDevin Cannady to a two-way contract.[16]