Magic Demote John Gabriel

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Magic Demote GM to Advisor/Scout

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic demoted general manager John Gabriel on Friday, replacing him with chief operating officer John Weisbrod.


The announcement, posted on the team's Web site, came three days after the Magic revealed that oft-injured forward Grant Hill will miss the rest of the season. Gabriel orchestrated the trade for Hill in 2000 and signed the five-time All-Star to a seven-year, $93 million contract

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Weisbrod IN

Orlando Magic President Bob Vander Weide announced today that COO John Weisbrod has been named the team’s General Manager.


John Weisbrod
Weisbrod will oversee all aspects of basketball operations, including player acquisitions via the draft, free agency and trades, player development, scouting, salary cap management, contract negotiations, and staff personnel decisions.

John Gabriel, who has been with the Magic since its inception, and been the team’s General Manager since 1996, will serve as a team advisor and regional scout.

[PRoPuLsiOnDJ]

i dont think it makes a difference who the magic gm is.
and its not gabriel's fault he signed hill ... who would have known that he would be injured till now????

but i think it was a bad idea for them to demote him becuz he has some "good" GM skills.
I mean its not easy to sign Hill (during his prime) and McGrady (a developing player). They almost signed Duncan that year too!
But Duncan had his reasons to stay in SA.

[Andrew]

It's a shame Gabriel had to take the fall for the current state of the Magic. For the most part, he's managed to keep a competitive roster after Shaq's departure in 1996. As propulsionDJ pointed out, while the acquisition of Hill has proven to be disappointing, Gabriel could not have seen it coming. Hill was expected to recover after having offseason surgery on his broken foot, so it didn't seem like much of a gamble. Gabriel's hands have been tied since then, as Hill's contract gets in the way of making improvements to the roster.

[air gordon]

and its not gabriel's fault he signed hill

it was a sign and trade. and the players he gave away played huge roles in doc rivers getting that coach of the year (which he didn't deserve in the first place).

gabriel's draft selections have been piss poor ever since the year they got penny in a trade. hunter? sasser? humphries?!

not to mention he let shaq walk away for nothing. and even if he didn't want darrel armstrong anymore, the magic have been been shitty at pg this year.

his demotion is well deserved imo