Milwaukee Bucks: John Hammond reportedly joins Orlando Magic as general manager

In spite of missing out on the president of basketball operations position, Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond is reportedly still leaving for the Orlando Magic.

After over nine years in the job, John Hammond’s time as general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks has reportedly come to an end.

There was a lot of information for Bucks fans to unpack when former Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman was hired as the new president of basketball operations of the Orlando Magic on Monday, but little did they know they were only scratching the surface.

Weltman, who had most recently worked for the Toronto Raptors, was a familiar name in his own right, but the news that the Magic had also interviewed Weltman’s former superior and Bucks general manager John Hammond certainly raised some eyebrows in Milwaukee.

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With the top position filled, it seemed as if there was little question over Hammond remaining with the Bucks, at least in the immediate future, but reports on Tuesday afternoon now suggest that Hammond is Orlando-bound.

News first came from ESPN’s Marc Stein, who suggested that Hammond remained a definite target for the Magic’s general manager’s position working under Weltman.

Shortly after, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that a deal had been reached, with Milwaukee’s consent, between Hammond and the Magic.

This doesn’t leave the Bucks in as great a position of uncertainty as it would initially seem, in part due to the somewhat unusual arrangement that may have played a role in Hammond’s sudden interest in jobs elsewhere.

Justin Zanik was hired as the Bucks assistant general manager from the Utah Jazz last June. At the time reports described Zanik as the franchise’s “GM-in-waiting”, indicating a plan for Hammond to move into a consultancy role within a couple of years.

The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski even indicated that a deciding factor in Utah’s willingness to let Zanik go was with the understanding he would be getting a chance at a top executive job that wasn’t currently open in Salt Lake City.

"“Utah GM Dennis Lindsey was agreeable in letting Zanik make the move because the initial assistant GM role comes with the provision that Zanik will become the Bucks’ top basketball executive, league sources said.”"

Unsurprisingly, Wojnarowski reports that Hammond’s departure triggers Zanik’s promotion to the top job in Milwaukee.

While there’s little doubting Zanik’s credentials based on his work as an executive with the Jazz, as well as his previous career as an agent, parting ways with a general manager with Hammond’s track record and experience so close to the draft and free agency is far from ideal.

As always, Hammond had been a vocal and visible figure as the Bucks scouted prospects in recent weeks, and was also the leading figure of Milwaukee’s delegation that attended the NBA Combine.

With Zanik involved in that process the hope will be that the transition comes smoothly, but it certainly isn’t ideal.

Hammond departs Milwaukee with his legacy cemented by a strong eye for talent in the middle of the first round. While Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely go down as the greatest success story of his career, Hammond has had plenty of success over the years with the Bucks, including earning Executive of the Year honors in 2010.

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Make sure to stick with us for more reaction to this news in the coming days.