Report: Orlando Magic Interested in Tom Penn for GM Job


Several names—including, but not limited to, Phil Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal—have been tossed around in regards to the vacant GM job in Orlando. Today, another name surfaced as a possible Otis Smith replacement: former NBA executive and current ESPN Analyst, Tom Penn. ESPN has the details: “Penn, who declined to comment, has served in the front offices of both the Portland Trail Blazersand Memphis Grizzlies. [He] has a legal and financial background. Increasingly, NBA teams are giving that kind of experience more weight than having played in the league when hiring front-office personnel. Penn worked for seven seasons (2000-2007) as both legal counsel and assistant general manager for the Grizzlies and then three seasons as assistant GM with the Blazers. While with Portland, Penn helped the team pare a bloated payroll while remaining competitive but shedding their “JailBlazers” image. Penn also has some experience as a player agent.”