Orlando Magic extended contract of prez Jeff Weltman

Whatever adjustments the magic make this offseason following a 3rd consecutive first-round exit within the NBA playoffsthe franchise’s plans this summer time will embrace president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman.

Weltman agreed to a contract extension through the common season, a league supply confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Monday morning.

orlando‘s season got here to a detailed Sunday afternoon at Detroit after the crew fell in Game 7 to the top-seeded Pistons inside Little Caesars Arena in a sequence that the Magic as soon as led 3-1.

While the ending to an underwhelming was nonetheless recent within the minds of Magic gamers and coaches alike late Sunday night time, the wheels to increase Weltman when he entered the 2025-26 season within the remaining yr of his earlier contract extension had lengthy been in movement.

Weltman’s extension started to be labored on as early as final summer time and was finalized simply previous to the Magic reaching the semifinals of the NBA Cup in mid-December, the league supply mentioned.

The Athletic first reported Weltman’s contract extension.

Since their arrival to Orlando in 2017, the Magic have made the playoffs 5 occasions and captured three Southeast Division titles.

He guided the franchise via a rebuild that led to the drafting of key younger gamers akin to Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and 2022 No. 1 general choose Paolo Banchero.

Weltman believed final offseason the crew had turned a nook and was prepared for a significant transfer to assist place itself for a deep postseason run. That’s when the Magic acquired sharpshooter Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies in trade for 4 future first-round picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony.

This season, nevertheless, marked the second straight that the crew was affected by accidents, together with Wagner who missed 48 video games as a result of of the extended rehab of a left excessive ankle sprain.

But accidents weren’t the one downside for the Magic this season.

The crew lacked offensive creativity at occasions and it wasn’t capable of defend on the identical degree because the previous two seasons underneath coach Jamahl Mosley. After ending the final two years with a high three defensive score the NBA, Orlando’s defensive score this yr completed thirteenth league-wide, in response to NBA.com.

Meanwhile, Orlando’s offensive score solely improved from twenty seventh a yr in the past to 18th within the league this season.

If Weltman decides to maneuver on from Mosley, the subsequent coach of the Magic could be Weltman’s third rent throughout his nine-year tenure.

Jason Beede will be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com