The Orlando Magic announced Wednesday changes in the organization’s leadership structure.
At a news conference at the Amway Center, Bob Vander Weide, announced his retirement as Orlando Magic’s Chief Executive Office/Vice Chair.
“I agreed with the family back in 1991 to do this for three years, and I stuck for an additional 17 1/2 years, because basically I fell in love with this organization, helping to build it and more importantly fell in love with this community and what Orlando was about,” an emotional Vander Weide said.
Alex Martins will now take over as the Chief Executive Officer and will continue to have responsibility for running the local operations and day-to-day business of the organization.
Meanwhile, Dan DeVos, the son of Magic’s owner Rick DeVos, will serve as chairman. Rick DeVos will continue to serve as the Senior Chairman of the Orlando Magic.
Rumors have circulated that Vander Weide’s seemingly abrupt departure was due to an alleged “drunk dial” phone call between Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and himself, where it has been reported he told him, “we don’t want you to go anywhere, we are stuck without you, everyone knows we’ve got nothing else and Orlando is a terrible place, we got the Amway thing, but who the f*** cares?”
But while Vander Weide acknowledged he had telephoned Howard, he vehemently denied being intoxicated and refused to discuss the call even when pressed, saying only that the conversation between the two was a private one.
He insisted that his retirement at this time is “totally professional” and his move had been contemplated for several months. He said he was looking forward to a bit more free time, doing other things, including coaching his kids, something he hadn’t done in years.
Vander Weide will continue to serve the Orlando Magic in a consulting role.
Commenting specifically on Howard’s future, the Orlando Magic leadership team made it clear they are doing all they can to re-sign him.
“We think that this is the right place for Dwight and we will do everything that we can to prove that to him,” DeVos said.
While Magic’s General Manager, Otis Smith echoed those sentiments, he also added that in the end, the decision will be Dwight’s.
“We have done everything we are supposed to do in seven years. Our objective is to win an NBA title,” Smith said. “…We are going to continue to put the best team on the floor to give the Orlando Magic a chance to win a NBA title.”
“We are doing our jobs and at the end of the day, the decision will come down to Dwight Howard. And at that point, we have to make another decision,” he added.
