Anthony Parker named new GM of Magic

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Anthony Parker has been promoted to GM of the Orlando Magic (photo via OrlandoMagic.com)

The Orlando Magic have restructured their basketball operations, promoting Anthony Parker to general manager and Pete D’Alessandro to executive vice president, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. According to team policy, the terms of the agreements are not disclosed.

Additionally, John Hammond, who served 32 seasons in the NBA, will transition to the role of senior advisor to the president of basketball operations.

“We are excited for John’s well-deserved next chapter,” said Weltman. “He has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable resource. His experience has helped set the table for Magic’s future, and we look forward to continuing to lean on him on everything from player evaluation to player development. He helped building a great team in Milwaukee and winning a championship in Detroit, he has and will continue to be a great friend, mentor and confidant to the Magic family.

“We are equally excited for Anthony and Pete in their well-deserved promotions. Anthony brings a unique perspective to our group as a former player, and it has been great to watch his evolution from player to scout to G League GM to Magic’s assistant general manager.” Anthony is the ultimate team player and we look forward to his continued leadership, experience and energy.

“Pete has been instrumental in several areas, from salary cap expertise to coordination with the league office. He is an excellent leader and his creativity, experience and knowledge are instrumental in what we do.”

Parker has spent the last two seasons (2021-23) as the Magic’s assistant general manager. He rejoined Orlando after spending four seasons (2017-21) as general manager of the Lakeland Magic (now Osceola Magic) of the NBA G League. Under his leadership, Lakeland has recorded 94 regular-season wins since the start of play, tied for the most in the NBA G League in that span. They finished the 2020–21 campaign by winning the NBA G League Championship.

Prior to joining Lakeland, Parker spent five seasons (2012-17) as a scout with the Orlando Magic.

Originally selected in the first round (21St overall) in the 1997 NBA Draft by New Jersey, Parker played in 494 career NBA regular season games (423 starts) over nine seasons (1997–2000, 2006–12) with Philadelphia, Orlando, Toronto and Cleveland, with a average of 9.1 ppg. 3.2 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 27.8 rpg while shooting .404 (596-1,474) from three-point range. He also appeared and started in 22 career NBA playoff contests, averaging 10.9 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 34.9 rpg while shooting .407 (33-81) from three-point range.

Parker also spent six seasons (2000-06) playing professionally in Europe – five seasons in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv and one in Italy with Lottomatica Roma. While with Maccabi, he helped them capture five Israeli Super League national championships, five Israeli national cups and three European titles (two EuroLeague championships and one FIBA ​​SuproLeague championship). Parker was named EuroLeague MVP in both 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Parker played at Bradley University for four seasons from 1993-97. He finished his collegiate career as one of only two players in school history (joining Hersey Hawkins) to finish on the school’s all-time top 10 lists in scoring (1,683 points, eighth), assists (355, ninth), steals (159, seventh) and blocked shots (78, fifth). Parker was named Most Valuable Player of the Missouri Valley Conference following his junior season (1995–96) and was honored as one of 15 players named to Bradley’s All-Century basketball team in 2003.

Parker also excelled academically while at Bradley. A chemistry major, Parker twice received the Major Robert H. Lawrence Jr. Scholarship, given annually to an African-American student who does outstanding work in chemistry. He changed his major during his senior year to liberal arts and sciences.

Parker and his wife, Tamy, have two sons, Alonso and Julian.

D’Alessandro was promoted to associate general manager in August 2022. He joined Orlando as assistant general manager in June 2017 after spending two seasons (2015-17) as senior vice president of business and team operations with Denver. D’Alessandro also spent two seasons (2013-2015) as the general manager of the Sacramento Kings. From 2004-2008, D’Alessandro worked for the Golden State Warriors. Prior to working on the team side of the business, D’Alessandro spent seven years working at a Washington DC-based sports agency representing both NBA and international basketball players.

D’Alessandro began his basketball career in 1986 as a student at St. John’s University. He served as video coordinator for the men’s basketball team from 1986-90 under Hall of Fame Head Coach Lou Carnesecca. He later graduated from Nova Southeastern University School of Law in May 1994 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995.

D’Alessandro and his wife, Leah, have a daughter, Kate, and a son, Ben.

Hammond spent six seasons (2017-23) as general manager of the Magic and brought more than 40 years of coaching and administrative experience to Orlando. Hammond joined the Magic after spending nine seasons (2008-17) as general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

During Hammond’s 32 years in the NBA, his teams made 17 postseason appearances, including two seasons with Orlando (2018-19, 2019-20). During the 2018–19 season, the Magic entered the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2012 and captured the Southeast Division title. After reaching the playoffs again in 2019–20, it was the first time in eight years (since 2010–11 and 2011–12) that Orlando advanced to postseason play in back-to-back seasons. President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman served as assistant general manager under Hammond for five seasons (2008-13) and also worked with him in Detroit (2007-08).

Hammond was named general manager of Milwaukee on April 11, 2008 and promptly generated an improvement with eight wins in his first season and another 12 during his second, winning the 2009–10 NBA Executive of the Year Award.

Prior to joining the Bucks, Hammond spent seven seasons as vice president of basketball operations with the Detroit Pistons, where he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the basketball operations department, handling player personnel issues and assisting with roster development. During his time with Detroit, the Pistons were 330-158 (.676), reached the Eastern Conference Finals six straight times (2003-08), made two straight trips to the NBA Finals (2004-05) and captured the NBA World Championship in 2004 .In addition to his time as vice president of basketball operations, Hammond also served as director of player personnel, director of scouting and assistant coach for two stints with the Pistons.

Hammond began his NBA career in 1989 as an assistant coach and scout with the Minnesota Timberwolves. From there, he joined Larry Brown’s staff with the Los Angeles Clippers, where they advanced to the playoffs in 1992 and 1993. Hammond had another stint with the Clippers in 2000-01, joining Alvin Gentry’s staff as a lead assistant. That team saw a 16-game improvement, and Hammond was noted as a key in the development of first-year players Darius Miles, Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson.

Prior to his NBA career, Hammond spent six seasons at Southwest Missouri State, where he helped lead the school to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths (1986-88) and a trip to the NIT in 1985. He also spent two seasons at Houston Baptist ( 1981-83), two seasons at Nebraska (1979-81) and three seasons at the high school level at Nebraska.

A native of Zion, Ill., Hammond graduated from Greenville College in Illinois, where he earned two letters in basketball and served as a student assistant coach. He and his wife, Marsha, have a daughter, Lauryn.

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