ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Having secured coach Doc Rivers' presence in April, the Orlando Magic on Thursday signed general manager John Gabriel to a contract extension through the 2004-05 season.
Gabriel, the 1999-2000 NBA Executive of the Year, has been the Magic's general manager since April 29, 1996. He reconstructed the team after the departure of stars Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, who led Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals.
The current squad, which reached the playoffs last season, features stars Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.
Gabriel made 55 transactions from June 14, 1999 to Aug. 15, 2000 to turn around the Magic. As well as a much-improved product on the court, the Magic have seven first-round picks from 2002-2005 and flexibility under the salary cap.
After a first-round playoff exit in 1999, Gabriel overhauled the entire roster, trading starters Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Horace Grant for draft picks and/or players in the final year of their contracts.
A point guard during his collegiate years at Kutztown State, Gabriel took another big risk by hiring as his coach former NBA point guard Rivers, who never had spent any time on a sideline.
Many predicted a disastrous season for the Magic, but Rivers guided a group of undervalued hard-working players to a 41-41 record in the 1999-2000 campaign. That helped attract free agents McGrady and Hill to central Florida.
Gabriel has been with the Magic since the franchise's inception 13 years ago. He previously had served as vice president of basketball operations/player personnel, director of player personnel, diretor of scouting and assistant coach.
He was a front office executive, scout and assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1982-1987, serving during their 1983 championship season. He joined former 76ers general manager Pat Williams--the current Magic senior vice president--in Orlando to help start the organization.
