According to one of Mitch Lawrence's tidbits in his Sunday column, John Weisbrod's ouster from power was part of a power struggle.

Apparently, Flip Saunders thought he had the Orlando coaching job locked up, but then GM John Weisbrod lost a power struggle. In addition to coaching, Saunders would have been No. 2 to Weisbrod in terms of personnel decisions. But then Magic owner Rich DeVos vetoed the move, opting to give personnel director Dave Twardzik more power and bring back Brian Hill as coach.

This is the first mention of this scenario anywhere but Weisbrod's sudden resignation without an NHL job has many believing that he was forced out.

Brian Hill will get a rare second chance with the team he took to the NBA Finals during the 1994-1995 season.

The Orlando Magic are expected to announce that current Nets assistant Brian Hill has been named their next head coach within the next few days.

It appears Hill beat out Flip Saunders and Eric Mussleman for the job and was offered a contract recently.

The two sides are said to be hammering out final details but an announcement could come as early as tonight.

Orlando Magic president and chief executive officer Bob Vander Weide announced today that general manager/chief operating officer John Weisbrod has resigned his position to pursue an opportunity in hockey.  

In addition, Vander Weide announced that director of player personnel Dave Twardzik and director of player development Otis Smith will lead Magic basketball operations. Jim Fritz will continue in his role as executive vice president of business.

?We wish John all the best in making a return to the sport of his passion,? said Vander Weide. ?We thank him for his leadership and vision over the past eight years. He will be missed.?

?Dave and Otis complement each other very well and have formed a unique bond,? added Vander Weide. ?They bring a wide range of experience, great energy, dedication, leadership and vision to our basketball operations.

?Jim, who has been with us for 10-plus years, has been overseeing our day-to-day business operations for more than a year. He grew up in Orlando and has strong roots in the community. He has outstanding knowledge and expertise in regard to business strategic planning, fan relations, community relations, corporate relations, finance and marketing.?

In a stunning development, John Weisbrod will step down as general manager and chief operating officer of the Orlando Magic, National Basketball Association sources told the Sentinel today.

"They all have been involved in the coaching search from the beginning," said an NBA executive. "From what I've heard, they are close [to naming a coach]."

This is not mentioned in the article but it is very possible the new coach is getting a dual role as coach and General Managerand/or final decision on all personal matters and the coach could very well be Flip Saunders.

The local sports reporters seem to be thinking the same thing as us so something could be up here with Saunders heading to the Magic.

According to Local 6 sports director Todd Lewis, Weisbrod is taking a job in the NHL but it is unclear of which team is going too.

So, maybe Weisbrod had another option waiting for a while and then it is possible with Flip Saunders possibily wanting some control, that Weisbrod decided to leave as with a long lockout, an NHL job could have been open for a while.

Interim head coach Chris Jent is no longer in the running to become the premanent head coach of the Orlando Magic.

"They told me they're pursuing a veteran coach," Jent said.

Jent took over for Johnny Davis last season with only 18 games remaining but the team was injury-riddled and Jent managed only a 5-13 finish.

"I'm disappointed I didn't get the job," Jent said. "But I think it's a plus for me.

"It was a learning experience. I mean, to be given the opportunity to be a head coach, even for 18 games, was great. If you would have told me before the season started that I would have finished as the head coach, I wouldn't have believed it."

As for remaining canadiates for the job, there is a very short list that includes the supposed front-runner in former Golden State Warriors head coach and now Memphis Grizzlies assistant in Eric Mussleman.

Other canadiates include former Magic coach Brian Hill, Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, former NBA head coach Chris Ford, and possibily Sonics head coach Nate McMillan.

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill is the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the 2004-05 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, the NBA announced today.  

Originally presented following the 1995-96 season, the Sportsmanship Award honors a player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court -- ethical behavior, fair play and integrity.  The trophy is named for former Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Joe Dumars, the award?s first recipient.  

Hill received 2,778 points, including 134 first place votes, the highest received among the Sportsmanship Award finalists.  For the second consecutive year, NBA players voted on this award, with eleven points given for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for third, five points for fourth, three points for fifth and one point for each sixth place vote received.  Each team nominated one of its own players for this award, then former NBA players Tom Heinsohn, Eddie Johnson, Steve Mix, Kelly Tripucka and Stu Lantz selected the six divisional winners.  

An 11-year NBA veteran, Hill was one of six divisional winners which included Indiana?s Austin Croshere, Memphis? Shane Battier, New Jersey?s Jacque Vaughn, Phoenix?s Steve Nash and Utah?s Andrei Kirilenko.

The Orlando Magic will meet with Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Eric Mussleman and could finish up interviews for their head coaching vacancy by the end of next week.

"One former NBA assistant coach with knowledge of the search said he believes the Magic "could decide next week" who their coach will be and announce it later."

Mussleman, who prior to last season was the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, is on a short list of canadiates to become the team's next head coach.

"One NBA executive, who asked not to be identified, told the Sentinel that the Magic were also interested in former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders."

The Magic interviewed interim head coach Chris Jent last friday and the longshot Jent believes it went well.

"I felt it went well," Jent said on Monday from Oregon, where he is vacationing. "They made me feel they were interested and wanted to know my philosophies and how I would handle things.

"I'm just going to sit tight."

Like the source said, he expects a decision to be made by next week.

Also believed to be in the running are Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, New Jersey Nets assistant Brian Hill and former Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Paul Silas.

Orlando Magic general manager John Weisbrod has been quiet about Orlando?s coaching search.

The Magic director of player personnel Dave Twardzik has a lot of decision making power with the organization and is said to favor two former Golden State coaches, P.J. Carlesimo and Eric Musselman.

Only time will tell which coach the Magic decide on.

The 2004-05 got milk? NBA Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats and the 2004-05 NBA Sixth Man award recipient Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls headline a talented group of rookies named to the got milk? NBA All-Rookie Team, the NBA announced today.

Orlando?s Dwight Howard joined Okafor and Gordon as unanimous selections to the got milk? NBA All-Rookie First Team as each received 58 points. They were joined on the First Team by Philadelphia?s Andre Iguodala (56 points) and Chicago?s Luol Deng (33 points).

Okafor, the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, led all rookies in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounds (10.9 rpg) and minutes played (35.6 mpg) and ranked second in blocks (1.71 bpg). He ranked fourth in the NBA and first among rookies with 47 double-doubles (points-rebounds), posting 19 consecutive from November 21 to January 1.

Gordon, a three-time recipient of the got milk? Rookie of the Month award, averaged 15.1 points on .411 shooting from the field, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this season and scored 10 or more points in the final quarter 21 times.  Howard, the first overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, ranked in the top five in six statistical categories, including second in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and double-doubles (32), third in scoring (12.0 ppg), blocks (1.66 bpg) and minutes played (32.6 mpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.520).  Iguodala, the only rookie to record a triple-double this season, ranked eighth in the league in steals per game (1.68), sixth in total steals (138) and steals per turnover (0.99).  Deng averaged 11.7 points on .434 shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 61 games this season.

The NBA today released the NBA All-Rookie first and second team, with the Chicago Bulls dominating the first with the league's Sixth Man of the Year Ben Gordon and teammate Luol Deng both being selected.  Led by Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats, the first team was rounded out by first overall pick Dwight Howard and Sixer high flyer Andre Iguodala.

The second team was dominated by the Atlanta Hawks, with 2005 dunk champion Josh Smith and Josh Childress being joined by Net Nenad Krstic, Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic and Boston's Al Jefferson.

Suprising exclusions include J.R Smith of the New Oreans Hornets, Beno Udrih of the San Antonio Spurs, Devin Harris of the Dallas Mavericks and Bulls duo Andres Nocioni and Chris Duhon.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA's 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position.  Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team.  Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team vote.