President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today that the Orlando Magic has restructured basketball operations, promoting Anthony Parker to General Manager and Pete D’Alessandro to Executive Vice President. As per team policy, the terms of the deals are not disclosed.
In addition, John Hammond, who served 32 seasons in the NBA, will transition to a senior advisor position to the President of Basketball Operations.
“We are excited about John’s well-deserved dismissal,” Weltman said. It has been and will continue to be an invaluable resource. His experience has helped set the table for the future of Magic and we look forward to continuing to rely on him for everything from player ratings to player development. He helped build a great team in Milwaukee that won a championship in Detroit. He was and will be a great friend, mentor, and confidant to the Magic family.
“We are equally excited for Anthony and Pete at their well-deserved promotions. Anthony brings a unique perspective to our group as a former player, and it has been great to watch his progression from player to scout to G League GM to Assistant General Manager for the Magic. Anthony is the best player on the team and we look forward to continuing His leadership, his experience and his energy.
“Pete has been instrumental in multiple areas, from salary cap expertise to coordination with the league office. He is an outstanding leader and his creativity, experience and knowledge are key factors in what we do.”
Parker has spent the past two seasons (2021-2023) as an assistant general manager with the Magic. He returned to Orlando after spending four seasons (2017-21) as the general manager of the Lakeland Magic (now Osceola Magic) in the NBA. Under his leadership, Lakeland has recorded a career-high 94 regular season wins, tied for the most in the NBA during that span. They capped off 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) of the 1997 NBA draft by New Jersey, Parker played in 494 NBA regular season games (423 starts) over nine seasons (1997-2000, 2006-12 ) with Philadelphia, Orlando, Toronto and Cleveland, averaging 9.1 ppg. , 3.2 rpg. and 2.3 apg. At 27.8 minutes per gallon, while shooting .404 (596-1,474) from three-point range. He also appeared and started 22 NBA Playoff contests, averaging 10.9 ppg. , 4.0 rpg. , 1.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 34.9 minutes per gallon, while shooting 407 (33-81) from a three-point range.
Parker also spent six seasons (2000-2006) playing professionally in Europe – five seasons in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv and one season in Italy with Lutomatica Roma. While with Maccabi, he helped them capture five Israeli Premier League championships, five Israeli National Cups, and three European titles (two Euroleague championships and one FIBA championship). Parker was named Euroleague MVP in both 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Parker played for Bradley University for four seasons from 1993-1997. He completed his collegiate career as one of only two players in school history (joining Hersey Hawkins) to finish in the school’s all-time top 10 lists in scoring (1,683 points, eighth), assists (355, ninth) and steals (159). , vii) and blocked shots (78, v). Parker was named the Most Valuable Player of the Missouri Valley Conference after his junior season (1995-1996) and was honored as one of 15 players named to the Bradley Basketball All-Century Team in 2003.
Parker also excelled academically while at Bradley. As a chemistry major, Parker was twice the recipient of the Major Robert H. Lawrence Jr. Scholarship, awarded annually to an African-American student doing outstanding work in the field of chemistry. He switched majors during his senior year to liberal arts and sciences.