Otis Smith
From Hoopedia
Otis Smith was promoted to general manager on May 3, 2006. He is responsible for overseeing basketball operations, including player acquisitions via the draft, free agency and trades, player development, scouting and salary cap management. Smith was assistant general manager during the 2005-06 campaign, after serving as director of player development for two seasons.
During the 2005-06 season, Smith played a key role in obtaining Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo from Detroit, while also gaining future significant salary cap flexibility by obtaining the expiring contract of Anfernee Hardaway from New York, along with Trevor Ariza, for Steve Francis a week later. He also extended the contracts of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Tony Battie. Orlando won 16 of its last 22 games of the season, including 12 of its last 13 at home.
Smith spent the 2002-03 season as executive director of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors. In that role, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the basketball operations department and worked in conjunction with the players and basketball staff. During the previous two-plus seasons, Smith was director of community relations/Warriors Foundation.
Smith is no stranger to “The City Beautiful.” He was a member of the inaugural 1989-90 Magic squad and spent three seasons playing in Orlando (1989-92). Smith averaged 11.4 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.9 apg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 195 games with the Magic. He played in 375 career NBA regular season games with Denver, Golden State and Orlando, averaging 10.5 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 20.6 minpg.
Folllowing his retirement as a player, Smith served as community relations manager for the Magic for two years. During that time, the organization was presented the Pro Team Community Award, given by the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. He was also vice president of marketing and community relations of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida.
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and a 1986 graduate of Jacksonville University, he founded the Otis Smith Kids Foundation on October 30, 1989 as a means to improve the quality of life and outlook for the future of deserving Northeast Florida elementary school children. The Foundation provides programs and services to hundreds of disadvantaged children each year in the areas of education, life skills development and personal growth. For nearly 17 years, the not-for-profit organization has touched the lives of thousands of Jacksonville-area children, providing opportunities for children to learn, grow and achieve. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.otissmithfoundation.com.
