June 27, 2005
Twardzik & Smith Named Assistant GMs
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“As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Dave and Otis complement each other very well and have a unique bond,” said Vander Weide. “They bring a wide range of experience, great energy, dedication, leadership and vision to our basketball operations. I’m confident this is the right structure for us today.”
Twardzik and Smith will be responsible for overseeing basketball operations, including player acquisitions via the draft, free agency and trades, player development, scouting and salary cap management.
Twardzik was named the Magic’s director of player personnel on September 15, 2003. He has more than 29 years of professional basketball experience as a player, coach and front office executive.
Twardzik has worked in a variety of areas with several NBA team’s basketball operations departments. He served as general manager of Golden State from 1995-97. Prior to joining the Warriors, he spent five seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, beginning as director of scouting in 1990.
He was promoted to director of player personnel in 1991, a position he held until joining Golden State in 1995. Twardzik has been on the bench as an assistant coach with Indiana (1986-89), the Los Angeles Clippers (1989-90) and Detroit (2000-01).
He was a member of Portland’s front office from 1981-85 and has also served as a scout for Sacramento (regional/advance scout in 1999-2000; college scout in 2001-02) and Denver (college scout in 1997-99).
Despite being selected with the 26th overall pick of the 1972 NBA Draft by Portland, Twardzik began his professional playing career with the ABA’s Virginia Squires. During his four ABA seasons, he averaged 9.0 ppg. and 3.2 apg. and was named an ABA All-Star in 1975.
Following the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, Twardzik joined Portland and helped the Trail Blazers capture the NBA title in 1976-77. During the championship season, Twardzik set a franchise record by hitting 61.2 percent of his field goals. He appeared in 280 career NBA regular season outings with the Trail Blazers, averaging 9.5 ppg., 3.4 apg. and 2.5 rpg., and had his jersey number 13 retired by Portland on October 11, 1981.
A native of Middletown, Penn., Twardzik attended Old Dominion University and was twice named an All-American (1970-71, 1971-72). He and his wife, Kathe, have two children: Monika (28) and Matthew (22).
Smith was named Orlando’s director of player development on September 15, 2003. He has assisted in all aspects of the basketball operations department, including player development and scouting, while also assisting the team’s community relations department.
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.
Smith was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a 1986 graduate of Jacksonville University.
