Orlando Magic’s clean slate begins with Steve Clifford

The Orlando Magic put in their first foundational piece this summer, starting their clean slate with new coach Steve Clifford.

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman joked that he and general manager John Hammond had been circling around Steve Clifford for a long time.

Back in 2013, Weltman and Hammond interviewed Clifford for the vacancy with the Milwaukee Bucks. Weltman said Clifford blew them away with his preparation and passion about his approach to player development, game management and Xs and Os. They went for a second interview only to find out he had accepted the vacant position with the Charlotte Bobcats.

The two parties had to go their separate ways. Clifford…