ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Orlando Magic are headed for their first losing season in 12 years, so they decided to make a leadership change.

Orlando demoted general manager John Gabriel and replaced him with chief operating officer John Weisbrod on Friday.

The Magic are 19-48 heading into Saturday night's game against Seattle.

``The problems are what they are _ we're not winning,'' Magic president Bob Vander Weide said. ``We wanted some change.''

The announcement came three days after the Magic revealed that oft-injured forward Grant Hill will miss the rest of the season. Gabriel orchestrated the trade for Hill in 2000 and signed the five-time All-Star to a seven-year, $93 million contract.

Hill has played just 47 games for Orlando, making three failed comebacks from a stress fracture in his left foot. He has had four operations on the ankle.

Hill's contract has financially strapped the Magic for years, hurting their ability to surround All-Star Tracy McGrady with impact players. Gabriel has been largely blamed for it.

``This is a very performance-driven business and our performance has not been good this year,'' Gabriel said. ``I take responsibility for that.''

Weisbrod is the former vice president and general manager of the International Hockey League's Orlando Solar Bears, who won two conference championships during his four year watch.

Vander Weide dismissed assertions that Weisbrod does not have enough experience in basketball to take over the job.

``He has been on teams that have won,'' Vander Weide said. ``He has competed as a professional athlete. He doesn't necessarily go out with the players and play one-on-one with him, but they understand that he knows how to win.''

The Magic started 1-10 this season, prompting Gabriel to fire coach Doc Rivers in November and replace him with Johnny Davis. Orlando then lost another nine straight games en route to the worst start in franchise history.

Gabriel, who will serve as a team adviser and regional scout, has been with the Magic since their inception in 1989, serving as a vice president of basketball operations, director of player personnel, director of scouting and assistant coach before becoming general manager in 1996.

He was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2000 after the Magic finished 41-41.

Gabriel signed Hill and McGrady the following year, hoping to push the Magic to the forefront of the Eastern Conference. But Orlando hasn't gotten past the first round of the playoffs in the last three seasons.

Weisbrod will conduct a search for an assistant general manager.

``We have a lot of work to do, and arguably this forthcoming summer is the most important summer in the history of our franchise,'' Weisbrod said.