BY GERY WOELFEL

Two former NBA general managers have drawn considerable interest from the Milwaukee Bucks for their vacant GM position.

Both Billy King, a former GM with the Philadelphia 76ers, and John Gabriel, once the GM of the Orlando Magic, are the latest to emerge as potential candidates to replace Larry Harris, who was relieved of his duties nearly three weeks ago.

Gabriel, who was chosen the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2000 while general manager of the Orlando Magic. is believed to have recently spoke with the Bucks.

Gabriel is now a scout and advisor for the Portland Trail Blazers. Gabriel has a reputation of being a tireless worker with a keen eye for talent.

Gabriel was the Orlando Magic's vice presidents of basketball operations when the team advanced to the NBA Finals in 1996.

One of the coaches Gabriel hired while the Magic's GM was Doc Rivers, the former Marquette University star who is now the Boston Celtics head coach.

Gabrial, 52, also lured some key free agents to Orlando, including Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.

Gabriel, contacted Tuesday, wouldn't divulge whether he had interviewed with the Bucks.

'"I would love the opportunity to be a general manager again,'' Gabriel said. "I've been in the NBA 25; I have a passion for this business.''

While it isn’t known whether King has interviewed for the Bucks’ job, it is known the Bucks have done an extensive background check on him, having contacted some high-ranking officials in the 76ers’ organization.

King was fired by the 76ers last December after the team got off to a 5-12 start.

King began working for the 76ers in 1997 and was their GM when they beat the Bucks in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. But the 76ers haven’t come close to matching that success since.

King took a major gamble in February of 2005 when he acquired aging and injury-plagued Chris Webber, along with Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley, from the Sacramento Kings for Brian Skinner, Kenny Thomas and Corliss Williamson.

The gamble failed as the 76ers bought out the remaining two years on Webber’s contract for reportedly $25 million on Jan. 11, 2007.

King, currently working as an analyst for NBA TV, declined to be interviewed for this story.

King’s name has also been prominently mentioned with the New York Knicks. The Knicks’ new president Donnie Walsh is a friend of King’s and is apparently considering him for a front office position.

There are also whispers Walsh is considering Harris for a position in the organization.

Harris is regarded as a shrewd draft evaluator and helped the Bucks unearth several gems in the second round, including Bucks star guard Michael Redd and Houston Rockets’ starting point guard Rafer Alston.

Some other second-round picks who are still in the NBA that were chosen by Harris are Ronald Murray, Keith Bogans, Dan Gadzuric, Jason Hart and Ramon Sessions.

It was reported in The Journal Times that the Bucks have already interviewed for Seattle SuperSonics GM Rick Sund and current Phoenix Suns senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.

The Bucks have also explored the possibility of interviewing John Hammond, who is Pistons’ general manager Joe Dumars’ right-hand man.

However, it is believed the Pistons don’t want to lose Hammond and are attempting to provide him with more incentives to stay with the organization.

The Bucks are hoping to have a GM in place sometime around the end of the regular season. The Bucks’ final game is April 16.