imo i would put a mag drive pump in a mesh basket filled with lava rock, behind filter pads in the skimmer ,and put a bottom drain and a external pump and filter outside the pond.

I don't even have a skimmer and I have only used a Y or T in my pump output plumbing to get a lower flow rate for a filter. However, I don't see why you couldn't use a similar split on the input side. I suppose your big pump just has a wide input without plumbing but perhaps a large guard. How about putting the entire pump in a partially open enclosure that also includes a large pipe (hose) going to a skimmer. You could then adjust the larger opening size (with a sliding door perhaps) until you generate an appropriate pull from the skimmer.

Atlantic Water Gardens makes an in-pond skimmer called the Ovation. It will handle 8,000 gallons per hour. Unless you have 3' plumbing, you are not getting the 10,000 GPH you are paying for. Not sure if your pump is a direct drive or a hybrid pump. The maximum flow you are going to get out of a direct drive pump with 2' plumbing is about 7,800 GPH. Less with a hybrid pump. I used one on this pond I built for a customer in Montgomery, TX