Reports: Brian Shaw ‘absolutely’ interested in Orlando Magic job
Brian Shaw is interested in the Orlando Magic’s job, according to a report. The Orlando Magic coach search could look at the former Magic point guard again.
Less than one week after he was fired from the Denver Nuggets, it appears Brian Shaw is already angling for his next job. Considering the Magic have the only coaching situation that is truly up in the air — changes elsewhere are mere rumors and the Kings have already replaced Mike Malone and interim coach Tyrone Corbin with George Karl, the Magic job is the only one to angle for.
Citing a source close to Shaw, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports Brian Shaw is interested in taking the reigns of one of his former teams from his playing days:
"A person close to Shaw told the Orlando Sentinel that the former Magic guard would “absolutely” be “very interested” if or when the job opens."
Before accepting the job with the Nuggets, Shaw interviewed with the Magic’s then-open coaching position. He did not make the final cut of candidates as Jacque Vaughn eventually got the job.
Shaw played in Orlando from 1995-97, serving as a veteran leader and backup point guard for the 1995 NBA Finals team. In his three seasons with the Magic, he averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. As a coach, Shaw went 56-85. But his tenure became rocky as reports surfaced his team had more or less quit on him as the Nuggets continued to disappointment and fade out of the Playoff race after a 50-win season under Karl.
The Magic have already announced that James Borrego will finish the season. The coaching search will begin after the season ends.
It certainly might benefit Orlando to look at every candidate, including Shaw. Considering that they passed on him fairly early in the process, by all accounts, three years ago would not bode well for Shaw getting this job. Particularly since he flamed out with a fairly talented Nuggets team too.
Other candidates mentioned in the Magic’s early coaching search include former Magic point guard Scott Skiles, Warriors assistant coach Alvin Gentry and former Kings coach Mike Malone. Big names like Mark Jackson, Tom Thibodeau and Mike D’Antoni have been bandied about by fans, but all three may not be interested in coaching a young team, favoring a team ready to win a championship and needing that extra push.
Both Chicago and Washington have some uncertainty with their head coaching situations at the moment as both teams have struggled with various issues. Both those organizations have current Playoff rosters. And there certainly could be a few surprising firings after the season that open up new jobs and new candidates.
Shaw, being unemployed, is of course angling for his next job. Anyone would be silly to denigrate any potential job opportunity at this point. Shaw was a successful associate head coach in Indiana and Los Angeles with the Lakers. But he obviously struggled in the lead chair.
The Magic, hoping to make a turn toward the Playoffs, seem set to go after a coach with some Playoff experience to get the roster to take that next step.