Orlando Magic announce coaching staff for 2017

The Orlando Magic have officially announced Frank Vogel’s coaching staff for the 2017 season. It features three new coaches and some interesting experience.

The Orlando Magic announced Frank Vogel’s coaching staff Wednesday, putting in the next piece for the franchise’s makeover following the hiring of a new coach.

The team has hired San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Chad Forcier, Sacramento Kings assistant coach Corliss Williamson and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach David Adelman to the staff. The team also announced it has retained Jay Hernandez as a player development coach.

“Our staff possesses a tremendous work ethic, has great attention to detail, and will help our players reach their full potential,” said Magic coach Frank Vogel in a press release. “Their talents and experience complement each other and we are thrilled to have them with us.”

Forcier will take the lead chair next to Vogel, as reported by Marc Stein. He was most likely the first hire the Magic made and was present, according to a photo released by the Orlando Magic, in the Magic’s war room for the NBA Draft.

He has spent the last seven years coaching with the San Antonio Spurs as a player development coach. Some circles credit him along with assistant coach and shooting guru Chip Engelland with helping Kawhi Leonard develop into an All Star.

Forcier has coached under some exceptional coaches, beginning his NBA career in 2001 in Detroit where he worked with Rick Carlisle. He then went to Indiana where he coached with Carlisle once again. He then moved on to the Spurs.

He has a good coaching pedigree for sure and is taking a big step up in his career.

The Magic also hired Williamson, a coach with some playing experience who has recently stepped up to the NBA. He has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, surviving several coaches and reportedly getting some consideration to hold the interim tag should the team have decided to fire George Karl mid-season.

Williamson had a successful college career, making it to two National Championship Games and winning the 1994 National Championship with Arkansas and Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell” team. He had a long NBA career where he set a reputation of being a tough-nosed player and gritty defender.

If he can bring any of that mentality to the team, then he should be a good hire.

The Magic also hired David Adelman, son of former NBA head coach Rick Adelman.

David Adelman began his career as a player development coach with Minnesota before joining his father’s staff as an assistant coach in the 2014 season. He was a high school coach before joining his father’s staff.

Adelman may very well be he up-and-coming coach on the roster. Someone who can relate to players some and grow as his role grows.

The Magic have a smaller staff this year. They are not looking to add a fourth coach and will have just one player development coach, retaining Jay Hernandez. Orlando’s staff will certainly have to work hard this year to get the Magic where they want to go.

But one of the big questions for the summer is now set with the coaching staff in place before Summer League.

Magic extend qualifying offers

As expected, the Orlando Magic have extended a qualifying offers to Evan Fournier and Dewayne Dedmon, making them restricted free agents.

This is a procedural move so the Magic can match any offer they make. Players can either enter restricted free agency — negotiating with other teams for an offer sheet the Magic can match or negotiating directly with their team as the Magic did with Tobias Harris — or they can sign the one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

It is likely both will enter restricted free agency. The Magic will have the right to match any contract and keep them.

Next: Report: Orlando Magic interested in Jamal Crawford

It appears likely they will do what they have to do to re-sign Fournier. Retaining Dedmon may depend on his price.