The Orlando Magic are still trying to find their identity after the firing of their head coach. Who they hire next could determine that identity.
The Orlando Magic are still trying to find their identity after the firing of their head coach, Jacque Vaughn. Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan’s first pick for head coach did not really work out — 58-158 in two and a half seasons.
Now he has been given a second chance. The Magic should be looking for a veteran head coach with experience in developing young players. So, which free agent coaches would make a good fit in Orlando?
Mark Jackson coached the Warriors for 3-years before being let go after last season’s Playoff berth. Jackson took over a young, promising team that was headlined with Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. Unfortunately, Cury and Ellis only played in a combined 63 games in Jackson’s first year.
Jackson led the Warriors to the playoffs in 2013 and 2014. In the 2014 season, the Warriors were a top-10 team in points per game (104.3) and opponent’s points per game (99.5). They were also fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency (102.6).
The Orlando Magic currently have no identity. What Mark Jackson can bring to Orlando is his everlasting intensity on the defensive end of the court. Jackson’s approach all starts on defense. If a player is not going to play both ends of the court, he has no problem finding a cozy spot for them on the bench.
With that defensive energy, showcased by the 2014 Warriors, also comes easy baskets in transition. In 2014 the Warriors ranked 6th in the NBA at pace per game.
The only knock on Mark Jackson is he can be difficult to get along with. Warriors’ co-owner Joe Lacob said in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News:
"“Part of it was that he couldn’t get along with anybody else in the organization… And look, he did a great job, and I’ll always compliment him in many respects, but you can’t have 200 people in the organization not like you.”"
The Magic are no strangers to drama queens having dealt with Dwight Howard. That being said, even though Mark Jackson may be a little rough around the edges, with the right coaching staff around him, he is still a great option for the Orlando Magic’s head coach vacancy.
Nate McMillan has 11.5-years of coaching experience with the Sonics and the Trail Blazers under his belt. McMillan won 41 or more games in seven of those years. McMillan is currently the associate head coach for the Indiana Pacers, and also serves as an assistant coach for Team USA.
Much like Mark Jackson, Nate McMillan is a defense-oriented coach. From 2008-2011 the Blazers were a top-10 scoring defense in the NBA. In the 2009 and 2010 seasons the Blazers were a top-5 defense in the NBA.
On offense, McMillan is huge on the pick and roll. LaMarcus Aldridge was molded into the superstar he is today through the pick-and-roll offense. Aldridge was paired with the savvy Andre Miller on the pick and roll with, at the time, an elite playmaker on the outside in Brandon Roy.
Orlando has a young point guard with huge promise in Elfrid Payton, an already exceptional big in Nikola Vucevic and playmakers on the wing in Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris.
Nate McMillan already has experience working with Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris from the Team USA camp this past summer. Already having a connection with two of the Magic’s top players would make his transition as head coach even easier.
Nate McMillan is not the big name fans might be hoping for, but he would be an exceptional fit for this Orlando Magic squad.
Michael Malone
Michael Malone, former Sacramento Kings coach and son of former Orlando Magic assistant coach Brendan Malone.
The Kings let Malone go after a promising 11-13 start. What led to his firing were internal disagreements with owner Vivek Ranadivé about the progression of the team. A team that has had their best player sidelined for 38 percent of their games this year.
Malone’s best attribute is to adapt with his personnel. This year Malone’s philosophy with the Kings was to play at a deliberate pace through Demarcus Cousins, attack the boards and get to the free throw line.
The Kings were not blowing away teams with their defensive statistics (ranked 26th in defensive efficiency) or on offense (ranked 20th in offensive efficiency), but Malone was able to bring out career-best performances from DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.
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However, Malone was very similar to Jacque Vaughn in that they struggle with their rotations. He is an inexperienced coach much like Vaughn was as they were both hired for their first head caoching jobs in the same summer.
He could serve as another short-term coach useful for developing young talent and squeezing every last drop of effort out of players.
The Malone hire seems to be where the Magic will be heading. He is a younger head coach with experience with a young team.
The coaching philosophies of Jackson, McMillan and Malone would fit the roster and previous style of play the Orlando Magic are used to. Mark Jackson, Nate McMillan and Michael Malone would be the best options for the Orlando Magic to consider for their head coaching vacancy.
There are still other coaches available in Mike Woodson, Mike Brown, Mike D’Antoni, J.B. Bickerstaff, Kurt Rambis, Scott Skiles, Vinny Del Negro, Larry Drew and Jeff Van Gundy. The Magic will surely consider them all as they being sorting through their options for head coach.