The Orlando Magic will turn their attention fully now to their head coaching search. And an initial list appears to have emerged as the search begins.
The Orlando Magic’s season ended Wednesday night and so the planning and future of the franchise is coming into sharper focus.
The first thing on the Magic’s agenda this summer is to find a new head coach. And it seems like the first thing to do is determine whether James Borrego will stay.
The widely held assumption that he will not be the head coach moving forward appears to have gotten some more credence. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports both Borrego and Nuggets interim coach Melvin Hunt will not be returning to their respective teams next year.
Stein further reports that a list has emerged with the Magic and that initial contact and discussions have been held with former Bucks coach and Magic point guard Scott Skiles:
"The Magic, sources say, already have held informal discussions about the position with former Orlando fan favorite Scott Skiles and rate the ex-Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks coach as a serious candidate for the job.In addition to Skiles, sources say the Magic have interest in both Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau — who is widely expected to part company with the Bulls at season’s end — as well as Florida coach Billy Donovan.The Orlando Sentinel reported in Wednesday’s editions that former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Malone is likewise a potential candidate."
So that is already a pretty robust list of potential candidates for the Magic to explore. There is a long way to go before the Magic make a final decision.
UPDATE: Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic have not made ANY contact with Scott Skiles, refuting Stein’s initial report that they had.
The Magic have not had talks, informal or otherwise, with Scott Skiles. I believe the team will talk with him in the future, though.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) April 16, 2015
As with all things, the Magic are going to take their time and make an informed decision. This is not a front office that rushes into anything. And in order to go after a coach like Tom Thibodeau, they will have to wait until after the Bulls’ season ends (they will play the Bucks in the first round and could easily make the second round).
What remains interesting is what kind of coach the Magic will eventually go after.
It has long been assumed the Magic would eschew long-time assistants or college coaches in favor of an experienced head coach. That would have seemingly eliminated Donovan, whom Stein has reported multiple times remains on the Magic’s radar.
At halftime of Wednesday’s finale in Brooklyn, Magic CEO Alex Martins said specifically they were looking for the right, experienced coach to lead this team and take it to the next level.
However on that fabeled season ticket hold teleconference Magic general manager Rob Hennigan acknowledged they would look at a variety of different coaches with different backgrounds. Really, that statement might be covering his bases so as not to limit their options. He said specifically they want to find a coach that can bring some experience and a tactical element to the team to push them forward.
It is about finding the right coach and looking everywhere they can for it.
The search will begin in earnest now as the Magic seem as determined as ever to make this the final year the team is drafting at the front of the Lottery. This hire will have a lot of say in accomplishing that goal.