Orlando Magic Rumors: Orlando Magic, Doc Rivers set for reunion down the road

The Orlando Magic appear set for change in the very near future. One person they have had their eye on is former coach Doc Rivers. And a reunion is possible

The winds of change feel like they are coming to the Orlando Magic.

After what appears to be a franchise-record fifth straight year without a Playoff appearance, general manager Rob Hennigan’s place as general manager seems to be shaky. The Magic’s struggles to end the season are not inspiring confidence that Hennigan will keep his job. Magic CEO Alex Martins said the team will evaluate his job status and performance at the end of the year.

They will keep to that timeline. But speculation is already pretty rampant with everyone knowing Hennigan is on the hot seat.

And one of the biggest whispers around Orlando has some reporting behind it nationally to give it some legs.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports there has been “persistent chatter” the Magic and LA Clippers coach and general manager Doc Rivers will explore a reunion “down the road.”

“Down the road” does not mean immediately — although it appears the Magic will have an opening this summer and the Clippers may be due for some change if the team struggles in the Playoffs once again. Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are free agents this summer and the Clippers have not been able to get over the hump and even reach the Western Conference Finals.

That does not suggest Rivers’ job is in danger. He is in the third year of a five-year contract to be the team’s coach and president of basketball operations. There is nothing to suggest Rivers will become suddenly available on the market.

Before the Clippers’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Rivers shot down any suggestion of a reunion with the Magic.

"“I have a past with the Magic,” Rivers told Bill Oram of The Orange County Register. “I have no future. My future’s here.”"

The key phrase in Stein’s report is “down the road.” The chatter among front office executives may only be picking up because of the Magic and Clippers’ uncertainty after disappointing seasons.

To be sure, though, this rumor does have legs. Orlando Magic Daily has heard much of the same as Stein reported from multiple sources for several years. The chatter might have finally hit a boiling point. But it has not come out of the blue.

Some of it might simply be the timing — again, a reason why this might have boiled over now.

Rivers was the head coach for the Magic from 2000-04. That included coaching the beloved “Heart and Hustle” team that went 41-41 and missed the Playoffs by one game despite being put together with the intention of clearing cap room for the summer of 2001 and tanking.

The Magic made the Playoffs for three straight seasons with Tracy McGrady leading the way. But the team never got out of the first round and had home-court advantage in just one of those three Playoff series. The Magic fired Rivers after the team started 1-10 in the 2004 season.

He had an overall record of 339-171 (.504 win percentage) with the Magic.

Rivers is still pretty popular in Orlando and still has connections to the city. Rivers keeps a home in Winter Park, Fla., a suburb of Orlando.

Whether the Magic go in this direction now is still extremely unclear. It is possible the Magic explore this route, as Stein says, “down the road.” Of course, what a team would like to do still depends some on timing. And the timing may not be right for it to happen if it does not happen soon.

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Until then, it is all conjecture and, perhaps, wishful thinking.