Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic dismiss coach Frank Vogel

By Philip Rossman-Reich

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 27: Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic works on a play during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 27, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 27: Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic works on a play during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 27, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Orlando Magic have fired coach Frank Vogel as the offseason of change for the Orlando Magic seems set to start from the top.

The Orlando Magic have dismissed coach Frank Vogel the team announced Thursday. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the news before the Magic made the announcement official a few minutes later.

Vogel finished his two-year Magic tenure with a 54-110 record, failing to get the Magic over the hump in both seasons with the team. Orlando finished with the fifth-worst record in the league in both seasons under Vogel.

That was certainly disappointing.

The Magic originally hired Vogel before the 2017 season as an answer to their revolving door of coaches. They hoped he would be the one to take the team over the top. In then-general manager Rob Hennigan’s desperate moves to make the team relevant in his final season.

Vogel arrived in Orlando to find a mismatched roster with Serge Ibaka, Nikola Vucevic and free-agent signee Bismack Biyombo clogging the frontcourt.

Despite some strong defensive indications in the first quarter of the season, that group never fully developed. The Magic were quickly one of the worst teams in the league again and the plans were abandoned. The team traded Ibaka and fired Hennigan.

New management seemingly would bring a new coach. But president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman promised patience and was willing to evaluate what was already on the roster. Vogel would get a second year.

It is hard to put the Magic’s 25-57 2018 season fully on Vogel. The team suffered more than 200 games lost due to injury. And they were key injuries to starting players. Only Bismack Biyombo made it through the entire season unscathed. And fans would certainly argue his value.

The Magic started off the season hot at 8-4 before the injuries set in. But still, no one expected the Magic to finish at the bottom of the standings yet again. No one expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league angling for ping pong balls on the final day of the season (their win actually worsened their Lottery position).

No one imagined the team was this far away from contention.

Under Vogel, the Magic never seemed to take on an identity. He came to the team as a defensive guru from his time with the Indiana Pacers. But nothing seemed to stick with him.

The team’s defense ranked 22nd in defensive rating in 2017 and 19th in defensive rating in 2018. Vogel admitted after Wednesday’s season finale that the defense he ran with the Pacers no longer worked and he had changed some of his principles to attack modern offenses. He said he was encouraged by how the season ended on that end. But even those numbers seemed illusory.

Vogel seemed like he was a coach whom the league had passed by. Often referencing what worked in Indiana with two-big lineups, Orlando struggled to modernize their offense. And the team simply did not have the personnel to compete defensively.

If Vogel did one thing right in his tenure, he kept a positive attitude with players and helped them grow individually. It is hard to say too many players regressed as individuals. Aaron Gordon had his breakout season this year. Nikola Vucevic showed signs of defensive improvement. Mario Hezonja went from unusable to a rotation player in the course of a year.

Vogel and his staff did a lot of work to help players make that improvement. But it never translated to wins. And that is ultimately what the job is.

The players are ultimately where the blame will lay for this season and for Vogel’s termination. It feels like dismissing Vogel is the first step in a major summer of change for Weltman and the Magic’s front office.

After six years failing to make the Playoffs and winning only 30 games in one season, change is inevitable.

In reality, this move is likely Weltman beginning to put his fingerprints on the team. It is Weltman moving to get a coach that fits his vision and his comfort level in. Call this the first major move of the Weltman era.

The Magic have lacked stability at head coach — their next hire will be their sixth coach in six years — but the organization is hoping now to get their rebuild right and bring someone in permanent who can take the team to the next stage.

Next: Orlando Magic put in an effort to be proud of in season finale

Weltman will have his work cut out for him in replacing a likable coach who did about all he could with a deeply flawed roster.