Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Picking up the pieces

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Frank Vogel, Orlando Magic
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) /

It has been two weeks since the Orlando Magic’s season ended… was firing Frank Vogel the right decision?

Jean Racine (@jeangracine): The Orlando Magic’s firing of Frank Vogel was the right decision because Vogel admitted the defensive strategies he had with the Indiana Pacers, in which he had great success, no longer worked in the NBA. He was known as a defensive coach and the Magic were not a good defensive team. Vogel’s basketball strategies can be questioned. He played Aaron Gordon at small forward for half of a season, which was a disaster. Also, he publicly said Mario Hezonja is a power forward in today’s NBA. This can deteriorate the confidence of a young player like Mario Hezonja, who has the athleticism to play shooting guard or small forward. It seemed as though Vogel was trying to play catch-up with the rest of the NBA throughout his entire time with the Magic.

Philip Rossman-Reich (@philiprr_omd): The more I have thought about this one, the more I have come to the conclusion that it was the right decision to move on from Frank Vogel. I think continuity was something really valuable for the team and that Vogel and his staff did some good things to help individual players grow. But that is obviously not enough at this point. If management feels Vogel is not the guy for the long term, then it was time to move on. Vogel admitted publicly he was still catching up his philosophies to the modern NBA. Even his defense was going through an upgrade. Right now the Magic need a clarity of vision to set their culture and their program.

Zach Palmer (@FmrTankCommandr): Honestly, I think it is too early to make this kind of proclamation. The Magic have yet to hire a new coach to this point. If the Magic hired Mark Jackson for some absurd reason, there is no way in hell it was the right decision. Additionally, as I noted before I do not believe the coaching change will make much of a difference unless Orlando truly embraces cutting out the terminally complacent players left behind from the Rob Hennigan era. If the Magic do not get rid of those guys complacency will continue to propagate and it will not matter who the coach is.

Ricky Scricca (@scricca1): I definitely agree with Zach that changing the culture does not end with a coaching change. But I think the coaching change was a necessary step. Vogel was not a bad coach by any means, but he certainly was not irreplaceable from an X’s-and-O’s standpoint, and having a new voice in the locker room would probably beneficial. It seemed like his leadership methods fell out of favor with many of the players.