Orlando Magic Rumors: Jamahl Mosley closing in on head coaching job

The Orlando Magic’s weeks-long search for a new head coach appears to be nearing an end.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jamahl Mosley has emerged as the leading candidate for the Orlando Magic and it appears the two sides are finalizing a deal.

Mosley has been a longtime assistant coach in the league, working for the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks since 2007. He worked as a player development coach with the Nuggets beginning in 2004 before getting elevated to the bench. Mosley got his start under George Karl before working under Byron Scott and Rick Carlisle.

The Orlando Magic are reportedly close to finalizing a contract with Jamahl Mosley to be the team’s next head coach.

Mosley is known best throughout the league for his player relationships. He has been a player development coach throughout his career, often getting on the floor and working with players directly on their games as an assistant coach. Mosley played five seasons professionally in Mexico, Australia, Finland and South Korea.

Mosley was credited in a lot of ways for the development of Luka Doncic. He has a close relationship with Doncic, helping him get acclimated and grow in the NBA game as fast as he did. Doncic gave him glowing praise when Mosley took over as head coach in April when Carlisle has to sit out because of a positive COVID test.

Since 2018, Mosley has been Carlisle’s defensive coordinator with the Mavericks. The results in those three years have not been great, however. Dallas finished 18th, 18th and 21st in those three seasons.

But it is not like Dallas has any killer defensive players. Their offense in those years covered up a lot of errors and Carlisle is known as a defensive coach. It is possible the defense would be worse if not for their efforts.

This is the problem of trying to assign credit or blame to assistant coaches. It is never 100-percent clear what their responsibilities actually are.

Orlando Magic

Orlando is clearly a team in a position to give a coach their first opportunity for the lead chair. Mosley not only filled in for Carlisle as the head coach during his absence for the health and safety protocols, he served as the head coach of the team’s Summer League squad from 2017-19.

That is the extent of his head coaching experience at this point.

But the team needs someone who will be able to absorb what might be a few rough seasons while continuing to grow and develop a young roster that features a returning Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz and young players like Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter and R.J. Hampton. Not to mention likely two top-10 picks.

The Magic are not short on talent — although the team could use some elite-level talent — they just need experience and the chance to grow and improve.

Orlando did an extensive coaching search but their focus has clearly turned toward coaches with strong player development and relationship pedigrees who have been waiting for their first opportunity on the bench.

Mosley fits that bill for sure. The question will be whether that player development work will translate to the lead chair and all the responsibilities that come with it.

The Magic’s first task this offseason after mutually parting ways with Steve Clifford was to hire a new coach. It had to be someone who had this focus on player development to help this extremely young roster stay focused and grow.

Orlando appears ready to move forward and put its full focus on the draft and installing that critical piece to kickstart the team’s rebuild.