New NBA Rumors on Billy Donovan, Tom Thibodeau, Jeff Van Gundy Amid Magic HC Search
As the Orlando Magic seek for a brand new head coach after firing Jamahl Mosley following a first-round playoff loss, Billy Donovan may very well be the frontrunner to get the job.
By NBA insider Jake Fischerthe sensation amongst folks within the league is that Donovan has an “excellent shot” on the Magic job and can meet in-person with staff president Jeff Weltman within the close to future.
Fischer added that Jeff Van Gundy, who has been an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers for the previous two seasons, can also be on Orlando’s radar.
One one that does not appear to be producing plenty of curiosity from the Magic is Tom Thibodeau, who’s “not involved” of their course of at this level regardless of their want for somebody with earlier head-coaching expertise.
The Magic announced Mosley’s firing on May 4, in the future after the staff’s season-ending loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the playoffs. They blew a 3-1 sequence lead, together with scoring 19 factors within the second half of Game 6 after main by as many as 24 factors within the third quarter.
Mosley’s dismissal additionally got here amid rumors Throughout the season that his relationship with Paolo Banchero wasn’t essentially copacetic.
This is setting as much as be a vital offseason for the Magic, beginning with whom they ever rent as head coach. Their commerce for Desmond Bane final summer season left them with out many draft property, along with making their roster very costly.
Orlando is at present projected to be simply $3.6 million beneath the second apron subsequent season. The solely groups forward of the Magic in apron spending are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets.
Oklahoma City and Denver have received NBA titles not too long ago, whereas the Cavs superior to the Eastern Conference Finals this season. The Magic have not received a playoff sequence since 2010.
One factor the subsequent head coach must do is work out methods to maximise the offense round Banchero, Bane and Franz Wagner. The Magic had the fifth-lowest three-point success charge at 34.3 p.c in the course of the common season.
Donovan stepped down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls in April after six seasons. He does have some historical past with the Magic, accepting their head-coaching job in June 2007 earlier than having a change of heart a few days later and returning to the University of Florida.
In 11 seasons as an NBA head coach between the Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder, Donovan owns a 469-413 document with six playoff appearances.
Van Gundy hasn’t been a head coach because the 2006-07 season with the Houston Rockets. He went 430-318 with 9 playoff appearances in 11 seasons between the Rockets and New York Knicks.
The Magic completed this season with a 45-37 document and made the playoffs for the third consecutive 12 months.