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Orlando Magic: 5 Best Candidates To Replace Scott Skiles As Head Coach

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles on the side line during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles on the side line during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson watches warmups before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Mark Jackson

By now, your opinion on Mark Jackson is probably similar to your opinion on whether or not global warming exists: By now, your mind has been made up, and no amount of “evidence” on either side will change your mind.

But ignoring what M-Jax accomplished with the young Golden State Warriors would be foolish. In his third year on the job the Dubs won 51 games and had a top-10 defense, and he posted a 98-66 record in his last two seasons there.

The offense wasn’t great under Jackson, but let’s not forget that there was a large contingent of NBA fans shocked by his dismissal until Steve Kerr came along and made everyone completely forget about him.

Jackson may not be a championship-caliber coach, but he instilled a winning culture in a franchise that had been down in the dumps for years. He got his locker room to buy in to what he was preaching, assimilated the makings of an elite defense and was great for the young cornerstones of the franchise.

In Orlando, he might not have a Stephen Curry or a Klay Thompson lying in wait, but who knows? No one’s been able to tap the full potential of Victor Oladipo yet, and Jackson would be a candidate to get him on the track to stardom.

With Dipo, Payton, Gordon and Mario Hezonja, Jackson would also have enough raw material to mold into a quality defense as well. However, Jackson’s clashes with Golden State’s front office sound awfully similar to what Hennigan and Skiles had going on, which would be a huge obstacle to overcome in a potential hiring like this.

Next: No. 2

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