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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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Orlando Magic
Mar 4, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel looks on after a turnover in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Pacers 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Frank Vogel

Let’s not waste any time here: Frank Vogel is the best head coaching candidate available on the market right now, hands down. If the Magic are smart, they’ll reach out to said superior candidate for their vacancy, which couldn’t have been timed better since Vogel just recently became available.

The Magic said their head coaching search would begin immediately, and Vogel should check off quite a few boxes on the list of what this front office is searching for.

First of all, he’s been successful. Vogel coached a top-10 defense in every season he was with the Indiana Pacers except his first, when they ranked 12th in defensive rating, His 250-181 record also ranks 21st all-time in win percentage (.580).

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    • The Pacers never made it to the NBA Finals, but they took two all-time great Miami Heat teams to the brink in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals series.

    Secondly, he’s a more laid-back personality, which would be a welcome change in the locker room compared to the stricter Skiles. Vogel got results in Indiana, but a younger team like the Magic would really benefit from a more supportive presence.

    Third, the Magic might have a roster that might intrigue Vogel. Unless Vogel wants to sit around for the 2016-17 season and wait for a better opportunity, a quick look around the league at the other vacancies shows a ton of problems at every destination.

    The Houston Rockets are a dumpster fire with a franchise player who may not be a real leader; the New York Knicks are still years away from being relevant and Phil Jackson might just wind up hiring Kurt Rambis anyway; and the Memphis Grizzlies are on the decline.

    More hoops habit: Houston Rockets: 5 Best Candidates For Head Coaching Job

    The Magic, on the other hand, have a bevy of attractive young players to work with and are well suited to Vogel’s strengths as a defensive-minded coach. This could be a great fit for both sides, and Orlando would be making a grave mistake if they didn’t do their due diligence on Frank Vogel.

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