Orlando Magic coaching target No. 3: Penny Hardaway
The romantic choice for Magic fans who see this as an opportunity to marry past glory days with future success. Penny Hardaway is a franchise legend, but unlike guys like Jason Kidd and Steve Nash who jumped straight to the pros and got their chance in the hot seat, Hardaway has already made a name for himself in the college game.
He has made a positive impact as head coach of the Memphis Tigers, and is highly thought of there. That might not be enough to secure him a gig in the NBA, but plenty of coaches with less experience have been given a chance before. Why not Hardaway?
The obvious pros to hiring Hardaway are how much fans would love to see it happen. They would also be more patient with somebody like Hardaway coming in and trying to figure things out. When you’re a franchise icon, you get more leeway to try and put a successful product on the floor. Other pros include the fact he has had some success already, and how he could be a long-term solution here.
Hardaway is only 49, knows the Magic inside out and if he was a success would stick around for a long time. That is the sort of enviable stability that playoff mainstays like the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat enjoy. The potential to build something lasting with a group of players who are all on in their early twenties is appealing.
On the other hand, if it went badly then Hardaway would damage his reputation with fans. He also has zero experience in helping a young team to grow over a prolonged period of time. The college game is one thing where players come and go and you try and help them get to the professional level. It is a lot harder when you are losing a lot of games, trying to keep fans and the front office happy, as well as trying to improve from within. A risky move, but one which could pay off big.