After a season in which the Orlando Magic blew it up and traded away their core, the feeling coming into this offseason was that the head coach position was one where they would at least have some stability. Steve Clifford having overseen two postseason appearances, trying to win with a group of players that clearly had a ceiling.
In a statement that surprised a lot of fans, the Magic and Clifford agreed to part ways late last week. Clifford has had health issues dating back to his time in charge of the Charlotte Hornets, and he was brought in to maximize the veteran talent on the roster.
Once the direction of the organization changed it was unclear where Clifford fit into the long-term thinking of the front office, although there were plenty who felt he would do a good job in bringing along young players like Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and Wendell Carter Jr. Now he is gone, and a replacement is needed ahead of what is an important draft for the Magic.
The Orlando Magic find themselves looking for a new head coach to take over at a crucial time, and these three individuals fit the bill.
With so many young players in place, including the injured Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz, putting the right head coach alongside one of the most intriguing young cores is not easily done. In an ideal world this coach will grow alongside the group, right up until they hopefully return to the playoffs again in the next few years.
The Magic have been here before and gotten it wrong, hiring Jacque Vaughn during their prolonged rebuild after Dwight Howard left town. He was a young coach who was meant to grow with the core, but that didn’t happen. Other misfires who have succeeded elsewhere include James Borrego and Frank Vogel. This hire will not be easy, but these three candidates stick out for different reasons and possible directions the organization could go.
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.
Orlando Magic coaching target No. 2: Terry Stotts
If Hardaway represents the area unknown, and all of the risk and excitement that comes with it, then Terry Stotts is a much safer pair of hands. He was only relieved of his duties with the Portland Trail Blazers a couple of days before Clifford stepped down, and is surely eager to get back into the game.
His experience working with All-Star level talent like Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, as well as an all-time great like Carmelo Anthony, speaks for itself. Stotts was with Portland for nine seasons, and leaves as the second-winningest coach ever for the franchise. Eight straight playoff appearances are also the best mark in the league currently.
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These are all great reasons to seriously consider Stotts, but would he be a coach who would be too similar to Clifford? Although fans were mostly happy with what he was doing in Orlando, they Magic now have a chance to really shake things up and go for somebody younger and more exciting. Less proven yes, but the bigger the risk, the greater the reward.
Stotts also feels like a coach who would be better suited to go into an organization that has some sort of foundation in place, and is looking to take the next step. In other words, what the Magic were when Clifford came onboard. The Minnesota Timberwolves, with a core of Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, are an example of another team where Stotts could get that group back to the postseason quickly.
It may be that the front office doesn’t want to swing for the fences with this hire. After all, if they waste a few years of the careers of their young players, you can bet a number will get disgruntled and want to leave. To that end Stotts would be a smart hire, because he has been around the league a long time, and knows what it takes to be successful.
Orlando Magic coaching target No. 1: Sam Cassell
Is Sam Cassell the perfect blend of Hardaway and Stotts, and therefore the right choice? After a career in which he was regarded as one of the smartest players in the NBA, Cassell has been an assistant coach since 2009. That is a long time to be around the league, and he has been on the bench with the Washington Wizards, L.A. Clippers and is currently with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Looking at those teams, Cassell has plenty of experience in seeing both how an organization can struggle on and off the court (Wizards), as well as being part of teams with championship aspirations (Clippers and 76ers). Although not in charge, these are experiences that neither Hardaway, or even Stotts in recent times, can bring to the table.
As somebody who has never been a head coach himself though, there would be a sense of freshness to hiring him. Cassell has helped to coach All-Star level talents like John Wall, Chris Paul and Joel Embiid. He has also seen firsthand how young players can stick or carve out a role for themselves on different kinds of teams.
Cassell is also destined to get a crack at being a head coach before long, he has certainly put the time in, and this would seem a wonderful opportunity for him as well. The Magic would be expected to lose a lot of games over the next couple of years, but as long as the improvement of the young players in tangible, then whoever is in charge is going to be kept on.
As long as they can get the most out of the youngsters, relate to them and help them to grow, their job will be secure until winning becomes the main priority. Cassell is currently helping to coach a 76ers team that is trying to make the finals, which would also be an invaluable experience to bring to the Magic. It makes sense for so many reasons and would be an exciting partnership if it ends up coming to fruition.