The Magic have begun to speak to head coaching candidates as they look for a replacement for Jamahl Mosley, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
While Fischer cautions that things can change quickly in the NBA, coaching insiders around the league consider Billy Donovan the frontrunner for the job, with an “excellent shot” at being hired. Donovan spent the last six years as head coach of the Bulls before parting ways with Chicago last month.
Sources tell Fischer that Donovan has been talking to Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman about the position and will have an in-person interview “in the near future.”
Donovan nearly became Orlando’s head coach back in June 2007. He and the Magic reached an agreement on a five-year contract but Donovan wavered on the decision and ultimately backed out of the deal in order to return to the University of Florida. The Magic hired Stan Van Gundy instead.
Tom Thibodeau has been mentioned as a possible candidate in Orlando, but Fischer hears the Magic have yet to talk to him and he hasn’t been part of the interview process. Thibodeau is a coaching free agent after being fired by New York last summer.
Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy, on the other hand, is among the coaches on Orlando’s radar, report Fischer and his colleague Marc Stein. Van Gundy was head coach of the Knicks and Rockets from 1995-2007.
Although the Magic are said to be looking for an experienced candidate, they’re expected to interview Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney, according to Fischer, who says the 41-year-old is also a “prime candidate” to replace Donovan in Chicago.
Billy going back to FL. I think that could be a good fit for the Magicians.
Are there any Magic fans commenting on this site. Whatcha think about Donovan?
As a Magic fan I definitely like it
Hopefully he doesn’t leave them at the altar like the last time they interviewed him lol
Love JVG but don’t love the fit for the Magic. The last thing they need is another limited offensive specialist as their HC.
Someone needs to hire Stan Van Gumbo so we can get him off TV. He’s almost as bad as Doris but at least she doesn’t talk like she’s choking on a Big Mac while smoking a cig.
There is nothing wrong with Doris Burke. You just don’t like her because she’s a woman.
She’s way better than most of the male commentators.
Not at all. She’s just painful to listen to and brings zero to the table. No one can do wrong and points out only the obvious. Not everyone gets a gold star.
I cannot even stomach Doris voice. I mute games when she is on. I don’t have issues with women, and that would be fine….just no more Doris please
Didnt Donovan back out of an Orlando deal 20 years ago because of SVG and the whole Pat Riley situation
He used to go back to college!
Probably a nice place to live but a dead end job. Play in…..that’s the goal.
Ask Paolo if he approves of Billy Donovan for the coach position, and if he says yes, good. But if he doesn’t approve it Billy Donovan is done.
Donovan seems like a nice guy and had a great run with Florida in college – but what’s he done recently to be at the top of any head coaching list? Decent job with KD and Russ running inefficient iso offense and subpar job with Chicago that stayed average to mediocre for his entire tenure
Agreed, he didn’t accomplish anything in Chicago. I think he is too old to coach this team, old mentality, old philosophy of the game and he will not connect to this young group of players. I think what Orlando needs is a young veteran coach like Sam Cassell or Chris Quinn.
Jeff Van Gundy lol. There’s a reason why he hasn’t been a head coach in 20 years.
What about Jason Kidd? Release today, did a good job helping young Giannis and took Dallas to a finals and conf finals
I just want to see JVG head coaching again. Wherever works with me, preferably a place with some talent, which Orlando has. I would move on from Franz and not Paolo though. I just think they are poor fits together for many different reasons but primarily, they both stop the ball. Not too much value in dealing Franz though, it would have to be for cap relief or for a similarly stuck/redundant player not performing to his potential. Both Paolo and Franz need time to create offense at the nail, its too clogged.
Wait what? Not too much value in dealing Franz? For cap relief? What nonsense. The Magic had a better record with Franz and no Paola versus Paola no Franz. Magic went up 3-1 with Franz and lost all 3 games after he got hurt in the Detroit series. If you don’t watch the games don’t comment on the articles
He did nothing in CHICAGO, glad he is gone!
No way people are considering Jeff Van Gundy