<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic might take awhile to find a new coach, but the search won't spill into July. The Magic want a coach in place to replace Brian Hill at least by late June before the green flag drops on free agency July 1. They want a free agent to know who will be on the sideline in Orlando -- and a new coach presumably would want input on personnel. The deadline to land a coach normally would come before the June 28 NBA draft -- Hill was hired May 24, 2005 -- but the Magic aren't as pressed because they do not have a first-round choice. They dealt the pick to the Detroit Pistons a little more than a year ago, sending it and center Kelvin Cato to the Pistons for power forward Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo. The Pistons will pick No. 15. "It's more of, 'How do we answer a question from a free agent who wants to come here?' than it is about the draft," Magic President Bob Vander Weide said of the coaching-search timetable. "It would be nice to have somebody there so we could look like a full complement of an organization to a free agent."</div> Source
So they have over a month to decide? Shouldn't we have a new coach by the draft? I would set a 2 week MAX deadline, but that's just me.
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So they have over a month to decide? Shouldn't we have a new coach by the draft? I would set a 2 week MAX deadline, but that's just me.</div> In the article it says the aren't concerned about having a coach by the time the draft rolls around since we don't have any first round picks. I guess that's a sign that we're probably not moving up.
So basically we are going to wait until all other teams hire their coach and then we will decide? BRILLIANT!
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So basically we are going to wait until all other teams hire their coach and then we will decide? BRILLIANT!</div> I agree, sounds kinda dumb. I mean, if their first choice is available, say, tomorrow, and can agree on a contract, are they really going to wait out the time to see what else comes up? They're kidding themselves if they don't think Van Gundy, Carlisle or Iavaroni won't be signed up within the next two weeks.
On ESPN they said that Stan Van Gundy is likely to come to Orlando. They were like he is a family guy and he wouldn't want to move too far from his family. So it would be a good choice to stay close to family by coming to Orlando.
This is just speculation on my part, but the general vibe that I am getting is that there really are only 2 candidates for this job: Marc Iavaroni and PJ Carlisimo. If both go elsewhere Stan Van Gundy will be the backup plan, just because Magic are by far his #1 option so he can stay close to home. I really doubt he would take another job before the Magic decide on their job. It doesn't seem to me that we are really that interested in SVG right now and it seems like everything is stalling waiting on PJ Carlisimo and the Spurs to end the playoffs. It seems to me like he is the #1 choice and Iavoroni is #2. Hopefully this doesn't bite us in the butt and Iavoroni signs somewhere else before the playoffs are over and Carlisimo declines our offer, but that is the Magic way so that is likely what will happen.
I've gotten that vibe as well. It seems as if Stan Van Gundy has shown interest but we haven't made an effort to talk to him. Meanwhile, we've already interviewed Iavaroni and we've requested to talk to Carlisimo. Those are the only two people we've contacted so it seems as if those are our options at this point. Something tells me Iavaroni will take the job, unless he goes to Seattle where he has the chance to develop Durant or Oden into a superstar.
If you get the same vibe that I get, I have another question for you..... If the interview goes well/went well(not sure when the interview is/was actually scheduled) and you like him do you a) wait until after the playoffs to be able to interview PJ Carlisimo knowing the possibly risk of losing Iavoroni to the Sonics or b)if he is interested do you hire him on the spot? I think I would hire him on the spot honestly. I'm an impatient man and don't want to wait until after the playoffs to figure out who our new coach is. No to mention, the more and more I hear about Iavoroni the more and more I like him. Honestly if we are going fast break I think he would probably be my #1 choice right now and he might even be my #1 choice overall(over Carlisle who I have been high on for awhile) right now. He has worked for a variety of different systems and seems like he would be comfortable adapting to the teams strengths and he has a good reputation with big men.(Amare) At the very least he will provide us Magic fans with an exciting brand of basketball rather than the boring Brian Hill style that we have become accustomed to.
You can't get anymore contrast in style than Iavaroni and Carlesimo. Again, what is the short and long term goals of this franchise. If you want to build your fan base, have an exciting uptempo pace, than you go with Iavaroni. However, if you want to build your team to have post season success by becoming a defensive juggernaut than you build the team with Carlesimo. Of course the team won't be as flashy or appealing to casual fans, but I have yet to see any of these high powered offensive teams sniff a title.
I think the Magic should get a coach that fits Dwight's style. I'm sure Dwight can run the floor, so go for Iavaroni, IMO. He will be a great upgrade over Hill, and can bring the experience he had with the Suns, and make the Magic a better team.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You can't get anymore contrast in style than Iavaroni and Carlesimo. Again, what is the short and long term goals of this franchise. If you want to build your fan base, have an exciting uptempo pace, than you go with Iavaroni. However, if you want to build your team to have post season success by becoming a defensive juggernaut than you build the team with Carlesimo. Of course the team won't be as flashy or appealing to casual fans, but I have yet to see any of these high powered offensive teams sniff a title.</div> I know Iavaroni isn't a proven coach or anything, but he has basically seen every single style. It's not like he's just been around Mike D'Antoni and the Suns. I think he can figure out a good mix, because as proven last year we do have quality defensive players as we were one of the best in the league at defense, while we do have the components to run at times. We certainly won't be the Suns because Jameer Nelson isn't even close to Steve Nash. Honestly I kind of expect the Magic's offense to be similar to the Wizards in running/total amount of points wise(hopefully less PG jack ups then the Wiz though ) and still be able to get back and play some defense. I don't think the Magic should completely abandon the half court because you have 2 bigs that can be extremely good in the half court. Another thing that could factor in on this is if we get Iavaroni, Grant Hill will likely come back because Hill can get up the floor and finish with the best of them. Like I said the more and more I think about Iavaroni the more and more I want him to be our coach. I would probably prefer him to Carlisimo and I do believe he could help us contend(assuming we are able to get a good mix of players around Dwight) in at least the East.
I think Gators nailed it right there. The reason I consider Iavoroni one of the better coaching candidates is because he won't rigidly force his team to adapt to his coaching style. He's worked under quite a few excellent coaches who have implemented different playing styles and, if I remember correctly, he has said that he was more defensive-minded before he joined Phoenix. If he agrees to take the job, I'd hire him right away.
Gators, I feel we should hire Iavaroni on the spot. We've already waited long enough and if we find someone like him interested in the position, we should definitely hire him. Like you guys said, he has experience with many systems and has experience working under some of the best coaches in the league (this was discussed in the Orlando Sentinel article I posted a couple days ago). He is also supposed to be great at developing young talent which is a huge thing to consider in this decision. Developing our young players was one of the main things we wanted our replacement coach to be able to do and if Iavaroni can do that, he has an edge at this point. While Carlisimo seems like a good option, it seems like we want to run and if we hire PJ, that's not going to happen unless he's willing to drastically change his coaching style. Montaman, Carlisimo's style is slow paced, defense oriented, methodical basketball, which doesn't sound like we're looking for based off the quotes I've read from Otis.
All the good coaches are already gone. More would be gone by then. I mean the decision to wait that long is bad.
Awesome news. I think he's a good choice for our team. Imagine if we got one of the former Gators on the Magic.
