<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic owner Rich DeVos sold America on soap-on-a-rope and other products to become a billionaire through the Amway empire. His basketball team now needs to pull off its second-biggest selling job of the offseason: Persuading Marc Iavaroni to replace Brian Hill. (Their biggest sell-job is signing a star free agent). We are going on the assumption that Iavaroni is their top choice --- and all signs point this way so far. You probably don't begin at the bottom of your short list, although what clouds the picture is that Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carelismo is still in the playoffs. He could be a candidate and the Magic might be waiting on him. I get the sense Billy Donovan is no longer in play for the Magic, or they couldn't take a chance on a college coach. Iavaroni has never held an NBA head coaching job, either, but at least he's been around the league for 25 years. While he has some impressive chops --- coached with Pat Riley and Mike Fratello, played for Jerry Sloan and helped mold Suns forward Amare Stoudemire into a star --- Iavaroni also carries rookie risk. Along with the fact that he worked as a big man's coach and could help Dwight Howard, here's the key thing: Iavaroni has been exposed to an uptempo style the Magic want to play --- and one they couldn't ever see materializing with Hill in charge. Iavaroni has coached with Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni, and also played with D'Antoni overseas. He knows offense, offering a cerebral approach. Word is that the Griz' job is Iavaroni's to lose. The Seattle Supersonics apparently are coming hard on the outside for Iavaroni, too --- and they should worry both teams. The Grizzlies got the jump of the Magic, of course, who fiddling around with the Brian Hill firing while the Griz interviewed Iavaroni, lead assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. Could explain why the Magic reportedly had to make up ground and hurried to ask permission from the Suns to talk to him. So here's the pros and cons for Iavaroni to consider with each job: Magic: Pros: Dwight Howard, obviously. Griz and Sonics can't compete here in the big man department. And if the Magic can keep Darko Milicic, Coach-a-roni (Marc-a-roni?) won't find two better young bigs to mold. Trevor Ariza can run, and Grant Hill still has something left at 35 if he returns. The biggest key will be landing a free agent that Iavaroni feels can be the glue to make it all work and turn them into a posteason threat. Iavaroni would have $10-$13 million cap room, would be in the accomodating Eastern Conference and would pay no state tax. Plus, the sun shines just as much here as in Phoenix. Cons: After Howard, however, the Magic roster gets a little dicey. Iavaroni will find that Jameer Nelson is not Steve Nash, although maybe the Magic never played at a fast enough pace to see if Meer Meer could be all he could be, meaning a reincarnation of his St. Joe self. Grizzlies: Pros: The Griz have Paul Gasol, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay. Not a bad nucleus. Those are the kinds of players who have the sort of offensive potential that could suit Iavaroni. Memphis wouldn't have had such a down year had Gasol not missed games early after injuring himself the previous summer playing in the World Championships. Interim coach Tony Barone Sr. replaced Mike Fratello, and immediately changed Fratello's deliberate, defense-first style. The Griz tried to play like the Suns. They scored a lot of points but gave up a lot. Coach-a-roni won't find better barbeque and blues. Cons: Unfortunately, for Iavaroni, GM Jerry West retired. That means Memphis would have to try to match-make a GM to Iavaroni. The Griz could have practically named their coach if they had won the lottery and could pick either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, but they missed out. Biggest problem for Iavaroni in Memphis: It's in the South, but plays in the dreaded West. Sonics: Pros: They have two stars and a potential star that neither the Magic nor the Griz can touch. Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Durant offer an attractive package for Iavaroni, a man who adores offense. Durant has created a Tracy McGrady-like buzz. Cons: The Sonics have a serious arena issue, and are wondering if Oklahoma City has a room at the inn. One coach told me this is particularly distracting and unsettling, especially if you have a young family. On the floor, the Sonics might lose Lewis, who will be a free agent. Durant's arrival might lead to his exodus. This past season, the Sonics also seemed to have chemistry problems under Bob Hill. They have no real big-man threat, unless young Robert Swift develops. Oh, yes, and another large issue: Seattle, last time we checked, is in the West. Inside track for Marc-a-roni? Magic.</div> Source
Lol, Ivaroni is a hot topic now. I think he'll be a good head coach. Maybe not in his first year, but in years to come.
If Iavaroni wants the best chance at winning now, Orlando's the best choice. He has a solid core in Howard, Nelson, Turkoglu, and he can still develop young talent (his best asset, as many have said) in Redick, Ariza, Arroyo and Milicic. I still think a coach like Van Gundy or Carlisle would be the best fit for the Magic, but you can't go wrong with Iavaroni either.
well i guess memphis pulled the trigger first. The magic better not hold off till they are left with what they got.. If they think a coach is a good fit then they need to do it.. they cant take time to seek other options
