Fansided

5 replacements for Scott Skiles with Orlando Magic

By John Buhler

Oct 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles reacts against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Amway Center. Washington Wizards defeated the Orlando Magic 88-87. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles reacts against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Amway Center. Washington Wizards defeated the Orlando Magic 88-87. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel gestures during first half play against Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel gestures during first half play against Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel is the best available head coaching candidate at this stage of the coaching carousel. The former Indiana Pacers head coach is a top 10 coach in the league and a defensive guru. The Magic should thank their lucky stars if they are able to sign Vogel to a multi-year deal to be their next head coach.

Vogel’s Pacers teams were routinely top five defensively and could hold their own with any of the upper echelon teams in the Eastern Conference despite having only one dynamic offensive weapon in All-Star small forward Paul George.

Vogel made it to the Eastern Conference Finals twice in 2013 and 2014 with his defense-first, sluggish Pacers teams. He even did a solid job coaching out of his comfort zone in 2015-16, as team president Larry Bird wanted his Pacers to usher in the small ball, pace and space era in Indianapolis.

Had the Pacers been able to knock off the No. 2 seeded Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of their first round series, no doubt Vogel would still have his job. Now he is easily the best coach available on the market.

If he wants to, Vogel will have a head coaching gig for the 2016-17 NBA season. While the Grizzlies feel like the best fit for Vogel’s coaching skill set, what the Magic could provide him in young athletic bodies and reasonable job security in turning around a losing team could make the Orlando job one of the better ones for Vogel to seriously consider. Orlando should go hard after Vogel and see if he’s interested in leading the Magic going forward.

For more NBA news, please check out our NBA category page.

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers