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Jeff Hornacek a candidate for Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic

By John Buhler

Jan 8, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek in the second half against the Miami Heat at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Heat defeated the Suns 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek in the second half against the Miami Heat at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Heat defeated the Suns 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek is one of the coaching candidates being considered by the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic.

According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek is emerging as one of the top candidates for two NBA teams with head coaching vacancies: the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic.

Hornacek did a fine job his first two years with the Suns before the team sputtered to a disastrous 23-59 record in 2015-16, the fourth worst mark in the NBA this past regular season.

During his NBA career, from 1987 to 2000, Hornacek made a name for himself as a sharpshooter most notably for Phoenix and the Utah Jazz. He had been an assistant with the Jazz from 2010 to 2013 before taking over the Suns job in 2013-14.

He went 101-112 in 213 career games as the Suns head coach, failing to reach the Western Conference Playoffs all three years in Phoenix. However, the Suns had several issues besides Hornacek’s coaching that led to their awful 2015-16 NBA season, and it’s interesting to see Hornacek appear as a strong candidate for two NBA jobs.

The Pacers’ gig would probably have something to do with the notion that Hornacek’s Phoenix teams played with pace, something Pacers team president clearly wants after parting ways with the great, but defensive-minded Frank Vogel.

Orlando just found out on Thursday that Scott Skiles wouldn’t be returning to the Magic after one year as head coach. Friction between he and general manager Rob Hennigan, as well as the team declining Skiles’ option on his four-year deal, led to his exit on Thursday.

In a similar way that Hornacek got the most out of the 2013-14 Suns, he could come into Orlando and help turn this upstart group of youngsters into a team that could contend for an Eastern Conference Playoffs berth in 2016-17. Hornacek may not be the Magic’s first choice, but he apparently will make their short list of potential head coaching candidates.

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