If rumors are true, the next head coach of the Orlando Magic will be a defensive-minded one. Two names have popped up, one a former Magic and the other a disciplinarian who was surprisingly cut by the Sacramento Kings despite proving his coaching prowess.
Scott Skiles, a former Magic during the time of Shaquille O' Neal and Penny Hardaway during the franchise's early years, has been mentioned as one of the top candidates to inherit the head coaching job.
Skile has had the necessary coaching experience, having coached teams like the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. Skiles is oozing with coaching experience and has at one time led most of the teams he has coached to the NBA playoffs.
On the other hand is Michael Malone, someone best known for handling the Kings last. Malone is somehow similar to Skiles in terms of coaching, defensive-minded and a disciplinarian though he is not as old-school like Skiles. Malone got the pink slip after failing to see eye-to-eye with the team owners, making him a prime candidate for the Magic head coaching job.
If ever, this would be the second time that the Magic will be considering Malone for the position. Malone was one of the team's original choices in 2012 but the team opted to go with Jacques Vaughn.
Vaughn was the last coach of the team before getting fired. James Borrego succeeded Vaughn on an interim basis and coached the team in its final 30 games.
Aside from Skiles and Malone, there are other names being mentioned as possible candidates. The list includes Mark Jackson, Nate McMilan, Alvin Gentry and current Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Of all the candidates, it seems interesting how Thibodeau got into the picture. Apparently there has been a lot of talk that Thibodeau may be leaving the Bulls if he fails to hand the team a title. So have the Magic planned in advance?
Regardless, the list of candidates the Magic have right now are really impressive, each bringing his own coaching philosophy which hopefully can fit the current crop of players and the ones they intend to set their eyes on before next season.
