The Orlando Magic on Thursday made it official: coach Jacque Vaughn is done. With Vaughn now fired and an interim coach on the way, the Magic reportedly are unlikely to make any trades before the upcoming deadline.
Orlando (15-27) has lost 16 of their last 18 games, including 10 straight. The front office, though, has decided they've seen enough from their third-year coach and announced he would be relieved of his duties effective immediately.
"Jacque has been a trusted friend and colleague,'' Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said in a statement released Thursday on the team website. "We thank him immensely for his contributions and sacrifices in bringing our team to this point, and we greatly appreciate his unwavering commitment to our organization. We have tremendous respect for Jacque and certainly wish him the best as he embarks on the next phase of his career.''
Vaugn will leave Orlando with a 58-158 record as a head coach. His top assistant, James Borrego, will take over as the interim coach.
According to Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy, one candidate likely to be looked at this summer is ex-Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles. Kennedy, who predicted on Wednesday Vaughn would be fired any day now, also doesn't think Orlando will be active before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
"I honestly don't know if the Magic will make any trades. I believe a coaching change is coming any day down (they may be waiting for the All-Star break), but I think there's a real desire to see how the team fares with a new coach and different rotations," Kennedy wrote. "If anyone gets traded, I think it would be some of the veteran players (like Luke Ridnour, Willie Green and Ben Gordon) since they were brought in with making the playoffs in mind and that obviously isn't happening. I'd be surprised if any core players were moved though."
Magic players linked to trade rumors this season include Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris.
