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The Orlando Magic believe their roster is better than their record this season indicated. While outside opinions about their ceiling as currently constructed certainly vary, the franchise wasn't satisfied with a playoff collapse against the Detroit Pistons and reacted accordingly on Monday.
The Magic fired head coach Jamahl Mosley after five seasons, moving on from the coach who helped usher the franchise out of a rebuild but couldn't capitalize on the acquisition of Desmond Bane this season.
Orlando finished seventh in the East, dropping to eighth in the Play-In Tournament and nearly taking down the top-seeded Pistons before dismal offensive performances cost the Magic the chance to advance.
Will the Magic go the route of a proven coach, or could another first-timer be on the franchise's mind?
Here's a look at the top five coaching candidates for the Magic with Mosley fired.
MORE: Why Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after blowing first-round series to Pistons
Ranking 5 best Magic coaching candidates to replace Jamahl Mosley
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1. Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan left the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, even with college options having dried up. If Donovan is set on returning to the college ranks, he could simply take the season off and wait. If not, the opportunity to win in Orlando could be enticing.
The dynamic might seem awkward at the outset, as Donovan was introduced as head coach of the Magic in 2007 before controversially reneging and returning to the University of Florida. 19 years later, the regime has changed enough times in Orlando for bygones to be bygones. If Donovan is interested in the job, the Magic could very well consider it.
2. Terry Stotts
Former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts would be the NBA's oldest head coach if he returned to the sideline, but he could be the type of coach to settle down a messy situation and get everyone back on the same page in Orlando.
Stotts went 402-318 in Portland, reaching the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons and going as far as the Western Conference Finals in an era dominated by the Warriors out west. Stotts didn't come particularly close to winning a championship with the Trail Blazers, but he's a proven coach who could give the Magic five or six good years before handing the baton to someone else.
MORE: How many teams have come back from down 3-1 in NBA history?
3. Chris Quinn
Heat assistant has long been a hot head coaching candidate, and 12 years of experience under Erik Spoelstra certainly means something. While divisions don't matter so much in the NBA, Quinn is intimately familiar with the Magic by this point and can apply his player development skills to some of Orlando's pieces who haven't been able to unlock that next gear.
The biggest question might be whether the Magic are willing to roll with another first-time head coach when the goal is advancing in the playoffs, not just making the playoffs. If they are open to first-year candidates, Quinn could be at the top of their list.
4. Willie Green
Willie Green looked like he would be a top candidate for the Suns' job last offseason, until the Pelicans made the decision to keep him. That partnership didn't last much longer, as Green was fired only 12 games into this season.
Despite a 23-71 record since the start of the 2024-25 season, Green is a respected coach who oversaw two playoff appearances in New Orleans and won 49 games just two years ago despite a litany of injury issues throughout his tenure. Green played one season in Orlando and could be ready to step right back into a lead role with a Magic team that has as much or more talent than his Pelicans teams had.
MORE: Every No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed in NBA playoff history
5. Tom Thibodeau
The potential fit between a young Magic team and Tom Thibodeau, who coaches players hard and rubs some the wrong way by relying very heavily on his starters, is a question.
Orlando is likely looking for a proven head coach, however, and Thibodeau has shown an ability to get the most out of talented teams in the Eastern Conference. After an unsatisfying season by every measure, the Magic may believe they have the talent they need and just need a veteran coach to shape it up.
Whether Thibodeau believes he can turn the Magic into a contender at the top of the East would be another question, but at 68, he can't be picky about his opportunities if he wants to be a head coach again. The Magic are built to at least be a playoff team right now, and the right tweaks to the roster could allow a Thibodeau-coached edition of the team to compete at the top of a wide-open conference.
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