The Orlando Magic have had a head coaching vacancy for less than 24 hours, but names to replace the fired Stan Van Gundy have already emerged. The regular up-and-coming assistant coaches have all been mentioned as possibilities to take over a team that may or may not feature Dwight Howard.
The Magic job may not be looked at as the top job on the open market due to the Dwight factor, but the team is apparently readying to court a few of the top young assistants in the NBA. Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated reports that two assistants with ties to Phil Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff -- Brian Shaw and Chuck Person -- along with Golden State Warriors top assistant Mike Malone are the top candidates.
But who is best to replace Van Gundy and keep Howard firmly planted in Orlando? Sources said Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone and Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be strong candidates.
It'll be interesting to see what the Magic decide to do ... and whether these assistants are interested in keeping Van Gundy's assistants, considering they've all been given the option of staying in Orlando next season. That likely wouldn't be as big of a problem for Malone, however, as his father Brendan was on Van Gundy's staff last season.
For more on Van Gundy, Smith and the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post and SB Nation Tampa Bay.
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