Orlando Magic Would Be Wise To Keep Jacque Vaughn As Coach

It’s hard to see why the Orlando Magic would not bring back Jacque Vaughn considering he had an impossible job as coach of the Dwight Howard-less team this season.

It was a team originally not destined to become what they were: the worst team in the NBA.

But if Vaughn does come back, he’ll have to do some soul searching and figure out why he was able to get this team out to such an incredible start, only to see the Magic fall apart in the 2013 part of its schedule.

On paper, it would seem rather obvious why the collapse occurred. The Magic dealt away J.J. Redick, lost Hedo Turkoglu from injury and suspension from the NBA for steroid use.

Injuries cost them Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo during the season. Al Harrington was among the veteran players cast aside so Vaughn could look at younger players.

The Magic thought they might be able to play just fine without Howard when they got off to a 12-13 start. They finished 8-47 as the players they were counting on ran into injuries, and other events and the trade of Redick put the Magic in the position where they had to try their young players.

The newer players like Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson and others didn’t win many games for the Magic in the latter months of the season.

They’ll also get a high NBA draft pick, which will obviously help.

But it’s up to Vaughn and Magic management to surround themselves with the pieces they need to get back to playoff contention. It may take awhile. But for now, Vaughn should be involved to give the Magic critical stability during this era of transition.