Magic fire Stan Van Gundy, Otis Smith

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... undy_Smith

Magic Part Ways With Van Gundy, Smith
May 21, 2012 3:58 PM EDT

Stan Van Gundy has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Magic, while President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Otis Smith and the organization have mutually agreed to part ways.

"On behalf of the DeVos Family, we sincerely appreciate and thank Otis and Stan for all that they have done on and off the floor for the Orlando Magic,” said Martins. "These are the days you dread in this business, but we feel it's time for new leadership and new voices."

Van Gundy was named head coach in June of 2007. Van Gundy has a career NBA head coaching regular season record of 371-208 (.641), including 259-135 (.657) in five seasons in Orlando.

Smith was named general manager on May 3, 2006. He was assistant general manager during the 2005-06 campaign, after serving as director of player development for two seasons.

No surprise there. I like Stan Van Gundy a lot and would love him to come coach Portland. Firing him was the way to go if they intend to try and keep Dwight, but he's a good coach. Otis Smith on the other hand should have been fired years ago. He's a Billy King-tier GM.

Stan'll find a home soon, and I think Portland would be a good fit actually.

Well, Howard got his wish. Now it's time for him to show his commitment to the Magic and talk extension. His clumsiness in trying not to look like the bad guy in this season's mess just ended up damaging his reputation, if he bolts the Magic after getting them to bend to his will then he's going to look even worse.

That's not to say he absolutely must sign an extension, he naturally has the right to make up his mind about where he wants to play and explore his options the same as anyone else. However, I think it's fair to say that he owes them professionalism and at least some discussion of an extension past next year. They got rid of the coach he wanted gone, sent the GM he'd lost confidence in packing...the stand up thing to do is to let the team know where they stand and discuss the future, behind closed doors and not through the media.

It's a shame that the blade fell on Van Gundy but if it means keeping a player like Dwight Howard, it's a necessary evil. I'm sure if he's looking to coach in the NBA next season, there'll be someone interested in his services. It was definitely time for Smith to move on though; too many questionable moves and again if it means keeping Howard, harsh as it is to say when it's someone's job on the line, the choice is obvious.

Apparently, Howard still wants to be traded.

If that's true Howard is a huge douchebasket.

what's the problem of that big guy?

Go easy on him, his coach and GM just got fired. He can't know what direction the team is headed in.

This team is imploding.

If Dwight leaves now then yes he's a total douchebasket.

It's called cleaning house. He's gone. Start your trade machines.

what's the problem of that big guy?

He wants out but doesn't want to look like the bad guy or have it be a big, messy public split. Unfortunately, he's probably not going to be able to avoid that, especially if he forces his way out in the midst of them canning the two guys he wanted gone.

Start your trade machines.

Done.

Shaq returns to Orlando.

That's the rumour making the rounds. I don't know that it's a great move, though at the same time there's no evidence he'd necessarily do a bad job aside from Team Shaq's loss at the All-Star Weekend. All the same, it seems to me that the Magic would benefit more from bringing in a more experienced executive, or at least someone who doesn't hold a grudge towards Dwight Howard.

There's a rumor he's actually good friends with Dwight and that his name may have come from Howard in the first place.

Nevermind, he hates us all:

Shaquille O'Neal, who had expressed interest in becoming the new general manager of the Orlando Magic and had been asked by the team to interview, has declined the invitation, sources close to the former player told ESPNBoston.com's Jackie MacMullan on Thursday.

O'Neal, those sources say, is flattered that the team had interest in him but has now decided he wants to stick with his new job as an analyst at TNT.

Has he actually done any analyzing?

If he's the gm, he will surely trade Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum thanks anyway he's not interested

Has he actually done any analyzing?

In a manner of speaking.

Jeff Van Gundy isn't mincing words about his brother's firing.

"Listen, all you have done in your 25 years in the business is release press releases and run the business side. You don't know if a ball is blown up or stuffed," Van Gundy told ESPN Radio.

"He doesn't know one thing about basketball. So please, hold off your comments on my brother's expertise."

"To try to make everyone believe that Dwight Howard didn't have a part in this is absurd," said Jeff Van Gundy.

"Just say, 'we fired this guy because we feel this is our best chance to keep Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard and I decided to fire him.' To do anything else is playing a game of semantics."

He also claimed Martins was "unprofessional" for waiting until his older brother left the Magic offices Monday before calling him on the phone to tell him he was being fired.