Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins geared for restructuring of franchise – NBA Update
A turbulent NBA campaign came to an end for the Orlando Magic with a 4 – 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of their Eastern Conference playoffs matchup. This was the second time in two years that the Magic have bowed out in the first round
of the playoffs and it seems that the franchise’s CEO Alex Martins has decided that he needs to act now.
"We're going to start a full evaluation process of our entire organization," Magic CEO Alex Martins said Wednesday. "That's what we do at the end of each season ... and everything will be evaluated.”
The Magic were outside contenders for the NBA Championship when the season started, despite their early exit last year. The team even looked the part for periods during the shortened NBA season and analysts regarded them as the third best side in the Eastern
Conference, behind the Chicago Bulls and the star studded Miami Heat.
With super star centre Dwight Howard on their side; the Magic believed that they had a legitimate shot at winning the Championship. However the season started to unravel when Howard and Magic coach Stan Van Gundy allegedly developed differences. Van Gundy
outburst in front of the media didn’t help matters and soon Howard went out with a season ending injury.
All this leaves Orlando woefully short of their objective; to win an NBA championship. Moreover, they don’t appear to have the tools or the harmony required to mount a challenge next season, which is a fact not unnoticed by Martins.
"Everything that we've done over the years is about getting to win a championship, and unfortunately just getting to the playoffs is just not good enough."
Another concern for Martins is the future of Howard. The centre kept everyone on their toes throughout the season, before finally committing to the team till the end of 2012-2013 season. Alex though is aware that he cannot have that kind of uncertainty in
the locker room again, and he hinted that Howard’s future, as of Van Gundy, would be decided early on next time round.
"I don't think anybody wants to go through the season we just went through," Martins said.
"I think everyone deserves and needs some time to cool off after a very trying season," Martins said. "But nobody deserves to be left in limbo...”
Tags: