Orlando Magic fire Stan Van Gundy; hopeful Dwight Howard will stay on – NBA Update
The Orlando Magic have officially parted ways with long-time head coach Stan Van Gundy, relieving him of duties this Monday. The Magic also let go of General Manager Otis Smith.
Most in the NBA had expected the Magic to act this way because of the tension inside the club relating to super star centre Dwight Howard and the coach. With Van Gundy now gone, the Magic are hoping that they can retain Howard to a long-term deal.
"The decision is up to Dwight now," Magic CEO Alex Martins said Monday. "Dwight needs to decide where his future lies. It's been well-documented what our desires are. Now Dwight needs to decide what his are."
Dwight only signed a one year extension with the franchise this season that will see him at the club until after the end of the 2012 – 2013 NBA season. The Magic however want Howard to commit for longer, so that the club can build around him.
Keeping Dwight in Orlando is the topmost priority for the Magic but Howard isn’t sure about what to do. The centre has been at the club all his professional career and took the Magic to the NBA Finals, under the stewardship of Van Gundy, but the team has
since regressed, leaving Howard increasingly frustrated.
It didn’t help matters that Van Gundy’s and Howard’s relationship broke down completely after the coach publicly accused Howard of trying to get him fired. Afterwards it was pretty clear that Magic could only keep one of the two when the season ended.
Orlando have clearly made their choice, but Magic CEO Martins did not want the blame for Van Gundy’s firing to fall on his super star player. He thus spared no effort in exonerating Howard of blame.
"I am saying in no uncertain terms that Dwight did not want to be part of this decision," Martins said. "He didn't not want to make this decision. He never asked me to make this decision. … Dwight Howard never asked me to fire Stan Van Gundy."
Whether Dwight decides to stay with the franchise or not is still unclear though. The player has hinted in no unclear terms that he wants to win an NBA World Championship, and the Magic at the moment just don’t look ready for that.
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