According to a report by Yahoo Sports, former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy blames the Magic front office for the way franchise-changing events went down with Dwight Howard and the rest of the team. While maintaining the dynamic between Van Gundy and Howard was amicable, Van Gundy did allude to Howard’s attitude not being integral to the coaching staff’s performance.
As a fan, I can still see Dwight Howard’s footprints on the back of the Orlando front office but my sympathy dies as Howard smiles for Los Angeles cameras and stammers about how excited he is for the upcoming season. Van Gundy blew the whistle on CEO Alex Martins for catering to Howard’s every whim and former GM Otis Smith for rushing a slasher of a trade decision regarding the 2009 Finals team.
The fact is, even with Van Gundy kicking the gossip dirt in a late effort to save his side of the story, there are two new sheriffs in town. New GM Rob Hennigan has already shown fans he is not concerned with their merchandise preferences. By drafting Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O’Quinn and trading specifically for manageable contracts, Hennigan forces Magic fans to buckle down and prove their loyalty runs further than Dwight Howard. Sure, Hennigan has shown the ambition of youth both in his press conferences and trading decisions, but how long will Alex Martins and owner Richard DeVos let Hennigan have the reigns?
If we time travel back to when Dwight Howard said he will stay, Howard also mentioned DeVos called him and said the Magic just might have to make a trade if a decision wasn’t made. This could have been an empty threat, but Howard was traded in the end. Hennigan’s efforts to revitalize Orlando with younger fans, money, and commitment could be futile once another face of the franchise is found. Former GM Otis Smith increasingly lost control of press conferences as the Stan Van Gundy-Dwight Howard tension rumor mill started. Yet, Hennigan commands player management with a bravado lacking in an Otis Smith deal.
However the Magic decide to test their new acquirements, the team still managed to pull out notoriously dedicated veteran players. SG Arron Afflalo developed under Carmelo Anthony before his stint on the Lakers, which landed him in Orlando. Although Afflalo will be one of the older players on the Magic roster, he can provide a new foundation with Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic will have to focus on rebuilding a defensive attitude with the loss of Jason Richardson, but defense will only come as a result of executing on offense.
With the NBA preseason nearly two months away and no lockout, the Magic will have more time to create an atmosphere of one solid team as opposed to a ball club still adjusting from midseason trades like last year. The media will continue to be extra critical on the Magic as new head coach Jacque Vaughn must decide to either do away with the 3 point philosophy or adjust to a run and slash game. All I know is, those Magic versus Lakers tickets are going to be hot this year.
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