Orlando Magic: Asst Coach Chad Forcier Settling Into New Role

Chad Forcier is settling into his new role as assistant coach with the Orlando Magic

Editor’s Note: You can catch the first part of this interview here.

Just a few days after the Orlando Summer League ended, Chad Forcier’s next objective was helping his daughter purchase a birthday gift for their mom, and his wife.

As she surveyed inside for the right present, Forcier was relaxing in his car waiting for her return while talking to me. Outside of the glee or stress someone could get from snooping for another, Forcier’s summer has been thus far.

He accepted a position from Frank Vogel to become the lead assistant coach on the Orlando Magic after being with the San Antonio Spurs for nine seasons; had to coach the Orlando Blue Summer League Squad; and deal with the regular nuances that a father, husband and family-man would have to deal with when it comes to moving from one state to another.

The long-time assistant coach had his personality in cruise mode, as the biggest news of the day was Tim Duncan announcing his retirement from the NBA after 19 seasons with San Antonio. Forcier spent nine seasons with Duncan on a professional and personal level, and like everyone else who payed tribute to the all-time great, he could only speak highly of “The Big Fundamental.”

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“It’s obviously a seismic occurrent across the landscape of the NBA, and it’s a historical day to see Tim retire,” Forcier began to say.” I can’t say that I was entirely surprised, but I can say when I heard the news this morning, it was still staggering and still took my breath away. It’s a huge moment, and to have to say goodbye to another great one, who was able to do it at such an excellent level for so many years, and to be able have somebody like Tim who you have so much profound respect and admiration for.

When the game loses someone like that, there’s only one thing you can feel and that’s a sense of real loss. I’m excited for Tim and his family that they get to turn the page into another chapter in their lives. The NBA is so much better for having met Tim Duncan, and obviously, the Spurs are so much better for it. I just feel richly, richly blessed and deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to spend nine years with Tim in San Antonio.”

Change is a key cog in the evolution of life and for individuals to take on new opportunities. It’s all about taking a risk. Kevin Durant took a risk to sign the Golden State Warriors; Tim Duncan took a risk to leave swimming for basketball and retire; Forcier, who is use to taking risks, accepted a job offer from the Orlando Magic leaving San Antonio after almost a decade.

The Move To Orlando

Scott Skiles stepped down as head coach of the Orlando Magic on May 12th of this year, Frank Vogel was brought in on May 20th and added Forcier to his staff around late June.

Vogel had interest in adding Forcier to his coaching staff while he was still under contract with the Spurs, and had Magic general manager Rob Henningan contact Spurs general manager R.C. Buford for permission to speak with Forcier.

Buford could’ve denied the Magic permission to speak with Forcier, but didn’t. Once permission was granted, Forcier had a conversation with Vogel and after their conversation, the team made a irresistible offer and a promotion from player development coach to lead assistant.

Change is a key cog in the evolution of life and for individuals to take on new opportunities. It’s all about taking a risk

“The Spurs are always really good about granting permission, to all of us, even if we’re under contract, because they really believe in giving us a chance to explore our options,” Forcier said.

Since the genesis of his NBA coaching career in 2001 with the Detroit Pistons, Forcier has been improving himself as a coach. He’s payed his dues the last 15 seasons, and entering his 16th as a lewd assistant shows that being an unpaid intern for the Sonic in the 90s, working at a side basket for Pete Newell being in charge of player development for nine seasons in San Antonio was all worth it. It’s a culmination of so much and the new job title is vindication to a job title most assistants strive for: NBA Head Coach.

“The opportunity and the offer they presented to me was something I couldn’t say no to,” said Forcier.” Now I’m the lead assistant in Orlando under Frank Vogel. To go from my position, where I was working for nine years in player development for the Spurs to take a step forward and be a lead assistant for a NBA franchise is obviously something I couldn’t say no to. That represented the tremendous opportunity and quantum leap in opportunity.”

Opportunities is what Forcier has earned throughout his entire coaching life, and he’s become an expert at capitalizing off of them. From George Karl having him as an intern while he still in college, to Rick Carlisle giving him his first NBA job. It’s the time and dedication he puts in to become great. Vogel is the latest person that can be added to Forcier’s list of people who have given him an opportunity.

Building The Magic

Of both of the Orlando White and Blue teams during the Summer League, there was only one player on either team with NBA experience and that was Devyn Marble (Blue). When it came to Marble’s future, Forcier wasn’t too sure about it.

“I’m not sure what his future opportunities will be at this point,” he said.

Marble’s $980,431 salary would’ve became fully guaranteed for the upcoming season if he wasn’t waived before July 16th, as he was acquired and waived by the Clippers on July 15th, clearing his salary from their books.

When it comes to which players from Summer League who could be line for a training camp invite this fall in October, coach Forcier wasn’t too unsure on which players would be there. He did, though, enjoy coaching the team and their hard work on the court, despite his the blue team not racking up many wins.

A few players that will most certainly be at training camp this fall for Orlando is Nikola Vucevic and the newly acquired bigs in Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo. Orlando’s new troika of bigs has been questioned because a logjam seems evident, and has left many to surmise that Vucevic would be the odd man out.

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Nothing is edged in stone, but it does bring up comparisons akin to the Phoenix Suns at the start of 2014-’15. The team attempted to have a trio of starting-caliber point guards with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Isaiah Thomas. It didn’t workout, as Thomas was traded at the deadline to the Boston Celtics.

“I have no idea, it’s way too early. Those are things we won’t be able to answer in the early part of the year. Things like rotations and what not always take awhile to settle into. You kinda have a period of trial and error and allowing people to produce a body of work, and lineups to produce a body of work. So, that’ll take awhile.”

The Orlando Magic have been influx ever since the Dwight Howard trade in 2012, and have been going around in circles with their rebuild. Earlier in the ’15-’16 season the team traded Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons and dealt Victor Oladipo on draft night to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Two of their budding stars are now on youthful playoff teams. Teams that Tobias and Oladipo could’ve been on in Orlando as the budding stars of the team.

Forcier acknowledges that the Magic roster has “really changed” since draft night, but have been active in free agency to make the necessary improvements.

Over the course of free agency, Biyombo inked a 4-year, $70M deal; Jeff Green signs a 1-year, $15M contract; and Evan Fournier re-signs on a 5-year, $85M deal. The team is making the necessary moves to compete after a 35-47 season just a year ago – their most wins since the ’11-’12 lockout season.

“I expect we’ll have an opportunity to improve upon the accomplishments of last year’s team,” Forcier said.” I would have to think that just looking at us on paper in terms of the way the roster is constructed now that we should have a chance to be a pretty solid defense first team. I hope that we’ll be able to be as good defensively as I anticipate we may have the opportunity to be.”

It starts on the defensive side of the court, and last year’s team remained in the middle statically speaking. The team gave up 103.7 points per game (18th) on their own basket and had a defensive rating of 106.8 (16th). They weren’t bad, and weren’t horrible. With the acquisitions of Biyombo and Ibaka to protect the rim, as both were top-10 in total blocks, their team defense should become better.

Defense is key to any team’s success, and that’s a mentality Forcier will bring with him to San Antonio. Being with the Spurs for nine seasons, he’s learned a lot from the people

“I’m hoping to bring a number of things in my years at San Antonio.” Forcier said.” It’s one of those things right now, where the list of what I learned is so long, I’m sure I won’t be able to bring in everything all at once. I’m going to try to do the best I can to see if I can help make the contribution with their player development program in Orlando.

Just overall, philosophically, the number one value with the Spurs was character and the people and who you add to your group, whether it’s your players or coaches or other staff members. It always starts with the character and the type of people that walk through your doors and that’s what hopefully the culture is a reflection of who the people are. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to support that philosophy and stay committed in that philosophy.”

Forcier’s been working so much that he hasn’t had the opportunity to truly enjoy Orlando’s main attraction: Disney World.

He hasn’t been there yet since he’s accepted the job, but his daughter has. As he continues to put in work for Orlando with great expectations, Disney World will be waiting for his arrival once he gets Magic to where they need to be.

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It’s all about growth, and that’s the main objective. He’s already spent a week in the gym with Serge Ibaka and plans on visiting the other players in their respective cities to get to know them on a personal level.

Taking personal time to visit players and workout with them… Now that’s a real coach.

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