NBA Rumors: The Orlando Magic are hoping to lure Tom Izzo away from college basketball as their next head coach
The Orlando Magic have high hopes for their next head coach.
Since the year 2012, the Magic have four head coaches. That’s an average of a head-coaching change every other year. No ideal. Their hope is that the could end that trend by snagging one of the highest profile of coaches in basketball at the moment.
That’s none other than Tom Izzo, who the Magic are reportedly targeting. As you would expect, luring him away from Michigan State, though, could be extremely difficult.
That won’t keep Orlando from trying, however.
The Orlando Magic have expressed interest in Michigan State coach Tom Izzo for the team's head coaching position, league sources told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 24, 2018
To a certain extent, the Orlando Magic have vastly underperformed over the last few seasons – both on and off the court.
They haven’t made the NBA playoffs since the 2011-12 NBA season, and haven’t won more than 37 games in a season since the 2010-11 season. Just to put all that in reference, that was LeBron James’ first season with the Miami Heat. Yup, it’s been that long.
Izzo, who has enjoyed plenty of success with the Spartans in college basketball, would ideally bring consistency to the organization. A sense of success, accomplishment.
That’s something the Magic haven’t had in the locker room in a very long time – probably not since Stan Van Gundy was let go.
But, again, luring away Izzo won’t be an easy task. Many teams over the last few seasons have attempted to do so, and have come away with someone not named Izzo as their new head coach. But, hey, you can’t knock the Magic for wanting to do their due diligence on every possible candidate.
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Orlando currently has the 6th pick in the NBA Draft, so it’s quite clear they need to hire a head coach soon.