In a surprising twist, Scott Skiles is stepping down after just one year as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. The team shortly confirmed the news.
Scott Skiles resigns as Magic coach after just 1 year
The veteran coach is stepping down despite leading Orlando to a 10-win improvement in his first season.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
“After much thought and careful consideration, I and I alone, have come to the conclusion that I am not the right head coach for this team,” Skiles said in a statement. “Therefore, effective immediately, I resign my position as head coach of the Orlando Magic. I realize this type of decision can cause much speculation. The reality though is in the first sentence. It is simple and true. Any other rumors are pure conjecture.”
Robbins reports that Skiles has been "unhappy" for "a few months." At least one Magic player was stunned by the news.
WHAT THE FUCK
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) May 12, 2016
Skiles led the Magic to a 35-47 record, a 10-game improvement from the previous season. Under his watch, Orlando’s defense improved and several young players, including 2014 first-round pick Aaron Gordon and center Nikola Vucevic, made strides.
However, it’s possible Skiles’ reputation for burning out his players has manifested itself sooner than in previous stops. While the Magic did improve from the previous season, they also faded badly in the second half of the year after a promising start. Second-year point guard Elfird Payton and fellow backcourt mate Victor Oladipo saw their development stagnate, while starting small forward Tobias Harris was traded to the Pistons after he failed to fit into Skiles’ scheme.
The Harris trade was made to increase the Magic’s cap space, but it also illustrated Skiles’ preference for veterans. Harris was dealt for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova, two players Skiles coached in Milwaukee. Harris’ game is now blossoming under Stan Van Gundy in Detroit, while Jennings and Ilyasova took minutes from young Magic players and are now in unrestricted free agency.
Skiles was hired last May and given a four-year contract to replace the fired Jacque Vaughn. At the time, his status as a former Magic player and reputation for demanding accountability helped set him apart from other candidates. In the end, though, that era ended far quicker than anyone expected.
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