Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith - Fired

[JSD]

Otis Smith was the worst GM in basketball.

The GM coming in should definitely trade Howard and get rid of Turk and Baby with him for cap space and picks. Washington could be a good trading partner with a huge expiring and a lottery pick in a deep draft.

[mctyson]

It is a sad day.  Now who is going to make ridiculous trades for us like Bass for BBD?

[Who]

Otis Smith deserved to be fired. Long overdue.

SVG's dismissal was undeserved but he's not irreplaceable. The Orlando Magic head coaching gig is one of the more attractive openings in the league. Their owner has deep pockets and spares no expense in running his team. They'll be able to get a very good replacement for SVG.

[Lucky17]

Otis Smith deserved to be fired. Long overdue.

SVG's dismissal was undeserved but he's not irreplaceable. The Orlando Magic head coaching gig is one of the more attractive openings in the league. Their owner has deep pockets and spares no expense in running his team. They'll be able to get a very good replacement for SVG.

Adonal Foyle might be the guy to take over for Smith. No idea whether he's up to the task.

I wonder if Nate McMillan will interview for the heading coaching gig in Orlando. Patrick Ewing? Brian Shaw?

[Celts Fan 92]

Ol Otis was a garbage GM who built a team of washed up volume shooters around Dwight Howard took long enough to fire him long overdue lol

[Lucky17]

Here's Otis' body of work:

http://hoopshype.com/general_managers/otis_smith.htm

[RebusRankin]

SVG gets hired quickly not so sure about Smith but then Billy Knight did get multiple gigs.

[Who]

Otis Smith deserved to be fired. Long overdue.

SVG's dismissal was undeserved but he's not irreplaceable. The Orlando Magic head coaching gig is one of the more attractive openings in the league. Their owner has deep pockets and spares no expense in running his team. They'll be able to get a very good replacement for SVG.

Adonal Foyle might be the guy to take over for Smith. No idea whether he's up to the task.

I wonder if Nate McMillan will interview for the heading coaching gig in Orlando. Patrick Ewing? Brian Shaw?

They need a proven coach to convince Dwight Howard to stay. So I can't see them hiring a rookie head coach like Ewing or Shaw. They need someone with credibility. A proven resume.

Like when Ewing got Pat Riley back in the early 1990s with the Knicks. That's the type of big name coach with instant credibility that they need.

I expect Phil Jackson to be their first phone call. Then Jerry Sloan along with Nate McMillan and Mike D'Antoni. So those three guys look to be the top candidates (with JVG ruled out due to Stan) after Phil Jackson.

Phil Jackson has been hugely complimentary of Dwight Howard in the past. Called Dwight his first choice player to build a franchise around (not LeBron). A big money contract (say $10-12mil per annum). Promise of roster upgrades elsewhere. A year's sabbatical / rest to recharge his batteries. Orlando could make a very attractive offer to Phil Jackson.

[snowball]

It is a sad day.  Now who is going to make ridiculous trades for us like Bass for BBD?

BBD played very well in the series against Indiana.
Honestly I think the verdict is still out on that trade.

[Fafnir]

It is a sad day.  Now who is going to make ridiculous trades for us like Bass for BBD?

BBD played very well in the series against Indiana.
Honestly I think the verdict is still out on that trade.

He played very poorly next to Dwight Howard, which is what they acquired him to do.

He upped his production/role admirably in Howard's absence but still wasn't great overall. His RB% was only a 14 as a C, in that series the Pacers were getting nearly HALF of their missed shots against the Magic starters. Also his TS% was below .500 and his team defense was as limited as it was in boston.

He did do a very good job taking care of either West or Hibbert when he got to check them in the post. Unfortunately Ryan Anderson was so weak that they took turns going nuts.

Baby's shown he can step into the bigger role for flashes, but he can't sustain it. But then again with the lack of help for him down low I can't really blame him, Pacers were just far too much for him and his team.

[nickagneta]

SVG has that Scotty Skiles syndrome, or maybe it the other way around. He's a great basketball mind and a darn good coach, but only for a year or three before his players hate him and decide they don't want to be anywhere near him ever again. So as a GM you either have to turn your roster over on a regular basis or fire the coach.

I don't see Otis Smith getting another GM job ANYTIME soon.

[Finkelskyhook]

Otis Smith deserved to be fired. Long overdue.

SVG's dismissal was undeserved but he's not irreplaceable. The Orlando Magic head coaching gig is one of the more attractive openings in the league. Their owner has deep pockets and spares no expense in running his team. They'll be able to get a very good replacement for SVG.

Adonal Foyle might be the guy to take over for Smith. No idea whether he's up to the task.

I wonder if Nate McMillan will interview for the heading coaching gig in Orlando. Patrick Ewing? Brian Shaw?

They need a proven coach to convince Dwight Howard to stay. So I can't see them hiring a rookie head coach like Ewing or Shaw. They need someone with credibility. A proven resume.

Like when Ewing got Pat Riley back in the early 1990s with the Knicks. That's the type of big name coach with instant credibility that they need.

I expect Phil Jackson to be their first phone call. Then Jerry Sloan along with Nate McMillan and Mike D'Antoni. So those three guys look to be the top candidates (with JVG ruled out due to Stan) after Phil Jackson.

Phil Jackson has been hugely complimentary of Dwight Howard in the past. Called Dwight his first choice player to build a franchise around (not LeBron). A big money contract (say $10-12mil per annum). Promise of roster upgrades elsewhere. A year's sabbatical / rest to recharge his batteries. Orlando could make a very attractive offer to Phil Jackson.

They bring Jackson on with Howard and whatever ragtag roster is left and we'll find out how truly overrated Herman Muenster is as a coach. 

[dark_lord]

for pure drama, i would love to see jeff van gundy get the job 

[celticinorlando]

orlando also fired a pretty successful doc rivers...who went on to win a title in boston

[ManUp]

SVG has that Scotty Skiles syndrome, or maybe it the other way around. He's a great basketball mind and a darn good coach, but only for a year or three before his players hate him and decide they don't want to be anywhere near him ever again. So as a GM you either have to turn your roster over on a regular basis or fire the coach.

I don't see Otis Smith getting another GM job ANYTIME soon.

I like the Scott Skiles comparison. I think both guys are good for young scrappy teams learning to play and win in the NBA. I don't think they're good for veteran teams trying to win Championships.