The Orlando Magic are welcoming Scott Skiles home.
The team announced Friday that the 51-year-old Skiles has been named the 12th head coach in the franchise's history, returning to the franchise where he spent four seasons as a player in the 1990s. Skiles was also introduced at a press conference Friday.
After removing Jacque Vaughn as coach at mid-season and finishing the year with interim coach James Borrego, the Magic quickly honed in on Skiles this offseason, believing him to be a strong organizational fit. The no-nonsense Skiles has a track record of turning teams around quickly, being a strong player motivator, and getting the most out of players on the defensive end - steps the youthful Magic appear ready to take.
General manager Rob Hennigan and ownership were believed to favor Skiles throughout the process, even though Tom Thibodeau's name was floated and Mike Woodson, Mark Jackson, and Fred Hoiberg were reportedly interviewed. Skiles had interviewed with the New Orleans Pelicans, too, all the while remaining close to a deal with the Magic.
Hennigan highlighted Skiles' style of play and the culture he can help instill as key reasons behind his hiring:
Scott (Skiles) clearly distinguished himself as a tremendous fit. Our young roster will benefit greatly from Scott’s extensive head coaching experience and commitment to teaching smart, physical, unselfish basketball. We believe in Scott’s ability to establish a culture of winning habits and accountability that will help guide our team in a positive direction.
Along with the ideological fit, Skiles also brings a familiar face back to Florida. He was selected by the team in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, which introduced the Magic to the league. He played five seasons in Orlando, etching his name into the NBA's record books in December of 1990, when he dished out 30 assists in a victory over the Denver Nuggets. The record still stands 25 years later.
The Magic also touted Skiles' success behind NBA benches, an idea that's a bit more tenuous. Skiles has spent 13 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, amassing a 443-433 record and failing to get past the second round of the playoffs, which he's only reached twice.
There's something to be said for being the right person for the job at a specific time - Skiles has made mediocre young teams good in the past, and the fit feels right with where Orlando is on their development curve. His contract is reportedly a four-year deal, which is roughly his average stay with his previous jobs.
Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, and the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft make up a nice young core, one Skiles should be able to turn into a formidable defensive unit, and Skiles even highlighted a top-five defense as one of his goals for 2015-16.
He'll need to be more flexible and creative at the offensive end, something he's been slow to do at previous stops but began to embrace at the end of his Milwaukee Bucks tenure.
Experience, culture, and strategy are easy sells to a fanbase, and those with higher hopes can justifiably be disappointed with a retread hire, especially given how well first-time head coaches have performed in recent years. As it stands, Skiles is the new man in charge, and there are parts of the job he does very well. The marriage will almost surely see the Magic take a step forward over the next season or two.
