The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy and split with general manager Otis Smith on Monday, the culmination of a season in which Orlando was ensnared in a long-running soap opera with Dwight Howard and made another first-round playoff exit.
“It’s time for new leadership and new voices,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a statement. “The disappointment of getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs these past two seasons played a primary role in our decision, as we feel our momentum towards winning a championship has paused.”
Smith and Van Gundy’s problematic relationship with Howard weighed down the team all season after the all-star centre requested a trade.
