Magic announce firing of coach Jamahl Mosley

The Orlando Magic are making a move that felt like it had been building for months.

They’ve fired head coach Jamahl Mosley after five seasons, with Shams Charania of ESPN first reporting the news. The team later made it official, with president Jeff Weltman calling it a difficult decision but saying it was time for “a new voice and fresh perspective.”

That pretty much sums it up.

The Magic went 45-37, landed the No. 8 seed, and lost in the first round for the third straight year. This one hurt more than the others. They had Detroit down 3-1 and couldn’t close it, including that brutal Game 7 after blowing a big lead earlier in the series.

And fair or not, that’s usually where the finger points.

Mosley did help guide a rebuild. He took a young roster, developed it, and got it to the playoffs. But the next step never came. Not against Cleveland. Not against Boston. Not this year against the Detroit Pistons.

Injuries played a role over the past two seasons. Expectations still rose anyway, especially after the addition of Desmond Bane. By the end, the Magic were in the play-in mix, lost there, had to claw into the playoffs, then let a series slip away.

That’s a tough sell to run it back.

Weltman, who received an extension during the season, will now lead the search. Names already floating include Billy Donovan, Darvin Ham, Tom Thibodeau, and Dusty May.

And Mosley may not be out long. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported previously that he has interest from the New Orleans Pelicans.

So here we go. Another opening. Another search. Another team convinced the next voice can get it over the top.