4 best Jamahl Mosley replacements as next Magic head coach

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4 best Jamahl Mosley replacements as next Magic head coach

Alex House, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, May 4, 2026 ·

6 min read

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Jamahl Mosley might as well been a member of the undead during the first round of the NBA playoffs. Despite all signs pointing to his imminent firing, the 47-year-old guided the Orlando Magic to a 3-1 series lead versus the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons . What would have been his fate if the squad completed the upset? That scenario will officially remain hypothetical.

A Franz Wagner injury and a massive offensive collapse doomed both the team and its now-former head coach . New questions have emerged. Who can lead this franchise to sustained success? And are they attainable?

While the Magic get set to begin a critical HC search , it only makes sense for us to highlight some potential candidates who could potentially elevate and rejuvenate the franchise. There are established and unproven options that warrant consideration for what is sneakily an intriguing job.

Mike Budenholzer has the credentials

There are multiple ways to look at this team’s 2026 postseason trip: Orlando overachieved by going the distance with a 60-win Pistons squad, or it embarrassingly blew a 24-point lead at home in a potential close-out contest after scoring just 19 points in the second half. One can go even deeper and argue that the Magic should been better than a No. 8 seed after acquiring Desmond Bane in the offseason.

Injuries plagued this group, but that has been the case for a few years now. This franchise cannot just hope that its luck balances out. Perhaps it would be wise to bring in someone who has experienced both triumph and stinging disappointment. Battle-tested Mike Budenholzer is a logical choice to be Orlando’s new head coach.

While there have been some low points during his career — early playoff exits with the Milwaukee Bucks and a disastrous one-year stint with the Phoenix Suns — the 56-year-old knows what it takes to climb the ladder in the East.

The Atlanta Hawks reached unprecedented heights under his helm, earning the top seed with a 60-22 record during the 2014-15 campaign and reaching the conference finals for the first time since relocating from St. Louis. Budenholzer also posted a 60-win season with the Bucks and guided them to their second-ever NBA championship in 2021. He withstood playoff agony, and if not for some untimely injuries, Milwaukee could have enjoyed another deep run or two.

The two-time Coach of the Year learned from Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich and understands the importance of building cohesion. He deserved more grace on the Bucks and faced tumult in the brief “Big Three” era on the Suns. I firmly believe Mike Budenholzer can help the Paolo Banchero , Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane-led Magic become a presence in the top-half of the Eastern Conference.

Some may call him a retread, but this “recycled coach” owns a coveted piece of jewelry that this organization has never possessed.

Sam Cassell deserves a shot somewhere

Starting the list with a champ who has coached four different squads and moving directly to someone who has never manned the sidelines may be a bit jarring, but this longtime assistant boasts quite the track record.

Sam Cassell spent a decade and a half as a point guard, winning three championships and earning an All-NBA Second-Team selection, and he has now spent another 15-plus years on the coaching circuit. The 2004 All-Star offers invaluable knowledge having played such a crucial position, and he made an impact in the development of John Wall , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey , among others.

Imagine what he can do for Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black . Cassell could also bestow some wisdom on Banchero, the man entrusted to be the long-term face of the franchise. He commands respect and can obviously work with an array of personalities. Orlando requires that type of stability.

If the Magic are going to pursue a first-timer, then this adaptable individual seems like the ideal fit. We will get to another potential newbie in a bit.

Tom Thibodeau can steady the Magic

Although he has never won the big one during his 13-year NBA head coaching career, Tom Thibodeau has revived two iconic franchises that were languishing in irrelevance before he arrived. The Chicago Bulls have only one conference finals appearance and one 60-plus-win campaign post-Michael Jordan. The New York Knicks have competed in the conference finals just once since 2000. Any guesses who the common denominator is?

Additionally, Thibodeau helped the Minnesota Timberwolves end a 14-year playoffs drought in the 2017-18 season. He breathes new life into teams and gives them an identity. A hard-nosed, defensively-minded figure who has struggled to put it all together in the postseason may not sound perfect for Orlando, as their needs revolve more around offense, but an organization can only go so far without a strong culture.

Thibodeau can get the Magic to play a more consistent brand of basketball, which is what fans expected after the squad took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in 2024. I will not deny the possible drawbacks of his physically-demanding coaching style — this group already has enough injury problems — but a solid foundation is essential.

Even if he were to wear out his welcome in Orlando like he has in other places, there is benefit to the experience that can be gained in a Tom Thibodeau regime . Though, perhaps the Magic can obtain similar experience with a rookie HC.

Dave Bliss has the versatile background to boost the Magic

This one jumps out as a wild-card option, but that term might undersell Dave Bliss’ diverse résumé.

The former Georgia Bulldogs center has worked two stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder , first serving in the video analyst and player development department in the early 2010s before eventually taking a senior player development role in 2018 and an ongoing assistant coaching job beginning in 2019. Before he helped OKC become the NBA’s latest juggernaut, he was the head coach of the German national team and helped with player development on the Knicks.

This man has paid his dues. Now, after interviewing for the Suns’ head coaching post in 2025, he could find himself on Orlando’s radar. The Magic crave continued prosperity, and maybe they can find it in the place that has become the league’s standard.

Bliss should have a multifaceted approach after wearing different hats across his career. I think he can connect with Orlando’s young core, and once that vital objective is achieved, a bright future could await.

These four men all boast valuable traits and accolades, but the Magic have their own vision. Hopefully, it equates to a contending basketball team.

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