The Magic will add David Fizdale to their pool of head coaching candidates, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel writes, the two parties have a forthcoming interview scheduled.
Fizdale will have at least one leg up on other reported candidates in that he’s served as a head coach in the NBA previously, although there’s no indication that that would necessarily impact the team’s decision. While Jerry Stackhouse, David Vanterpool and Ime Udoka have all logged time as assistant coaches, Fizdale coached the Grizzlies through one and a half seasons until his dismissal last November.
Prior to the head coaching gig in Memphis, Fizdale served as an instrumental assistant coach with the state rival Heat. He’s said to be in the mix for several other vacancies around the league, having been reported to agree to interviews with the Knicks, Hornets, Hawks and Suns.
The Magic remain a forlorn pile of young assets and bloated contracts heading into the second year of general manager John Hammond‘s tenure with the franchise. Adding a passionate young coach like Fizdale could serve the organization eight seasons removed from its last 40-win campaign well.