http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/201 ... oint-guard
I miss Stan being Stan already.
Looks as if Stan will be out of the league for at least a season β unfortunately β but paid for 2012-13 by the Magic.
The Magic will name a replacement for Van Gundy after hiring a general manager.
What will the team look like under a new coach?
Depends on Dwight Howard.
If he signs a longterm deal β come on, who wants to bet their mortgage that he's gone? β you should see roughly the same offense.
Critics grumped at times about the Magic shooting too many 3-pointers under Van Gundy, but you can't knock their success. When they were on, playing off Howard, they were lethal.
They were a poor man's version of the San Antonio Spurs, who played off Tim Duncan and fired away. The difference is that the Spurs have had two stars (Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) who could routinely create along with shooting 3s.
If Howard stays, the next coach more than likely sticks with an offense built on this inside-out philosophy, given the Magic's current personnel and their salary-cap restraints.
Now if Howard wants out β and that seems to be the prevailing conjecture β all bets are off. He still has the leverage in choosing his next destination, hurting the value on the Magic's return (barring a team willing to rent him or a change in his trade-demand list.)
Losing Howard to the Brooklyn Nets, for instance, would mean the Magic are in a rebuilding mode, with the offense totally retooled.
Without Howard here to draw double teams, maybe J.J. Redick (non-guaranteed contact) and Ryan Anderson (restricted free agent) β their top 3-point threats β will be traded and cheaper players brought in to begin a salary-cap slash.
Jameer Nelson could also come off the books if he doesn't execute a player option by next Friday.
Deals for expiring contracts could be the goal.
If this re-fresh button is pushed, the new coach will have to patiently understand the direction and work with an evolving roster.
DocRivers did it as a rookie coach after GM John Gabriel took dramatic steps to remake the Magic in the summer of 1999 by trading Horace Grant, Nick Anderson and PennyHardaway (to eventually clear cap space for TracyMcGrady and Grant Hill.)
Rivers gave birth to a feel-good team of cast-offs called "Heart & Hustle" in 1999-2000.
Could Heart & Hustle II be on its way?
The new coach better be flexible. It was no surprise then that Brian Shaw β Indiana Pacers assistant and a former Magic point guard -- emphasized to me last month that he can coach any style.
He worked under Phil Jackson in L.A for seven years, but he didn't want to be labeled as a guy "who only knows the Lakers' triangle (offense). I've played and coached in a lot of different systems."
In my opinion, there will never be another Heart 'n' Hustle. They were the best.
