Should the Magic Hire Billy Donovan After Firing Jamahl Mosley? The Awkward 2007 History No One Forgets
The Orlando Magic just fired Jamahl Mosley after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Pistons. The leading candidate to replace him is Billy Donovan. And the entire NBA is collectively raising an eyebrow because of how Donovan’s last engagement with the Magic ended.
Quick history lesson. In late May 2007, Donovan accepted the Magic head coaching job after winning his second national championship at Florida. A contract was signed. A press conference happened. And then, days later, Donovan changed his mind, walked away, and went back to coaching the Gators. The Magic let him go. Stan Van Gundy ended up with the job.
That is the kind of thing that makes the second engagement awkward. According to CBS Sports, some league sources are wondering whether the 2007 episode might push the Magic toward a different candidate this time around. Optically, you can see the case for being cautious. Personally, the team that got jilted does not usually offer the same ring again.
Here is what has changed. Donovan is no longer a college coach. He coached the Thunder for five years and the Bulls for six. He is a known NBA quantity. He runs a clean offense, gets the most out of his rosters, and recently stepped away from Chicago at the end of his contract. He is available, and he is good.
For the Magic, who have Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and a defensive-minded roster ready to take the next step, hiring Donovan would be a no-frills competency upgrade. Mosley is a good man. He developed a young core. But the playoff collapses, three first-round exits in three years, told ownership that the ceiling was not going to crack open with him in charge.
Donovan brings playoff coaching experience. He took the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. He took the Bulls to the playoffs twice in a half-rebuild. He has coached MVP-level players. He would know how to handle Paolo Banchero, who is firmly in MVP-conversation territory.
Dusty May, currently the Michigan head coach, is the other name on the short list. CBS Sports and ClutchPoints both report he is considered a dream target. Michigan’s NCAA tournament run last year put May on the NBA’s radar. He runs an NBA-style offense and is comfortable with veterans, which sounds good but is hard to verify until he is actually doing it.
The case for May is upside. The case for Donovan is certainty. Front offices typically pick certainty after a playoff collapse. Owners want a known commodity, not a rookie experiment.
Paolo Banchero’s preference, whatever it is, matters here. The Magic are not in a position to bring in a coach the star players do not trust. If Banchero wants Donovan, Donovan probably gets the job. If Banchero wants a younger voice, May might leapfrog.
The Magic’s window is now. Banchero is 23 and entering his prime. Wagner is 24. The supporting cast is young and on team-friendly deals. This is not a long-term rebuild. This is a team that needs to win playoff series in 2026-27 and beyond.
Billy Donovan, despite the 2007 wrinkle, fits that brief. The Magic should not let an 18-year-old story get in the way of an obvious hire. If the second engagement actually happens this time, the only question that matters is whether the team wins playoff games. Donovan has a real chance to deliver on that. The Magic should make the call.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
