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"As we navigated through our coaching search, we quickly saw that his spirit and leadership strengths made him the clear choice."
"We are confident that his diligence, attention to detail and communication style will help establish the bedrock of our culture moving forward. His commitment and passion to building a sustainable program will help steer our organization for years to come."
"He learned under some of the best coaches in the game today."
"We wanted to find a coach who embodies the type of culture and identity that we are trying to build here in Orlando."
"We feel his attention to details personifies the type of values that will help define our program."
"Most league insiders view him as bright, hard-working and organized."
If you think you are reading quotes describing new Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, you are not. Those are all quotes from the team's hiring of Jacque Vaughn. It doesn't mean that Mosley is not a good hire and it doesn't mean he won't go on to be a great coach. I have no idea nor do the Magic. They are hoping Mosley is the right coach to develop talent and fast-track a rebuild.
Here's hoping he does. I want Mosley to succeed. I want the Magic to get better quickly. I want one of the upcoming top-eight draft picks to become a franchise player.
Maybe Mosley will defy the odds. Recent rebuilds in the NBA tell us the coach hired when the team presses reset to rebuild doesn't last.
In Atlanta, despite drafting Trae Young, Lloyd Pierce- who came with high praise from the coaching fraternity- was fired two-plus years into the Hawks rebuild. Kenny Atkinson got four years in Brooklyn. The Nets got to the playoffs in year three but after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving arrived, they decided Atkinson had to go. In Cleveland, John Beilein lasted 54 games and quit. Ryan Saunders lasted just over a year in Minnesota.
In Philadelphia, Brett Brown did get to coach seven seasons but the Process pressed reset and was not all about building through the draft.
Mosley worked under the likes of George Karl and Rick Carlisle. Jacque Vaughn worked under Greg Popovich and played for Jerry Sloan, Doc Rivers and Roy Williams. Mosley is said to be a great communicator while Vaughn was praised for his ability of connecting with Spurs players during his time in San Antonio.
Mosley has been an assistant many more years than Vaughn. He was the defensive coordinator in Dallas and apparently played a huge role in the development of Luka Doncic. (And if you think the Magic are hiring Mosley with the hopes of luring Luka when he becomes a free agent...STOP IT!)
The Magic's press conference will be full of the same quotes that started this column. We don't know if Wes Unseld Jr. chose the Wizards over the Magic and the team then turned to Mosley. Heck, we don't know if Mosley is the ninth choice. I don't care. He just needs to be the right choice. But if the Magic don't get more talent it won't matter.
Mosley may be the greatest communicator in the world. In the NBA, youth doesn't win titles. Talent wins titles.
The best example for the Magic and Jamahl Mosley is Monty Williams and the Phoenix Suns. Williams was hired after Phoenix fired Earl Watson, who was brought in to help the rebuild in 2016. Watson lasted one season and three games. Then the team failed in hiring Igor Kokoskov, who was fired after winning 19 games in his one season.
But even before Williams was hired Phoenix drafted and traded for young talent that have blossomed into young stars and they added a few pieces via free agency: DeAndre Ayton, Mikal Bridges(draft day trade with Sixers), Cam Johnson(post-draft trade with Minnesota), Cam Payne(free agent), Jae Crowder(free agent) and Chris Paul(trade).
Jamahl Mosley will coach whoever Jeff Weltman puts on the roster. It falls on Weltman and John Hammond to draft well, trade well and find free agent parts to build the roster. If not, the next Magic press conference worth caring about will be introducing the new GM, Vice President and Head Coach.
Final thought: Stan Van Gundy has the most wins as a Magic head coach with 259(regular season). Brian Hill is second with 191 wins and Doc Rivers is third with 171.