In the long-awaited end of a complicated process, it simply came down to this for the Orlando Magic:Magic General Manager Otis Smith fired Brian Hill as coach on Wednesday because he didn't believe Hill would get the most out of the team with his style and strategy if he returned.
Some of the issues in deciding Hill's fate, according to those close to the situation, were Hill's inability to adjust during the Magic's midseason slump; his lack of offensive imagination; and whether he was developing young players Dwight Howard, Darko Milicic, Jameer Nelson, Trevor Ariza and rookie J.J. Redick to their potential.
One veteran player, requesting anonymity, said he didn't sense any of his teammates played a part in forcing out Hill. Hill's first stint with the Magic ended in 1997 with his firing after a player coup.
Magic officials are expected to meet with the media Thursday.
"Brian's contributions to the Orlando Magic have been tremendous," said President Bob Vander Weide said in a statement released by the Magic on Wednesday night. "We appreciate everything Brian did for us as a head coach in taking us to this point, and hope he decides to stay with the organization."
Vander Weide told the Sentinel on May 2 that the team would take "two to three weeks" to "go through the process" of evaluating his team's past season and the job that Hill did.
Twenty-one days later, Hill was out.
The Magic had said in early March when the team was struggling that they still had confidence in Hill. Smith told the Sentinel before the Magic faced the Houston Rockets on March 11 that he expected Hill to "fulfill his contractual obligations" through 2009.
Hill had even said he was not worried about "my job security."
But by the end of the season, Hill was receiving lukewarm endorsements from Vander Weide and Smith.
Vander Weide said after the Magic were ousted by the Detroit Pistons that he was "satisfied" with his team, and a day later, Smith said he "expected" Hill to return.
Then, just before Hill and the Magic decided to part, a club official said Hill was "frustrated" with the job.
Hill was hired for the second time by the Magic on May 24, 2005, taking over for interim coach Chris Jent. Jent had replaced Johnny Davis, who was fired as head coach.
Hill was fired the first time after a player revolt in 1997, ending a near four-year run in which Hill took Orlando to the NBA Finals in 1995.
In his first season back with the team in 2005-06, Hill led the Magic to a 36-46 record -- the same record they compiled under Davis and Jent the previous season.
Last season, the Magic jumped to a 13-4 start but faded badly before making a run to barely reach the playoffs. They were swept in four games in the first round by the Pistons.
Hill became a target of fan criticism on sports-radio talk shows. One fan started a FireBrianHill.org Web site.
There was speculation that Hill and Smith had some philosophical differences, most notably with the style of offense and Hill's use of certain players such as Redick and Milicic.
When told that Smith said the Magic's biggest need this offseason was a scorer, Hill said he was not comfortable giving his opinion, adding he would "defer" to the general manager.
Since Chuck Daly resigned in 1999, the Magic have had four head coaches -- Doc Rivers, Davis, Jent and Hill.
As far as replacements for Hill, veteran coaches Larry Brown, Lenny Wilkens, Stan Van Gundy and Mike Fratello could be available. Veteran Rick Carlisle was fired this season by the Indiana Pacers. Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni and Dallas assistant Sam Vincent are also possible candidates. The Indianapolis Star reported today that Stan Van Gundy has turned down an offer to coach the Pacers, and the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina reported that Vincent will be named the Bobcats' coach by Friday, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Florida Gators Coach Billy Donovan, who has led the Gators to back-to-back national championships, has expressed a desire to one day coach in the NBA. But Donovan apparently is waiting on a contract extension from the school. At a news conference Wednesday in New York, where he received the New York Athletic Club's Winged Foot Award, Donovan said he expected to complete an extension at UF.
"I'd like to get it done," Donovan told The Associated Press. "It's not me. People think, 'He's trying to hold this up.' I would have liked to have done it a couple of days after [the championship game.]"
