NBA Coaches Who Will Be Fired in the Offseason

The NBA season is drawing to a close, and just based on the past couple of weeks, it's clear that some coaches won't be back. 

Seriously, from the Bobcats tanking the season to the Magic just lying down and dying in the aftermath of Dwight Howard's back injury, some franchises are going to endure a shakeup on the sidelines.

The case of the Magic is quite interesting, as their coaching drama started shortly after the team essentially forced Dwight Howard's hand into signing the opt-in clause for next year. Soon, reports surfaced that the All-Star center wouldn't play for head coach Stan Van Gundy (pictured).

More on that saga later, but let's cut to the chase. 

Here are some coaches who will head to the unemployment line this offseason.

No. 5: Scott Skiles, Milwaukee Bucks

A couple of weeks ago, Skiles' Bucks were riding on the backs of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis as they were in a dead heat with the New York Knicks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Then, they lost to the Knicks at home on April 11 before going on a three-game losing streak shortly after, including a loss to the lowly Washington Wizards.

This streak proved costly as the Bucks are now out of the playoffs and once again left searching for answers. Skiles has only led the team to the postseason once in his four years as head coach, and even then, he lost in the first round.

More importantly, Jennings is probably going to leave for greener pastures via free agency. If so, that means a fresh start will be needed in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, such a start won't include Skiles.

No. 4: Randy Wittman, Washington Wizards

Even though the Wizards have shown flashes of promise under Wittman, including a current four-game winning streak, the man isn't going to be back next year. 

He's only in his current position on an interim basis, and given how young the team is, team management will look to bring in a veteran coach with a rep for being a disciplinarian.

More importantly, Wittman's record as a head coach coming into this job was a lowly 100-207.  Though he has some great talent to work with in DC, he'll ultimately be shown the door.

No. 3: Alvin Gentry, Phoenix Suns

Steve Nash is going to be a free agent this summer, and if he signs with a team other than Phoenix, chances are that Gentry will not be retained. 

The fast-paced, high-scoring era made popular by Mike D'Antoni is dying, and Nash leaving would just be the final nail in the coffin. Such a thing happening would mean a culture change in the desert.

Given how Gentry is a former D'Antoni assistant who was only brought in after the team resisted Terry Porter's defense-oriented approach, something tells me he won't be manning the sidelines in Arizona next season.

No. 2: Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic

Well, where do I begin with this one? 

First, Van Gundy claimed that Dwight Howard wanted him fired. Then, while the All-Star center was out with a back injury, rumors surfaced that Howard wouldn't play for the man. 

Though never confirmed, Howard choosing to have back surgery and miss the playoffs didn't help quell that rumor.

It has now reached its boiling point as Howard is apparently "disgusted" with the Magic and will ask for a trade this summer despite opting in for next year.

Oh, and here's the most important part of the story. In the midst of this soap opera, the Magic completely fell apart and went from being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference to being a lowly No. 6 seed. 

Such a collapse just screams that Van Gundy has lost the team and that a change needs to be made ASAP.

No. 1: Paul Silas, Charlotte Bobcats

With their 7-57 record and a losing streak that's currently at 21, it's obvious that the Bobcats are tanking the season. 

The sad part is that when it's all over, Silas will get the blame as team owner Michael Jordan looks to go out with the old and in with the new once he drafts Kentucky's Anthony Davis with the first pick in the draft.

Even sadder about this story is that Silas is a good coach, and this kind of treatment is the last thing he deserves. Unfortunately, when a season is tanked, the first man blamed is almost always the coach, and that won't change at all in this case.