NBA Rumors: Brian Shaw Is Perfect Replacement for Stan Van Gundy in Orlando

The Orlando Magic need to hire Indiana Pacers associate coach Brian Shaw to be their next head coach. Shaw is ready for head coaching duties, and he would work well with Magic star Dwight Howard. 

For the record, I'm against allowing any player to determine who the head coach is, but that doesn't mean a team shouldn't look at coaches that will work well with a player. 

We'll get into that in a minute. First, let's look at the rumors. Shaw appears to be one of the Magic's main targets. 

Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick relayed this information: 

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Sources said Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone and Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be strong candidates.

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The Magic's interest in Shaw is even stronger in this quote from the New York Post's Peter Vecsey:

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Sources tell me Shaw, the Pacers associate coach and a former Magic player, is the preference of the DeVos family.

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Shaw is part of a wonderful coaching staff at Indiana. Before that, he spent seven seasons working under Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

With the Lakers, he undoubtedly learned the nuances of the triangle from Jackson. Also, he would have seen the master go to work in managing and motivating a team. 

This would serve Shaw well in Orlando. With a center like Howard, working as a team is always going to be a huge bonus. Dwight needs good guard play to help him get off his shots, and when he is in the block, he commands double teams. 

This puts a huge value on ball movement. Dwight moves well, and the triangle would be a nice option for this offense. This doesn't mean they would have to run the triangle with Shaw. The Pacers are not running one this year, but it would be a nice option. 

Here is Larry Bird, quoted by SI's Ian Thompson, paraphrasing a quote from Shaw when Shaw interviewed with the Pacers. 

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He said, "I like the triangle, it's great, but you've got to have the right players to run it. I would use part of it, but it's according to the talent that we have. You've got to have the right guys."

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Shaw has played in many systems as a point guard. He understands basketball. He will identify the best system for this team, and he will get his players on board. 

The other big key here is that Shaw understands how to relate with stars. He had a great relationship with Kobe Bryant, and Bryant wanted him to take over the Lakers when Jackson left. 

Bryant is as stubborn and competitive superstar as there is. If Shaw could get his support, he will be able to get Dwight's. 

Brian Shaw deserves this coaching opportunity, and there is no better candidate for this position.