NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic Must Avoid Making Desperation Offers to Phil Jackson

The Orlando Magic do not have a general manager right now, but they should not needlessly overpay to acquire Phil Jackson’s services in that role.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick, sources close to the situation found that the Magic have not given up on their dream to land the 11-time NBA champion in some capacity. However, his demands are too costly for a franchise already rife with turmoil.

Just look at what Jackson’s camp has proposed to the organization.

For starters, the Hall of Famer has no desire to spend much time in Orlando and has instead requested to work remotely. One source claimed that he wants to be in the Magic Kingdom just one weekend a month and do no more than six community appearances in that same time period.

Then the team would have to stock their bench and front office with Phil’s people. Sam Vincent, former Charlotte coach and assistant to Jackson in Chicago, would have a key front-office role; Brian Shaw, former Lakers assistant, would become the head coach; Scottie Pippen, who won six titles with Jackson, would become Shaw’s assistant.

We haven’t even gotten into the price of all this yet.

On top of a salary that would likely be competitive to the $12 million he earned during his last season as the Lakes coach, the Zen Master will apparently be looking to grab a minority ownership stake in the franchise.

If all of that would be the cost to bring in a first-time general manager in a hope to convince Dwight Howard to stay, it simply isn’t worth it.

Jackson is an incredible coach that knows how to get the most stubborn stars to keep their ego in check. He’s a wonderful motivator that proved, time and again, that coaching matters in the NBA. But he has no experience as a GM and has never built a championship team from the ground up, especially one without a major star.

Howard doesn’t have the skills to carry a team like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant did for Phil, and it’s unlikely that he will stay around after alienating his fanbase in Florida.

Orlando is going to have to face the facts—it is going into a rebuilding mode this offseason. There is no point in sacrificing millions of dollars to install a GM who would be little more than a name. The Magic need to find a young, hungry, hard-working executive to lead this franchise through the lean years as fast as possible.

Phil Jackson might be a great coach, but he’s not the answer for the Magic front office.