What Will Sean Sweeney Provide for the Magic Next Season?

It has already been more than three months since the Orlando Magic named Sean Sweeney as their next head coach, and the time is fast approaching for Sweeney to show what this team can do under his leadership.

After a respectable career as an assistant with various organizations, Sweeney steps into a head coaching role for the first time, and he will be tasked with leading the Magic to greater heights. The team found its footing under former coach Jamahl Mosley, and it has what it takes to make the playoffs, but can it go further?

Unlike other first-time head coaches, Sweeney is inheriting a talented, playoff-ready roster. That is good for him, but it also comes with increased expectations.

Recently, I joined my colleague RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic to talk about the hire of Sweeney and what he can do for the organization. Below, you can find my comments:

"We heard the rumblings of the candidates who could occupy this position after Jamahl Mosley was fired. You know, we heard about the more experienced options, the Billy Donovans of the world, the Jeff Van Gundys. But when Sweeney's name popped up and started gaining traction, I found this to be interesting.

On one hand, they're taking a risk on another rookie head coach who, interestingly enough, comes from the Dallas Mavericks’ coaching tree. I know he spent last year with the Spurs, but just like Jamahl Mosley, both of them spent time in that organization before eventually making their way to Orlando. And I think that Sweeney has the capability and the coaching philosophies intact that can help this team reclaim its defensive identity that it was so predicated on.

And we're talking about a team that was dominant defensively, RJ, a couple of seasons ago. They were top three last season; they fell out of the top 10, right? So for whatever reason- injuries, inconsistencies, or both- they were not the same on that end of the floor.

So I think he'll help rebuild that. Also, I believe that his offensive philosophy that is predicated on spacing the floor and, once you have the ball, you become the point guard sort of mentality, will take some getting used to for this group, but it's something they desperately need. 

You know, we've seen a lot of their actions in the past couple of seasons where they got into them slowly. When they tried to pick up the pace and increase tempo, they made more mistakes. So, I think he can kind of bring it all together- this confluence of defense and offense- and really help elevate the group. But there are going to be growing pains."