Report: Magic believe they can beat out Grizzlies for Frank Vogel
Orlando would seem to have more upside to offer
Player free agency doesn't take place until July 1, but the free agency of Frank Vogel is full steam ahead. After the Indiana Pacers decided Vogel wasn't the coach for them following their first-round playoff ousting, Vogel became one of the hottest names on the market. At the same time, the Memphis Grizzlies parted ways with Dave Joerger and the Orlando Magic saw their coach Scott Skiles suddenly resign after his first year coaching the team.
Now it looks like both teams are in hot pursuit of Vogel with just three coaching vacancies (the Houston Rockets are the other team) heading toward the summer. According to ESPN, the Magic believe they can overtake the Grizzlies in the hiring process to lure Vogel toward their roster and young talent.
Story going online now co-scribed with @Chris_Broussard: Sources say Magic optimistic they'll beat out Grizzlies in race to hire Frank Vogel
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 19, 2016
Coaching sources say Orlando thinks it can win the race to hire Vogel by week's end. Vogel was Memphis' top choice before the Magic dove in.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 19, 2016
The Grizzlies are obviously the more playoff ready team, having already made it in the West this past season despite an unreal number of injuries down the stretch that had them resorting to signing any D-Leaguer they could find and even kicking the tires on Jordan Farmar. But the free agency uncertainty of Mike Conley would make sense as a reason for hesitancy in Vogel's decision to join Memphis if that is the case.
With the Magic, they have a lot of young talent and intentions of going after a veteran in free agency. Many have assumed Dwight Howard may be the target of Orlando for a reunion, and that could be enough reason to have him anchor a Frank Vogel coached defense. The Magic have a lot of good young talent with Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton, but they haven't progressed much since the rebuild began when Howard was traded to Los Angeles. The potential is certainly there.
