NBA coach Steve Clifford leaves Orlando Magic

MIAMI – The Orlando Magic rebuilding project will not include Steve Clifford, as the team and head coach announced on Saturday that he will not be returning.

Clifford showed a 96-131 record in three years at the helm of the Magic, which nonetheless made the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 after a six-season streak without taking part in the spring tournament.

This season, the Magic have been wracked with injuries and the team traded a good chunk of their core – Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon.

Magic executives have said the decision is mutual. The Orlando team have gone 21-51 this season and are now looking to young players and draft picks.

This is the third head coach position to become vacant in the past week in the NBA. Brad Stevens was raised as president of the Boston Celtics as the Portland Trail Blazers and head coach Terry Stotts cut ties by mutual agreement.

The Magic’s next head coach will be the team’s sixth since February 2015. Jacque Vaughn, James Borrego, Scott Skiles, Frank Vogel and Clifford all held the position during that time.