Scott Skiles becomes frontrunner for Magic coach, according to report

A report from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski suggest that the Orlando Magic have a front runner for their coaching job. Citing league sources, Wojnarowski says that former Magic point guard, and Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles is the leading candidate for the job. Yahoo's top insider also suggests that the Magic's have interest in current Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, but have not wanted to offer draft compensation for the defensive guru.

According to Wojnarowski, the Magic could soon advance into contract negotiations, despite their firm stance on not wanting to rush their coaching hire.

It should come as no surprise that Skiles is a candidate, and a lead man for the job. Previous reports have suggested that Magic ownership wanted Skiles as the teams next head coach. Add in the fact that Skiles has a track record of turning young, struggling teams into playoff contenders and it makes a lot of sense as to why the Magic would go after the 51-year-old.

In his 13-year coaching career, Skiles has led the Suns, Bulls and Bucks to the playoffs six times combined, making it as far as the second round with both the Suns and the Bulls. Skiles has been known as a hard-nosed, defensive minded coach, who doesn't put up with much, and with a young team with defensive minded players on it's roster, it almost makes too much sense to not go after Skiles.