Stein: Frank Vogel expected to be fired after season

It is widely expected that Frank Vogel will be fired by the Orlando Magic following the season, Marc Stein of the New York Times reported in his newsletter.

"Orlando’s ongoing malaise, especially after the promise of an unexpected 8-4 start, make it a widely held assumption in coaching circles that Vogel will be dismissed after the franchise’s sixth successive season out of the playoffs," Stein writes.

Vogel’s uncertain future has been a popular subject over the last few weeks, with some reports saying that Jerry Stackhouse is the Magic’s top option to repalce him.

Vogel is in the second year of a four-year deal, the fourth year of which is a team option, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Vogel has failed to implement any trace of the defensive system that generated such success during his time as coach of the Indiana Pacers. Whether that is Vogel’s fault or that of the defensive liabilities he has had to work with in Orlando is up for debate.

The Magic, at 21-51, currently own the worst record in the Eastern Conference and have shown no signs of improvement in their rebuild. In two seasons with Orlando, Vogel has gone 50-104.

That Vogel was hired by the Rob Hennigan regime does not bode well for the 44-year-old coach should the current brass of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond decide to hand pick a coach of their choosing.

With another offseason of personel change expected following a dissapointing campaign, Vogel’s firing could be the first move in the Magic’s latest reset.

What are your thoughts? Does Vogel deserve the axe?