Former Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has an “excellent shot” at becoming the next head coach of the Orlando Magic, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line on Tuesday.
Fischer reported that league insiders increasingly believe Donovan is a leading candidate for the opening after Jamahl Mosley departed Orlando to become the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. Fischer added that Donovan is already in discussions with Magic president Jeff Weltman and is expected to meet with him in person soon.
“While I always hesitate to frame any potential hire as the favorite for a job, since NBA matters can be so fluid, coaching insiders across the league’s landscape are very much operating under the belief that former Bulls coach Billy Donovan has an excellent shot at landing the post,” Fischer wrote.
The Magic are also considering Los Angeles Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy, according to the report. Van Gundy has rebuilt his coaching profile as a defensive specialist under Tyronn Lue and has family ties to the organization through former Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy.
Donovan stepped down as Bulls coach on April 21 after six seasons in Chicago. During his NBA coaching career, he has also led the Oklahoma City Thunder and compiled a reputation for player development and offensive structure after a highly successful college run at Florida.
His résumé includes two NCAA championships at Florida and multiple playoff appearances in the NBA. Donovan coached the Thunder from 2015 to 2020 before taking over the Bulls in 2020.
The Orlando opening presents an intriguing situation because the roster is already built around young, established talent. Paolo Banchero averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists during the 2025-26 season, while Franz Wagner added 20.6 points per game despite appearing in only 34 contests.
The Magic also received a major scoring lift from Desmond Bane, who averaged 20.1 points and shot 39.1% from 3-point range across all 82 games. Orlando finished 45-37 and reached the Play-In Tournament before losing to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in seven games during the first round.
That core could appeal to Donovan, whose teams have historically emphasized ball movement, guard play and half-court execution. Orlando already has several versatile defenders in Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., giving the roster flexibility on both ends of the floor.
The Magic now face a pivotal offseason decision as they attempt to maintain momentum in an Eastern Conference that continues to deepen behind teams such as the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.
