Next Orlando Magic Head Coach Odds, Candidates & Predictions for 2026

• The Orlando Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after blowing a 3-1 series lead to Detroit
• Billy Donovan is the heavy favorite at Kalshi, with Tom Thibodeau a distant second
• See the next Magic head coach odds, candidates and my best bet to land the job

The Orlando Magic are back in the head coaching market for the first time since 2021. Less than 24 hours after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the top-seeded Pistons, the Magic fired Jamahl Mosley on Monday after five seasons and a 189-221 record.

Jeff Weltman says the franchise wants “a new voice and fresh perspective” to push this core forward, and a “great number of candidates” have already reached out about the job.

The market at Kalshi has Billy Donovan as the runaway favorite, with Tom Thibodeau a distant second. Below you’ll find the latest next Magic head coach odds and candidates, plus my favorite pick to land the job.

Next Magic Head Coach Odds

Prediction Markets

Next Orlando Magic Coach

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Billy Donovan

47%

Tom Thibodeau

13%

Sean Sweeney

8%

Chris Quinn

5%

Terry Stotts

5%

Dusty May

5%

Frank Vogel

2%

Jay Wright

2%

Tim Legler

2%

Doc Rivers

2%

Predict

Donovan sits at 47% on Kalshi, which translates to roughly -113 in traditional sports betting terms. Thibodeau is the next closest at 13% (+669), followed by Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney at 8% (+1150).

Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Michigan’s Dusty May, and former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts all sit at 5%. James Borrego rounds out the names with any real money behind them at 2%.

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Odds as of May 6, 2026 at Kalshi. Claim the Kalshi referral code to trade sports and other real-world events.

Next Magic Head Coach Candidates

Billy Donovan Leads the Magic Coaching Search

Donovan has dominated the early reporting. Sam Amick of The Athletic floated him as choosing between Orlando and a potential Knicks opening, and Marc Stein has confirmed the Magic’s interest.

He’s a 469-413 career NBA coach with one Western Conference Finals trip in 2016 with the Thunder, and he just stepped down from the Bulls after six seasons. The Florida ties are obvious — Donovan won two national titles in Gainesville and remains beloved across the state.

The problem is that résumé is mostly a college résumé. He’s only escaped the first round once in 11 NBA seasons, and his Bulls teams made the playoffs just once in six years.

Then there’s the 2007 mess. Donovan accepted the Magic job, held an introductory press conference, and bailed the next day to return to Florida. Nineteen years later, the front office has turned over, but the storyline doesn’t disappear.

Tom Thibodeau and the Veteran Options

Thibodeau at +669 is the most accomplished name available. He’s 578-420 across 13 seasons and took the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals last year before getting fired.

The fit isn’t perfect. Orlando’s actual problem was a stagnant halfcourt offense, not defense, and Thibs has a history of grinding starters into the floor on a roster that’s been hammered by injuries.

Stotts at 5% is a better stylistic fit. His blocker-mover offense has helped revive Golden State’s attack the last two years, which is the type of system Banchero, Wagner and Bane need. He went to a Western Conference Finals in Portland and posted three 50-win seasons there.

Sean Sweeney Is the Rising Assistant

Sweeney at 8% is the climber on the board. Per the Kalshi data, he’s the only candidate ticking up, and that tracks with reporting that he was a finalist for both the Pelicans and Bulls openings recently.

Sam Cassell, Quinn and Borrego all have angles, but none are getting real money yet. May at 5% is fun on paper after winning a national title at Michigan, though he’d be walking away from a fresh contract extension to make the jump.

Next Magic Head Coach Prediction

For my next Magic head coach prediction, I’m taking Donovan at -113. The reporting is overwhelming, and the Florida connection still moves the needle. Weltman tends to land on a name well before the public catches wind.

The 2007 saga is uncomfortable, but the regime is completely different now. Donovan publicly making it clear he wants back in the NBA after stepping down from Chicago tells you he’s actively pushing for this one.

If you want a longer-shot swing for your Magic head coach prediction, Sweeney at +1150 is the play. He’s the only mid-tier name with positive momentum, he’s interviewed everywhere, and the Spurs assistant tree has produced real head coaches.

• Next Magic Head Coach Pick: Billy Donovan (-113 at Kalshi)