NBA rumors: Crisis in Orlando with an 'open war' between a star and the coach

The Orlando Magic face the Play-In after a disappointing season where they finished in the eighth position in the Eastern Conference. Their first challenge will be against the Philadelphia 76ers in a game that could secure them direct access to the playoffs.

However, the focus is not only on the sport. The team's internal situation has significantly deteriorated to the point that, as reported, one of the main figures in the locker room is willing to request a trade if coach Jamahl Mosley remains in charge.

Reports by Raheem Palmer from The Ringer and journalist Jake Fischer coincide in indicating that the coach's future is almost decided. According to these sources, the franchise is "almost certain" to let go of Mosley, regardless of the outcome in the Play-In or potential playoffs. Mosley concludes his fifth season with the team with a record of 189 wins and 221 losses, representing a 46.9% winning rate. In the previous two campaigns, Orlando was eliminated in the first round.

The Defeat That Marked a Turning Point

The turning point came a few weeks ago when the team suffered a humiliating 52-point defeat against the Toronto Raptors, their worst in history. The game ended 139-87, leaving a very concerning image. After the match, Mosley himself took responsibility, acknowledging that he should have better prepared the team for what they would face on the court.

The pressure on the coach had been increasing before that result, but it has intensified significantly since then. A few weeks ago, Mosley was ranked second in HoopsHype's endangered coaches list. The first on that list, Doc Rivers, has already been dismissed, strengthening the impression that the Orlando coach could be next.

With the team fighting for a playoff spot and internal tensions rising, the season's outcome doesn't seem likely to alter the course of events. Everything indicates that Mosley's future in Orlando has an expiration date.