NBA: Orlando Magic despide al técnico Stan Van Gundy (VIDEO)

ORLANDO, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — El Magic de Orlando despidió el lunes al técnico Stan Van Gundy tras una turbulenta temporada.

También logró un acuerdo con el gerente general Otis Smith para rescindir su contrato.

Los anuncios se producen al término de la segunda temporada consecutiva en la que fueron eliminados en la primera ronda.

Orlando terminó con marca de 37-29 en la temporada regular, pero no pudieron hacer mucho en los playoffs de la Conferencia del Este tras sufrir varias lesiones, entre ellas la del estelar centro Dwight Howard (espalda).

Sin Howard, Orlando redondeó una foja de 5-12 y sucumbió 4-1 en la serie contra Indiana por la primera ronda de los playoffs.

Las fricciones entre Howard y Van Gundy estuvieron a flor de piel en la parte final de la temporada.

A comienzos de abril, Van Gundy aseguró que ejecutivos del equipo le informaron que Howard le había pedido a la directiva que despidiesen al entrenador como condición para que el centro renovase su contrato más allá de 2013. Howard negó la denuncia.

Van Gundy dirigió al Magic durante cinco temporadas. Acumuló una marca de 259-135, con 31-28 en los playoffs.

Smith se va tras seis temporadas. Fue el arquiteco de los equipos del Magic que se clasificaron a los playoffs en cada una de esas campañas, incluyendo el campeonato de la Conferencia del Este en 2009.

"Es hora de un nuevo liderazgo y nuevas voces", dijo el director ejecutivo del Magic, Alex Martins, de acuerdo con un comunicado de prensa.

"La decepción de haber sido eliminados en la primera ronda de los playoffs estas dos últimas temporadas fue un importante elemento en la toma de nuestra decisión, al considerar que nos habíamos estancado en nuestra marcha por conseguir un campeonato", añadió.

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