Jamahl Mosley | Orlando Magic<\/h3>\n![\"Willie](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25270883_168403971_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Jan 25, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green looks on during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFew expected this start from Orlando. The Magic<\/a> sit at 1\u20134, already a full game behind Boston for the final play-in spot. That may sound trivial now, but expectations were much higher. Entering the season, the Magic were projected to win over 50 games and held the ninth-best odds to win the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy. Instead, they\u2019re on pace for mediocrity. This collapse feels systemic.<\/p>\nThe front office added proven veterans in Desmond Bane<\/a> and Tyus Jones<\/a> to solidify the rotation. Yet, the team\u2019s offense remains stuck in the mud. The Magic rank 27th<\/a> in offensive rating and continue a decade-long tradition of being one of the league\u2019s least efficient scoring teams. Even worse, their defense \u2014 the identity that powered last season\u2019s rise \u2014 has fallen apart. Orlando has plummeted from second in defensive rating to 23rd<\/a>. When a team loses its soul on both ends, it usually means the coach has lost the locker room. Jamahl Mosley might soon become one of the first coaches fired this season if things don\u2019t change quickly.<\/p>\nDarko Rajakovi\u0107 | Toronto Raptors<\/h3>\n
Things are equally tense north of the border. Darko Rajakovi\u0107\u2019s Raptors<\/a> are 1\u20133, and the warning signs are already flashing. The team spent aggressively before this season, pushing into luxury tax territory for 2026 and 2027 despite finishing in the lottery last year. That\u2019s not a sustainable mix. Ownership expects progress, not regression.<\/p>\nToronto\u2019s 29th-ranked<\/a> defense undermines any case for patience. Rajakovi\u0107 showed promise with a 12\u201310 finish last year, but many believed that late-season push came against teams that had already packed it in. The front office has changed, too. Masai Ujiri, who hired Rajakovi\u0107, is no longer in charge. New executive Bobby Webster may want his own coach in place \u2014 especially if Toronto continues to slide. If results don\u2019t improve soon, Rajakovi\u0107 could join the growing list of coaches fired before the All-Star break.<\/p>\nWillie Green | New Orleans Pelicans<\/h3>\n
The Pelicans<\/a> are off to a nightmare start. At 0\u20135, they\u2019ve become the season\u2019s first major disappointment. Trading away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick already looked like a colossal mistake at the time. If their struggles continue, that pick could land a generational talent in Atlanta\u2019s lap \u2014 a devastating blow for a franchise that\u2019s only produced eight All-NBA seasons in its history. Not All-NBA players. Just seasons.<\/p>\nWillie Green\u2019s seat is scorching. The front office reportedly considered moving on last offseason, but new team president Joe Dumars decided to delay the inevitable. Green\u2019s rotations have been puzzling, and his \u201con-the-fly\u201d adjustments lack structure. Missing Kevon Looney<\/a> doesn\u2019t excuse an 0\u20135 start. This roster was built to compete, and it\u2019s failing. Dumars is untouchable for now, but Green isn\u2019t. If the Pelicans don\u2019t turn things around immediately, Green will likely become another name on the list of coaches fired this season.<\/p>\nDoug Christie | Sacramento Kings<\/h3>\n
Sacramento\u2019s glow-up is dimming fast. Doug Christie\u2019s Kings<\/a> are 1\u20134 and showing all the warning signs of a team in decline. Losing Keegan Murray<\/a> to injury was a massive blow \u2014 he\u2019s their best defender and a newly extended cornerstone. But that\u2019s part of the issue. When your best defender is a 25-year-old stretch forward, your defense is already flawed.<\/p>\n
Few expected this start from Orlando. The Magic<\/a> sit at 1\u20134, already a full game behind Boston for the final play-in spot. That may sound trivial now, but expectations were much higher. Entering the season, the Magic were projected to win over 50 games and held the ninth-best odds to win the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy. Instead, they\u2019re on pace for mediocrity. This collapse feels systemic.<\/p>\n The front office added proven veterans in Desmond Bane<\/a> and Tyus Jones<\/a> to solidify the rotation. Yet, the team\u2019s offense remains stuck in the mud. The Magic rank 27th<\/a> in offensive rating and continue a decade-long tradition of being one of the league\u2019s least efficient scoring teams. Even worse, their defense \u2014 the identity that powered last season\u2019s rise \u2014 has fallen apart. Orlando has plummeted from second in defensive rating to 23rd<\/a>. When a team loses its soul on both ends, it usually means the coach has lost the locker room. Jamahl Mosley might soon become one of the first coaches fired this season if things don\u2019t change quickly.<\/p>\n Things are equally tense north of the border. Darko Rajakovi\u0107\u2019s Raptors<\/a> are 1\u20133, and the warning signs are already flashing. The team spent aggressively before this season, pushing into luxury tax territory for 2026 and 2027 despite finishing in the lottery last year. That\u2019s not a sustainable mix. Ownership expects progress, not regression.<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s 29th-ranked<\/a> defense undermines any case for patience. Rajakovi\u0107 showed promise with a 12\u201310 finish last year, but many believed that late-season push came against teams that had already packed it in. The front office has changed, too. Masai Ujiri, who hired Rajakovi\u0107, is no longer in charge. New executive Bobby Webster may want his own coach in place \u2014 especially if Toronto continues to slide. If results don\u2019t improve soon, Rajakovi\u0107 could join the growing list of coaches fired before the All-Star break.<\/p>\n The Pelicans<\/a> are off to a nightmare start. At 0\u20135, they\u2019ve become the season\u2019s first major disappointment. Trading away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick already looked like a colossal mistake at the time. If their struggles continue, that pick could land a generational talent in Atlanta\u2019s lap \u2014 a devastating blow for a franchise that\u2019s only produced eight All-NBA seasons in its history. Not All-NBA players. Just seasons.<\/p>\n Willie Green\u2019s seat is scorching. The front office reportedly considered moving on last offseason, but new team president Joe Dumars decided to delay the inevitable. Green\u2019s rotations have been puzzling, and his \u201con-the-fly\u201d adjustments lack structure. Missing Kevon Looney<\/a> doesn\u2019t excuse an 0\u20135 start. This roster was built to compete, and it\u2019s failing. Dumars is untouchable for now, but Green isn\u2019t. If the Pelicans don\u2019t turn things around immediately, Green will likely become another name on the list of coaches fired this season.<\/p>\n Sacramento\u2019s glow-up is dimming fast. Doug Christie\u2019s Kings<\/a> are 1\u20134 and showing all the warning signs of a team in decline. Losing Keegan Murray<\/a> to injury was a massive blow \u2014 he\u2019s their best defender and a newly extended cornerstone. But that\u2019s part of the issue. When your best defender is a 25-year-old stretch forward, your defense is already flawed.<\/p>\nDarko Rajakovi\u0107 | Toronto Raptors<\/h3>\n
Willie Green | New Orleans Pelicans<\/h3>\n
Doug Christie | Sacramento Kings<\/h3>\n