Jamahl Mosley Lands With New NBA Team After Orlando Magic Firing

The Orlando Magic held a 3-1 series lead over the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA playoffs last month. As of April 27, it seemed plausible that head coach Jamahl Mosley saved his job, and the Magic could unexpectedly make a playoff run.

Instead, the Magic lost their next three games, including a squandered 24-point lead in a closeout Game 6 in Orlando, to end their season with a first-round exit for the third straight year under Mosley. The Magic fired Mosley the day after the team lost Game 7 to Detroit by 22 points.

Two weeks later, Mosley has a second chance.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday morning that the New Orleans Pelicans hired Mosley on a five-year contract. The terms beyond that weren’t disclosed.

“Dumars underwent a thorough search, including conversations with Milwaukee Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Rajon Rondo, Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and interim New Orleans coach James Borrego,” Charania wrote. “The Pelicans believe the franchise is at a point similar to when Mosley took over the rebuilding Magic in 2021 after a 21-win season. His leadership and development plan led to season-by-season improvement, then playoff appearances.”

There is one big difference between the Pelicans now and the Magic back then: Mosley took over the Magic one month after they drafted Jalen Suggs fifth overall, and the Magic landed Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in 2022. New Orleans’ roster is what it is, barring unforeseen offseason aggression.

The Pelicans’ eighth overall pick goes to Atlanta, and the 38th overall pick goes to Chicago in next month’s draft. Their only pick is at No. 58 overall.

Mosley went 189-221 overall in five seasons with the Magic.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 1:33 PM.