Where will Stan Van Gundy be coaching next season?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team was eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs Tuesday night. Check back throughout the day for their responses and join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Shannon J. Owens, Orlando Sentinel

File this into the “I don’t know” box.

The one thing we know for certain about the 2011-12 Orlando Magic season is that we’re left with more questions than answers.

Will Dwight Howard ask for another trade before 2013? Will the Magic keep J.J. Redick through the final year of his contract in 2013? Will the Magic pay to keep Ryan Anderson as an unrestricted free agent? Will Jameer Nelson exercise his player option this year? Will Magic assistant Patrick Ewing be the next head coach for the Charlotte Bobcats? And last but certainly not least, will Stan Van Gundy be coaching the Orlando Magic next season?

All signs point to a departure for SVG, and there’s been speculation in NBA circles that Van Gundy could end up with the New York Knicks.

Judging by the twists of the past season, I hesitate to give any certain answers, except, I don’t know.

Shandel Richardson, South Florida Sun Sentinel

Stan Van Gundy has now coached in both Florida NBA markets. His stay in Miami ended badly. His stay in Orlando is likely to end even worse. Here’s hoping Van Gundy has had enough. His next job should be coaching ball at the high school level somewhere in a rural community, perhaps western Kansas. That way he would not have to be subjected to any more of the situations he’s faced.

Let’s see, he said he wanted to spend time with his family when left Miami. It was code for Van Gundy being on the opposite side of Shaquille O’Neal. The fact he resurfaced with the Magic proved family wasn’t the issue. A few years later, he endured the same circumstances in Orlando with Dwight Howard’s soap opera.

Take my advice, Stan, and deal with angry high school parents instead of disgruntled superstars.

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

There’s no reason Stan Van Gundy should be out at Orlando, especially after compiling a 259-135 regular-season mark and taking the Magic to the NBA Finals. He also has one season remaining on his contract. But star players typically win out in this nutty world called the NBA, and it’s clear the Magic plan to do everything in their power to retain Dwight Howard.

There’s no guarantee Van Gundy would immediately vault back into the coaching ranks. This is, after all, a coach who appeared headed to that outpost called Sacramento before taking the Magic job. But Portland is an intriguing possibility, particularly if the Trail Blazers hire an experienced general manager like Hornets former boss Jeff Bower. Van Gundy is an excellent coach, but at this stage of his career, he has earned the right to pick the job that’s best for him. For his sake, may it be one without the juvenile drama that Howard created.

RELATED:

Complete coverage of the NBA playoffs

Chris Paul and Clippers are oh-so close to closing out

Lakers’ effort in Game 5 against Nuggets is ‘kinda’ embarrassing

Where will Stan Van Gundy be coaching next season?