Feb 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic interim head coach James Borrego during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Orlando Magic 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Skiles: We are going to raise the bar for Orlando Magic

Scott Skiles: We are going to raise the bar for Orlando Magic by Philip Rossman-Reich

With the Orlando Magic having hired coach Scott Skiles, there is a question left about what to do with interim coach James Borrego. He may stay on.

Now that the Orlando Magic have hired Scott Skiles, the process of preparing for the Draft and building the team up for the 2016 can begin. Skiles will be a pillar in the team’s decision-making process and instills an identity on the team.

He will need help. And so equally important will be how Skiles fills out his staff and who works with him as assistant coaches.

The Magic have a staff already, of course, that Skiles is replacing. There remains a chance the Magic could retain several members of the staff from last season. At least the ones left after Jacque Vaughn was hired.

That includes former interim coach James Borrego, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. In fact, Skiles is hopeful Borrego will remain with the team:

Scott Skiles said he'd like to keep James Borrego on the coaching staff. — Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 29, 2015

It is a bit awkward considering Borrego was in the lead chair for the final 30 games of the season and was considered for the permanent head coaching job (at least nominally). But it is not unheard of. Kaleb Cannales was the interim coach for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012 and then joined Terry Stotts’ staff when he took over the following year.

Borrego is seen as a solid development coach and worked closely with Jacque Vaughn.

When he took over for Jacque Vaughn in February, he preached a return to a defensive identity. He had the team collapse the paint and prevent shots at the rim. It brought marginal improvements.

His 10-20 record though did not seem enough for him to keep his job. So while he did a good job, it was clear the Magic would move on.

“I also wanted to thank James Borrego, who did a phenomenal job for us in taking over in mid season,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “JB was given a huge task of taking a team who was struggling and trying to turn it around. He did it with the utmost professionalism and class. I just wanted to thank JB with that.”

The Magic obviously still have tremendous respect for Borrego and everyone seems open to having him back.

Whether he will take that offer or not is another question.

Skiles was just hired though, so maybe diving too deep into his staff is a bit premature.