The NBA announced the finalists for 2023-24 Coach of the Year. The finalists are Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic.

Daigneault led the Thunder to the best regular season record in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City improved from 40 wins and losing in the Play-In Tournament to 57 wins and the top seed in the playoffs.

Finch guided the Timberwolves from 42 wins and the eighth seed to 56 wins and the third seed in the Western Conference.

Mosley led the Magic to the first playoff appearance since 2020. Orlando improved from 22 wins in 2021-22 to 34 wins last season to 47 wins this season. The Magic also won the Southeast Division for the first time since 2018-19.

The Eastern Conference seeds are set following the end of regular season on Sunday. The first round begins on Saturday, April 20th.

First Round Matchups

• No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 (Sixers, Heat, Bulls or Hawks)

• No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 (Sixers or Heat)

• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Play-In

• No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 8 Miami Heat

• No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Atlanta Hawks

The Orlando Magic and head coach Jamahl Mosley have agreed to a four-year contract extension. Mosley's new deal will run through the 2027-28 season.

In two-plus seasons as Orlando's head coach, Mosley has a 93-136 record. Under Mosley's watch, the Magic have steadily improved from 22 wins in 2021-22 to 34 wins last season. Orlando has already won 37 games this season.

The Magic are in contention for the team's first playoff berth since 2020. Orlando opens play on Tuesday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

MRI results on Jonathan Isaac's leg and knee showed no significant injuries, according to the Orlando Magic.

Isaac is questionable for Tuesday's game with a left knee strain.

Isaac is averaging 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds on the season.

The Orlando Magic have been "increasingly mentioned" as a potential landing spot for Klay Thompson this summer, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Thompson is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Magic could have as much as $45 million in cap space if they decide to move on from Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, and Jonathan Isaac.

The Charlotte Hornets are continuing to look to re-trade Kyle Lowry, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Lowry has been linked with several teams should he get bought out, including the Sixers, Lakers, and Magic.

Stein adds that the Sixers still have interest in signing Lowry should he get bought out despite the uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid's injury.

The Orlando Magic have been one of the league's surprises of the first half of the season. Orlando is firmly in the playoff picture and may be looking to bolster a run to the postseason.

That standing has Orlando exploring the trade market for Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz.

Carter is making just over $13 million this season and has two years and $22.8 million remaining on his deal through 2025-26. The center has struggled with injuries for each of the last two seasons, missing 25 games last year and 26 games already this season.

Fultz is making $17 million in the final season of his contract. He's continued to be injury-prone while with Orlando and has appeared in only eight games this season.

Wendell Carter Jr. is a "player to monitor" on the trade market, according to Marc Stein of Substack.

Stein cites the Magic's frontcourt depth and future need to sign Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to extensions as reasons for why the team could part with Carter.

Carter is averaging 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds on the season. 

The Orlando Magic are set to retire Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 jersey in a ceremony on February 13, the team announced.

O'Neal will be the first Magic player to have his jersey retired by the franchise.

The Magic drafted O'Neal with the No.1 pick in the 1992 NBA draft. O'Neal played four seasons with the team before signing with the Lakers.

"When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple -- Shaquille O'Neal. He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today," said Magic CEO Alex Martins.

Franz Wagner left the Orlando Magic's double overtime loss against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday with a sprained ankle and did not return.

X-rays on Wagner's ankle returned negative.

Wagner finished the game with 6 points and 2 rebounds in 5 minutes.