Report: Thunder Have Begun Talks With Florida's Billy Donovan | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • Report: Thunder Have Begun Talks With Florida’s Billy Donovan

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    Donovan_BillyThe Oklahoma City Thunder have begun talks with Florida coach Billy Donovan about becoming their next head coach, according to an ESPN.com report.

    This comes after SNY.tv and other outlets reported last week that UConn’s Kevin Ollie withdrew his name from consideration for the job.

    ESPN.com reported that Thunder GM Sam Presti has hired two members of Donovan’s staff in the last 12 months, Mark Daigneault as coach of the Thunder’s D-League team and Oliver Winterbone as a data analyst.

    Donovan agreed to become the Orlando Magic head coach in 2007, only to reverse course and go back to Florida following back-to-back NCAA championships with the Gators.

    Still, ESPN.com recently reported that the Florida coach was looking to get back to the NBA, and his mentor, Louisville coach Rick Pitino, confirmed it, telling ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” he ‎”has an urge to coach in the NBA — a strong desire to coach in the NBA — and would like to try it, very similar to Brad Stevens, who is doing a wonderful job with the Celtics.”

    Donovan, who makes more than $4 million annually, has a $500,000 buyout if he goes to the NBA, the report said.

    Florida lost guard Michael Frazier and forward Chris Walker to the NBA Draft pool, while guard Eli Carter will transfer.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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