Fansided

NBA Rumors: Billy Donovan could emerge as candidate for Thunder job

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan disagrees with a call during the first half of the second round against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan disagrees with a call during the first half of the second round against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Florida Gators’ head coach Billy Donovan is popping up once again as a possibility for a future NBA vacancy. Will he be the Thunder’s next man in charge?

Every year, or so it seems, Florida head coach Billy Donovan’s name pops up as a candidate for a head coaching position in the NBA, and every year he says that his heart is with the Gators. However, this offseason could be much different, with a possible job offer that might be better than any he’s ever gotten.

More from NBA

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Scott Brooks’ future as head coach of the Thunder is in serious jeopardy as the organization has been rumored to be evaluating the head coach this offseason on his future with Oklahoma City.

The seventh-year head coach has yet to win an NBA title with MVP-type talent from two current players — despite having an injury-plagued season that saw Kevin Durant miss most of the year.

This isn’t the first time Donovan has flirted with the idea of the NBA — OK, we don’t know if he’s flirting yet for this job, but if Brooks is fired, he will — as the Gators’ head coach actually accepted a job as the Orlando Magic head coach in 2007 only to change his mind one day later and be released from his Magic contract six days later.

Mar 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan celebrates cutting the net following their win over Dayton Flyers 62-52 in the final of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan celebrates cutting the net following their win over Dayton Flyers 62-52 in the final of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

That whole situation might be one that the Thunder look at before offering Donovan. Sure, Brooks isn’t fired yet, but he has, at the most, one more trial-run season to win an NBA title. If he can’t do it next year, assuming the star players come back, then he will likely be giving up his reigns.

Donovan, on the other hand, might be looking for a change of scenery after a tough 2014-15 season with Florida in which he missed the NCAA Tournament just one year after securing the No. 1 seed in the Big Dance as the clear title favorites, only to lose in the Final Four to eventual-champion Connecticut.

Losing in devastating fashion like that as clear favorites to win the national title after an unbeaten conference season, 18-0, has to be tough for the head coach who has been with Florida for 19 years. He had made four straight Elite Eight appearances before missing out on any postseason tourney this year.

His time may have passed to win a college basketball title — as he already has two. This was just the second time in his long tenure with Florida that he missed out on any postseason play.

Look for Donovan’s name to be a serious contender if the Thunder can Brooks.

More from FanSided

Home/NBA