Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 candidates to replace Billy Donovan as head coach

3. Nate McMillan

Fun fact: Nate McMillan has been an NBA head coach for 16 seasons and has only made it to the conference semifinals once, losing in the first round a whopping eight times. Another fun fact: Who the hell cares? McMillan has a proven track record in this league, and he could help implement another stifling defense in Oklahoma City with this young core.

McMillan was rightfully criticized in his latest coaching stint with the Indiana Pacers for his team’s archaic, old-school offense that neglected the 3-point line. However, no one could deny how much he got out of younger players on the rise like Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner over the last four years.

The Thunder would love to see similar results for SGA, Dort, Bazley and the inevitable young additions who will be arriving soon in the draft or from the trade market. Picturing a stifling defender like Dort in a Nate McMillan defense is particularly intriguing.

In five years with the Seattle SuperSonics, seven years with the Portland Trail Blazers and four years with the Pacers, McMillan compiled a 661-588 record (.529) and only posted a losing record five times. That would probably change in OKC as the team looks to rebuild through youth, but based on the job he did with Indiana’s young core, he’s certainly worth a look.