Thunderous Intentions
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Mike Miller to Join Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder?

By David Ramil

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We knew that Billy Donovan‘s 20 years in coaching would have an impact on his ability to recruit players but no one expected it to happen so quickly.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly finalized a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, sending veteran sharpshooter Mike Miller, center Brendan Haywood and two future second-round draft picks in exchange for two multi-million dollar trade exceptions. The Cavs must used the exceptions by next year but are not expected to do so, instead providing a huge savings for a team expected to pay a record amount in salary and accompanying tax.

The Blazers will likely waive Haywood, whose contract is not guaranteed unless he makes the final roster. Miller is expected to be bought out of his current deal and become a free agent as per ESPN’s Marc Stein:

And he could be looking to reunite with Donovan, who coached Miller at the University of Florida.

The Florida alum was contacted by Kevin Durant when the Thunder were looking to fill their coaching void and Miller spoke highly of Donovan in a recent interview with The Oklahoman’s Anthony Slater:

"He just puts the players first. Everything we did was players first. It’s the small things, the details and at the end of the day, he realizes he’s only as good as his players. So he does a great job of making sure everyone is taken care of and he puts the time on the court with them, growing them. Big on player development stuff."

Miller went on to call Donovan one of his best friends and reiterated how dedicated he is to his players and to improving as a team, all evidence of a very close relationship that could be renewed at the NBA-level.

However, there are concerns as to why the move is unlike to happen. Miller is 35 years old and entering his 16th season in the NBA. Injuries have taken their toll and limited his overall effectiveness. He played in 52 regular-season games for the Cavaliers last season and shot just 32.7 percent from three-point range, by far the lowest mark of his career. Those numbers went up in the playoffs, where he shot 3-of-5 in nine postseason games.

There’s also the Thunder’s current roster issues. The team has a number of players under contract and recently cleared some space by trading away Perry Jones III and Jeremy Lamb. Oklahoma City also has one veteran shooter – Steve Novak – already under contract who is three years younger than Miller. Novak has also been linked to a number of trade rumors, presumably as the team looks to shed more salary.

However, Miller is clearly a proven player, one who is dedicated, fearless and willing to sacrifice his body on every play. For many Thunder fans, his performance in the 2012 NBA Finals is all the proof they need that Miller can be a factor for OKC this season:

But there’s also the issue of how badly Donovan might want someone like Miller on the team, one that represents a possible turning point for the franchise. The team has traditionally shored up their roster by adding a veteran presence (Derek Fisher and Caron Butler among them) to help in their title pursuit. However, with a full roster and a young core that is ready and able to contribute, Miller’s role would be a very limited one. Could Donovan’s potential interest in adding a former player put the team at odds? Will adding Miller be important than the team’s commitment to developing its talented youth?

The Cleveland-to-Portland deal has yet to be completed. Miller’s buyout will have to be negotiated soon thereafter and he will likely choose from a number of teams with which he shares ties. He’s played in Memphis and Miami and played for Doc Rivers (albeit in Orlando not for the Clippers).

It’s possible that Miller, a two-time NBA champion, could simply retire, as well.

But it’s an interesting indicator of where this franchise currently stands. With its most talented roster in years, depth at every position and a new coaching staff in place, Miller represents a potential shift in philosophy.

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