How the Cavaliers hiring John Beilein impacts OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
The Cleveland Cavaliers named John Beilein their new head coach, leaving the door open at a Division 1 powerhouse in Ann Arbor. Could the OKC Thunder see Donovan jump ship?
At the end of the year press conference, OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti said he expects Billy Donovan back if Donovan would like to return.
At the time, it was late April, all the big college basketball jobs had been accounted for including Fred Hoiberg jumping back down to the college ranks to take the Nebraska job. It did not look as if Donovan would have anywhere to turn, so that quote posing the question if Donovan would even want to return seemed like a throwaway line.
No other NBA team would court Billy Donovan, and at the time no college job was open, worthy of a two time NCAA Champion.
That is until now, a few weeks removed from the OKC Thunder finishing with another disappointing first round exit, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally named their new head man.
The Cavs turn to John Beilein, now former Michigan coach.
Michigan is one of the blue bloods of college basketball and has enjoyed a ton of success until Beilein. This included reaching the sweet sixteen this past year and going on a magical run to the NCAA Championship in the 2018 March Madness Tournament where the Wolverines eventually lost to the Villanova Wildcats.
Could Donovan be the man earmarked for Michigan?
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Multiple media outlets have already begun to toss Billy Donovan’s name into the ring of possible replacements for John Beilein. Including the Detriot free press, College Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman, and Michigan Live.
This would be a nice landing spot for Billy Donovan who is on the hot seat if you ask most fans of the OKC Thunder. Donovan is also entering the last year of his contract with the OKC Thunder, so this opening is huge for him.
Billy Donovan could take this Michigan job and be in a position he feels more comfortable and has more control and success in the college ranks.
He also could use this opening as a chance to try and gain more security in Oklahoma City.
How bad does Presti want Donovan to stay with the OKC Thunder? Could Donovan use this opening as a chance to earn a contract extension?
Next. OKC Thunder Nation bids farewell to sideline reporter. dark
We continue to wait for the shoe to drop from Presti. Notably, the pair had not held their end of season review when Presti made his comments. Fingers crossed it leads to an exit and new coach hunt.