The next OKC Thunder head coach is already in Oklahoma City and it’s not Mo Cheeks

With some suggesting Billy Donovan could potentially head to Ann Arbor, TI examines a potential in-state replacement and it’s not current OKC Thunder assistant Mo Cheeks.

Three head coaches have manned the sidelines for the OKC Thunder in franchise history. The first was P.J. Carlesimo, he came with the team when they moved from their original residence of Seattle. His tenure in Oklahoma City was short-lived. Carlesimo was terminated after a mere 13 games, and replaced by assistant coach Scott Brooks, and scene.

Brooks’ Oklahoma City stint is a bit murkier. Some pundits proclaim he should have never lost his job. While other’s state OKC should have cut ties with Scotty much sooner. Considering Brooks has advanced beyond the quarterfinals only once in Washington with the Wizards speaks volumes.

This brings us to current Thunder head coach, Billy Donovan; who some suggest is pegged as the top candidate for the Michigan coaching vacancy. In Billy D’s first year in Thunderland, the rookie NBA coach had success previously unheard of before Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

In year one, Donovan’s Thunder eliminated Rick Carlisle‘s Mavericks and Greg Popovich’s Spurs, en route to his first and only Western Conference Finals appearance. In each subsequent season, Donovan and his Thunder have bowed out in the first round. Once as the higher seed, twice as the lower seed.

Each paragraph thus far provides a short briefing of each coaches time in Oklahoma City; describing a small portion of three different Thunder era’s. All three coaches could receive an entire article dedicated to themselves. But, that is not the purpose of this article. This piece is designed to examine my choice as a potential Thunder head coaching candidate Antonio Daniels.