ESPN Sources: Donovan eyes jump to NBA (should the Magic go after him again?)

[OrlandO]

If true, should we go after him again or let him go elsewhere?

There is a growing sense among NBA executives that Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan is looking to making the jump to the NBA more than ever before, according to league sources

Sources told ESPN.com that Donovan is poised to draw interest from multiple NBA teams this offseason and is increasingly prepared to listen to those pitches after the Gators endured a 16-17 season in which they failed to qualify for postseason play for just the second time in Donovan's nearly two decades in Gainesville.

Donovan recently agreed to a one-year contract extension to stay with the Gators through the 2020 season, according to multiple media reports, but the contract contains a buyout for a mere $500,000 if an NBA opportunity arises. The extension is not regarded as an impediment to Donovan's pursuit of NBA jobs if he wishes.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12605160/billy-donovan-florida-gators-contender-nba-coaching-jobs-offseason-sources

[CraZyPraiZ]

He would have to be considered. He would be able to relate to our young squad. Personally I'd like to see Mark Jackson as the guy is a serious motivator but then so is Billy. Either way it will be interesting.

[drsd]

[OrlDave]

Eh, I was genuinely excited the last time, having a hard time getting interested this time around. I wouldn't be mad, however. It certainly would help attendance. I think. Assuming Gator fans don't turn on him. They are spiteful buggers

[BCS]

No, please no.

[dc]

Personally I'd like to see Mark Jackson as the guy is a serious motivator but then so is Billy.

Then just hire him as a motivational speaker for a couple hours. Trust me, Mark Jackson as your head coach is not something you want to see.

[rcklsscognition]

Don't worry, it was just a bargaining chip, he's resigned in Florida.

[OrlandO]

Don't worry, it was just a bargaining chip, he's resigned in Florida.

The deal was agreed upon last summer and signed in December. Seems it was more about his tournament run a year ago than it was about using the NBA as leverage. And there's a 500k buyout. If NBA teams want him and he wants to give it a shot then it will happen.

[Driguez]

[UCFJayBird]

I really don't understand the point of his signing a one year extension last summer....that tacked on 2020. Why sign such a short extension so far out?

Either way, I think I may go crazy if we hire him. I know we got SVG after and that kind of made everyone forget about it, but the guy burned us bad. It's not like there was a handshake deal. He signed a damn contract, and then 24 hours later decided "I've made a huge mistake" and we were nice enough to let him out of it (because really, what are you going to do at that point?). Some might say we were being nice in the hopes of hiring him at a later date, but I hope not.

We need a veteran NBA experienced coach. Not a college coach who had a great run years ago. College coaches are always gambles (then again, who isn't) as they so rarely work out. The NBA game is just different and few can be high level at both.

I'd probably get over it if we hired him, and I'm sure the Magic are interested again (though Hennigan might have different ideas since he wasn't here), but here's to hoping they tell him the timing isn't right.

[orlando1214]

This is a tough one because while I hate him for what he did to this team a while back, I also feel that he is the best coach out there, outside of the possibility that Thibs leaves the Bulls. There's also the chance that while he is a great college coach, how will that translate to the NBA? I personally think he will do well, but it's still a gamble. So it's tough because my heart is saying, hell no after he screwed this team over, but my brain is saying, that he's probably one of the best, if not the best option out there for this team.

[Def Swami]

He's my 2nd option if we can't get Thibs. You're not going to find many better coaches on the market. I was actually skeptical back in 2007 when we first hired him; I didn't think his coaching would translate well to the pros. Having seen what he's done at Florida over the last 8 years and his stint with USA Basketball, I'm a much bigger believer in his ability to be successful at the next level. He has coached really good offensive teams and some historically great defensive teams with some mediocre defenders and shooters. He's flexible and his players respond to him. And he's done a good job of developing players during their stay at Florida (Chandler Parsons, Bradley Beal, Eric Murphy). He'll definitely have a learning curve, but I think the long term pay-off will be greater than pursuing retreads like Mark Jackson, Scott Skiles, Alvin Gentry, Vinny Del Negro, etc.

[Max Power]

If we even look at Billy Donovan I'm going to question this ownership group. We need a coach thats produced results in the NBA. We have has two straight first timer NBA coaches. Don't need a third. On a side note, if we hire Vinnie Del Negro I think I'll probably have a massive coronary.


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[craig01]

The last thing the Magic need to do is risk extending this era of losing with a huge gamble as HC.

[MagicFan101]

He would have to be considered. He would be able to relate to our young squad. Personally I'd like to see Mark Jackson as the guy is a serious motivator but then so is Billy. Either way it will be interesting.

There is a lot more to coaching than being able to motivate your players. It is so hard to tell if a successful college coach can transfer that to the pros so I have mixed feelings about Donovan... but NO NO NO NO NO NO NO to Mark Jackson. Just no.

[MagicFan101]

The last thing the Magic need to do is risk extending this era of losing with a huge gamble as HC.

Exactly.

This is tough because Donovan is a guy we probably could get if he really is interested in the NBA. I think Thibs is the perfect guy for us but we have no control over that at the moment. I just hope Orlando doesn't rush to signing a name before actually seeing who is available after the finals.

[Def Swami]

List the alternatives if you dislike the current names tossed around. I could get behind Tom Thibobdeau, Nate McMillan, and maybe even Mike Malone. But beyond that, none of the other names with NBA head coaching experience jump out.

[MagicStarwipe]

He'd have to be in the top 3 with Thibs and Malone.

[ezzzp]

Its near impossible to predict coaching from a fan perspective since a huge chunk of what they do is not transparent to us. Track record at the NBA level is the only thing to estimate with - so I lean towards that.

Then again, who here thought Kerr or Budenholzer would be good...and for as awesome as SVG was with Magic he's still coaching a lottery team

[ORL]

I really don't understand the point of his signing a one year extension last summer....that tacked on 2020. Why sign such a short extension so far out?

For recruiting. Coaches want to be able to to tell recruits they have a deal throughout their stay at the school (make sure the deal is at least 5 years from the time they get on campus). Happens all the time in NCAA, moreso in football though. Sort of a moot point with the one-and-done players, but that's the idea behind it.