[jwplayer 8aeijGbn-z6KDnl0B]
The Philadelphia 76ers fired a head coach in Brett Brown that underachieved this season.
Billy Donovan parted ways with an Oklahoma City Thunder team that overachieved this season.
Could this be a match?
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Donovan, whose contract expired with the Thunder after this season and was “mutually agreed” to not be renewed as Oklahoma City turns to a rebuild, is “expected to be a candidate” for the 76ers’ coaching vacancy.
If Philadelphia does have interest in Donovan, he would look at a roster that is in a remarkably opposite situation than that of Oklahoma City.
Source tells @TheAthletic that Billy Donovan, who has parted ways with OKC, is expected to be a candidate for the Sixers’ opening. Clippers asst. Ty Lue, as has been reported, also among the candidates.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) September 9, 2020
The 76ers are loaded with star power. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are All-NBA-caliber players. Josh Richardson is a very good wing on a very good contract. Tobias Harris is an All-Star-level player, and Al Horford has been that for most of his career.
But they couldn’t find the right style this season as the organization loaded itself with stars with little regard to fit. The salary cap space is maxed out, with four players set to be paid at least $27.5 million next season — and the following year, three of them will be above $30 million.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, was not expected to make the playoffs at the beginning of this season. But with one All-Star in Chris Paul and very nice complementary talent around him, the Thunder tied for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
General manager Sam Presti’s statement about Donovan’s departure implied the decision was because of an upcoming rebuild that Donovan did not want to sign on to.
If Donovan is instead looking for a team loaded with talent, one that needs better direction and game planning, the Philadelphia job may be intriguing for him. It’s also closer to his hometown in New York than the the job of the Chicago Bulls job, an organization that ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted had interest in Donovan, too.
That’s not to say the Philadelphia job is his for the taking. It is one of the more attractive openings in the league, and, as Amick reported, has interest of other accomplished coaches including Clippers assistant and former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Ty Lou.
But if Donovan is hoping to land with a team that has immediate title hopes, Philadelphia is a good direction to look to.