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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan’s contract expired with the end of the season, leaving both organizations with a question:
Will he return?
Neither side has said anything publicly to suggest otherwise. The Thunder have expressed the opposite, in fact: During a July press conference, shortly before play returned, general manager Sam Presti talked up Donovan’s impact.
“I think he needs to be heavily considered for Coach of the Year,” Presti said at the time.
Presti said that at the beginning of the season, the organization hoped that the team would be in position to “play meaningful games.” Donovan certainly got them to that point, not just competing for a playoff spot but tying for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
“He’s been consistent every single day, as he has been in the past,” Presti said. “Tactically, I think he’s a good problem solver. Presented with some unique players and things of that nature, he got to know them pretty quickly.”
That’s something that Donovan has had to do time and time again throughout his Thunder tenure.
In his first year, Oklahoma City was a title contender with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant left that offseason, leaving Donovan to re-do the playbook with Westbrook as the sole primary option.
The next year, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony came aboard and the style was again altered. Anthony was subtracted and Dennis Schroder was added for the 2018-19 season.
Then, obviously, this season was a complete transformation.
It seems the Thunder want Donovan back. Presti was asked directly about Donovan and contract negotiations, but he did not have to speak him up for Coach of the Year. He did not have to risk losing leverage in contract negotiations.
While memories may be marred in the short-term by the closing seconds of the first round of the playoffs, Donovan has been successful in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder’s winning percentages have increased every year since Durant left despite constant roster change.
If Oklahoma City does want him, the question then turns to Donovan: Does he too want to return?
With Danilo Gallinari’s contract expired, Chris Paul giving a message to the fans and organization that sounded like it may have been a good-bye, and Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder holding just one year left on their contract, Donovan faces an upcoming season that may see yet another major change in the team’s identity.
“When we get to the end of the year we’ll sit down and we’ll figure out what’s best with him, what’s best for us,” Presti said.
That time is now. It will potentially be the first decision of another important offseason.
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