Thunder in advanced discussions with Donovan

[Moranis]

Apparently it is Donovan's job if he wants to leave Florida.

[indeedproceed]

He should take it. It means Thibs won't go to OKC.

[PhoSita]

Unsurprising given the organization, but targeting a college coach with  no pro experience doesn't seem so smart when the pressure is on to have a really successful year before Durant hits FA.

[fairweatherfan]

Unsurprising given the organization, but targeting a college coach with  no pro experience doesn't seem so smart when the pressure is on to have a really successful year before Durant hits FA.

College coaches in general don't have a good track record in the NBA, but I can't for the life of me think of one instance where one came over to a good team and did well.  I guess Pitino's first stint with the Knicks was ok, but I think they stunk when he got there.

[Donoghus]

Not surprising.  Presti & Donovan go pretty far back.  I also wouldn't be shocked if Presti ran it by Durant beforehand.  I'd be mildly shocked if Durant is finding this out cold without any discussion with Presti.

[PhoSita]

I'm with Amin Elhassan on this one.  Thunder should hire Alvin Gentry instead.

The other name I've wanted to see get another coaching gig for a while now is Jeff Van Gundy. 

[CelticSooner]

I'm really starting to warm up to the idea that Durant might get traded.

[BudweiserCeltic]

NBA needs fresh coaches, anything that stops the recycling of unsuccessful NBA coaches I'm all for.

I like Jeff Van Gundy and Alvin Gentry ideas, they've had limited head coaching opportunities and haven't been around recently as head coaches, so that's something a bit fresh in that regard. But still prefer new blood.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Unsurprising given the organization, but targeting a college coach with  no pro experience doesn't seem so smart when the pressure is on to have a really successful year before Durant hits FA.

College coaches in general don't have a good track record in the NBA, but I can't for the life of me think of one instance where one came over to a good team and did well.  I guess Pitino's first stint with the Knicks was ok, but I think they stunk when he got there.

I hope Pitino stops being used as the poster boy of collage coaches not being able to make it in the NBA.

First his responsibilities extended much more than coaching. He was pretty much what Doc Rivers currently is for the Clippers... Stevens + Ainge, if you will, rolled up into one and I think even more.

So you can't look at Pitino and say collage coaches can't coach in the NBA, his circumstances aren't really comparable to anything else out there.

[PhoSita]

I like Jeff Van Gundy and Alvin Gentry ideas, they've had limited head coaching opportunities and haven't been around recently as head coaches, so that's something a bit fresh in that regard.

They both also had some pretty notable successes as coaches.  Their tenures were not unsuccessful.

Gentry coached one of my favorite teams of all time, the 2010 Suns, and JVG, of course, coached the 8th seed Knicks that went to the Finals, and some pretty solid Tracy McGrady / Yao Rockets teams.

[Moranis]

Unsurprising given the organization, but targeting a college coach with  no pro experience doesn't seem so smart when the pressure is on to have a really successful year before Durant hits FA.

College coaches in general don't have a good track record in the NBA, but I can't for the life of me think of one instance where one came over to a good team and did well.  I guess Pitino's first stint with the Knicks was ok, but I think they stunk when he got there.

when has a college coach actually gotten a good job though.  When you are taking over a perennial loser it is hard to win enough early enough to keep your job.

[D Dub]

I'm really starting to warm up to the idea that Durant might get traded.

Thunder get:  Draymond Green (S/T max), Sullinger, 2015 Bos 1st, 2015 Lac 1st, 2016 Bkl 1st

Golden State gets:  AB, Crowder (S/T) & Bass (S/T), 2016 Phil 2nd, 2016 Minn 2nd

Boston gets:  Kevin Durant


Its amazing to think we could swing a three way deal like this -- give away 3 firsts and 2 seconds -- and we'd still have 3 picks in this draft (Phil 2nd, Wash 2nd + our own) and next year we'd still have 2 first (ours & Mavs) along with 3 other seconds (Heat, Cavs, Mavs).  Not to mention the future BKL picks to build around this core-

IT, Turner
Smart, Young
Durant
Olynyk, Jerebko
Zeller

[Forza Juventus]

Hopefully it doesn't work out in OKC.

Also Jeff Van Gundy is massively overrated. There has to be a reason he has hardly been looked at whenever there is a job opening. He is awful as an announcer though so if a team hired him at least I wouldn't have to listen to him whine and try to be funny.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I'm really starting to warm up to the idea that Durant might get traded.

IT, Turner
Smart, Young
Durant
Olynyk, Jerebko
Zeller

What is even crazier is that you would have like $20+ million in cap space left

[CelticSooner]

I'm really starting to warm up to the idea that Durant might get traded.

Thunder get:  Draymond Green (S/T max), Sullinger, 2015 Bos 1st, 2015 Lac 1st, 2016 Bkl 1st

Golden State gets:  AB, Crowder (S/T) & Bass (S/T), 2016 Phil 2nd, 2016 Minn 2nd

Boston gets:  Kevin Durant


Its amazing to think we could swing a three way deal like this -- give away 3 firsts and 2 seconds -- and we'd still have 3 picks in this draft (Phil 2nd, Wash 2nd + our own) and next year we'd still have 2 first (ours & Mavs) along with 3 other seconds (Heat, Cavs, Mavs).  Not to mention the future BKL picks to build around this core-

IT, Turner
Smart, Young
Durant
Olynyk, Jerebko
Zeller

If you're Ainge and an offer is out there without any hint of Durant resigning do you still take that risk? I would and let Celtic Pride retain him long term. No I'm not saying the C's have the best offer either.