Billy Donovan’s departure as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls turned heads on Tuesday. The widely respected coach will surely attract interest from numerous teams now that he’s on the market.
The former Bulls coach was with the franchise for six seasons and Chicago was open to keeping him, but he opted to leave to weigh his options elsewhere. Which teams make sense as Donovan looks for a new home?
Orlando Magic
Donovan might stay in the Eastern Conference if the Orlando Magic make a head coach change. Jamahl Mosley has led the team to three-straight postseason appearances, but the franchise has not made it past the opening round.
Expectations were high entering this season after the team made an all-in trade for Desmond Bane, so the fact that Orlando was once again in the Play-In Tournament (and got embarrassed by the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening Play-In Game) doesn’t bode well for Mosley’s future. The Magic responded with a huge upset in Game 1 against the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons, but Mosley is on the hot seat and likely coaching to keep his job.
Donovan’s rich experience could be well-suited to guide the young and potential-laden Magic. It is also worth noting that Donovan and Orlando have history, as he previously accepted the Magic’s head-coaching offer, before eventually backing out to stay at Florida (so Orlando pivoted and hired Stan Van Gundy instead).
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a drama-filled season that culminated in the franchise missing the playoffs. Doc Rivers recently moved on from Milwaukee, so the team will be looking for a new head coach while also navigating Giannis Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future.
With Donovan now available, the Bucks could certainly look to keep the respected coach in the Central Division.
After failing to make the playoffs this year and exiting in the first round in each of the previous three seasons, the Bucks are looking to change their fortunes.
Golden State Warriors
Donovan is no stranger to the Western Conference, as he served as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020. If Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors go in different directions, Donovan is a candidate to watch to take over for the four-time NBA champion head coach.
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Kerr has said that he will take one or two weeks to think about his coaching future before meeting with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Kerr’s decision will have a huge impact on where the Warriors go from here. If he’s back, they may try to make win-now moves to give Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Co. one last shot at a title run. If Kerr moves on, Golden State could look to rebuild.
Florida Gators
Could Donovan return to Florida for one more run as the head coach the Gators?
Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor recently eported that Gators head coach Todd Golden is Golden State’s “main target at the college ranks” if Kerr does, in fact, walk away from coaching.
“Here’s what I’ve heard… If Steve Kerr leaves, the Warriors will pursue Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden, according to my league sources,” O’Connor said. “Golden is the coach that they’re targeting, and that’s in part because the Lacob family has a relationship with him. Golden was the head coach of the San Francisco Dons for three years before he went to Florida and won a national title there. They’ve been together, they’ve had lunches together.”
If Kerr retires and Golden takes the Golden State gig, suddenly the Gators could be looking for a head coach at the same time that a Gators legend is available. Donovan previously led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, and he is still the winningest coach in program history with a 467-186 record.
