The Athletic's profile on Billy Donovan as a head coaching candidate

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Résumé

Has kept Oklahoma City competitive despite major changes to the roster in just about every year of his tenure'

Registered a 243-157 record in five seasons with the Thunder. Reached the postseason in all five of his seasons, but only made it out of the first round once
Finished third place in Coach of the Year voting in 2019-20

Also had an extremely successful coaching career at the collegiate level. Went 502-206 in 21 seasons with Marshall and Florida, including back-to-back national title victories with the Gators

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Why it makes sense

If the Pelicans were to go after the newly unemployed Donovan, they would get a little bit of both of what they’re seeking in a head coach: someone known for winning at the NBA level and succeeding in the postseason along with someone who has a proven track record of developing young players. Donovan made it work in OKC whether he had two stars, one star or no stars in his lineup. He’s coached teams with high expectations and one this year that was expected to tank by the end of the year. Donovan consistently finds ways to put his teams in position to succeed and get the most out of his best players. There are times when his tactics have come into question, and it is somewhat troubling to see the Thunder have no problem with one of the top candidates for Coach of the Year walking. But Donovan would be a safe hire who checks off many of the boxes New Orleans needs. And if he’s been able to work with huge personalities like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul, dealing with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram will be a walk in the park

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Biggest strengths

Adaptability with different types of playing styles/roster builds
Understands how to instill confidence in young players and put them in position to grow
Has always prioritized defenses with sound fundamentals and toughness
Built efficient offenses around point guards with varying styles at collegiate and pro level
Knows how to give players enough freedom to be themselves. Doesn’t force them to fit into his particular system

Biggest questions

After four straight years of first-round playoff exits, is he the right coach to lead New Orleans to deep postseason success?
Is his offense innovative enough to adapt to the new NBA?
Will he force the Pels to slow down on offense or continue playing at a top-5 pace?
How will his team look without an All-Star point guard leading the way?
Durant, Westbrook and Paul George all decided to leave after working with Donovan. Was that more about them or his inability to grow a title contender around them?

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