Florida coach Billy Donovan was once so enamored with the NBA, he accepted the Orlando Magic’s coaching vacancy in 2007.
Days later, he backed out of the deal and returned to Florida.
He’s still apparently interested in the pros.
Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun:
If an NBA team wants Donovan, that relatively low buyout shouldn’t be a problem.
The bigger issue: Donovan must convince teams he’s serious about the NBA after the Orlando incident.
Donovan was linked to the Timberwolves job last summer, but he decided to stay at Florida. But nobody put out word Donovan is extremely interested in the NBA, as is the case now. At some point, NBA teams will back off if Donovan keeps leading them down dead-end roads.
That’s why I think it’s more likely than not Donovan jumps this offseason. I doubt this report would emerge now if that weren’t the case – though it will depend which jobs open and how Donovan feels he fits.