The New Orleans Pelicans Need To Consider Billy Donovan

Billy Donovan is one of the best coaching options available for the New Orleans Pelicans

It’s not very often that a coach with an impressive 243-157 record, who just finished the NBA season as a Coach of the Year finalist is available. That’s the case with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Billy Donovan and I think the New Orleans Pelicans should come calling.

After many experts were projecting the Oklahoma City Thunder to be among the worst teams in the league, Billy Donovan led their misfit roster to the playoffs. A mix of veterans and youngsters, Billy Donovan worked all season with the X’s and O’s to make his squad overachieve.

What Donovan did was impressive, crafting the 7th best defense in the NBA on the fly. Despite that strong defense, the team ultimately fell in seven games to the better Houston Rockets. Donovan did make some questionable decisions in that series, resulting in the Thunder being bounced in the first round for the fourth straight season.

That’s what sparks the organization deciding to part ways with Donovan according to this late-night Woj bomb:

The air needs some clearing though, Billy Donovan is not at fault for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s failures during his tenure. His hiring was supposed to help bring the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook duo a championship, it’s not his fault that Durant decided to walk away.

Billy Donovan always acquiesced to the superstars that were on his roster, specifically Russell Westbrook, because that was the only way he’d survive as a coach leaping from the NCAA. This season with a new roster, Donovan was beginning to flourish as the coach he truly is and that’s why I think the New Orleans Pelicans should quickly get him on the phone.