Thunder GM says Donovan staying on as coach

Billy Donovan will get a fourth season as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder despite falling short of expectations in 2017-18.

General manager Sam Presti gave an update on Donovan’s status at a Wednesday press conference to sum up the season.

“I think the best thing for [Donovan], and I think the biggest opportunity for him, is in the continuity,” Presti said. “Additionally, just continuity in general, with the type of team we have assembled and the way it was assembled, generally, continuity is his best friend going forward.”

The Thunder were eliminated in six games by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

Donovan, who jumped to the NBA after a long career coaching the Florida Gators, is 150-96 in three seasons at the helm for the Thunder. Oklahoma City has lost in the first round the last two seasons after making the conference finals in Donovan’s maiden campaign.

Presti can now focus on figuring out the roster Donovan will work with next season, most notably Paul George, who can opt out and become a free agent and has long been believed to be destined to join the Los Angeles Lakers. George came to the Thunder in an offseason trade with the Indiana Pacers.

Presti said he’s been “encouraged” during negotiations with George and he hopes Donovan will “be able to work with the same core of a team that has a baseline that we’ve established.”

–Field Level Media