According to Fox Sports Ticker, Donovan wants out of Orlando already. Does that mean SVG gets the job?
Looks like Billy D. want to go back to the Gators...the Magic are pondering wether to release him from his 5-year contract. They probably will, why would you want a coach who doesn't want to be there?
OMG, I'm giddy like a school girl. Please come back Donovan!!! The first time I heard the announcement it seemed a bit fishy that Orlando couldn't wait to get the word out w/out any official word from Donovan's camp first. Gainesville sports radio even speculated that Orlando made the unofficial announcement to appease the fans who are clamoring for a change. That way if Donovan turned it down the fans would at least give the organization some credit for making an attempt. Made there is some truth to that, although ultimately Donovan did make the agreement eventually.
You know what the last piece of news about Billy Donovan was prior to this? That he was talking to, of all people, his good friend Jeff Van Gundy trying to persuade Jeff to join his staff as an assistant. Seems to show that he knew he needed some veteran help with this pro-coaching gig. I wonder if Jeff talked him out of coming to the pros for the moment.
He woke up in the middle of the night and yelled..."Oh my god, I have to coach the ORLANDO MAGIC?!?! FUUUUUUUUUUUUUU..."
I am really surprised if Donovan wants to get out of the deal. If Donovan wants to coach in NBA, the Magic is an ideal situation for him - excellent money, young team with good potential, and stay in Florida. Moreso, Donovan has already won championships in NCAA, there's little left for challenge - been there, done that.
Signs a contract and THEN wants out. Dude can't make up his mind. Seems to me like he has sucky decision making skills. Orlando doesn't need a coach who can't make decisions.
What a PR disaster for the Magic. Certainly doesn't make Donovan look good but he can go back and get his job no problem. Every coaching candidate for the Magic now knows they're just there after the fact.
I will never understand overpaying college coaches with no NBA coaching experience. Why pay an unproven risk $5.5 mill when the team could get a guy like Van Gundy (either one; take your pick) for ~$4 mill. Now the new coach of the Magic will have to be paid AT LEAST $5.5 mill. The Magic better enforce the clause and demand BIG $$$ for Billy breaking his contract. Billy Donovan is a douche with a silly haircut.
Except for the fact that while Donovan was a good college coach, he was a GREAT recruiter throughout his years there. Same thing for every coach that jumped to the NBA (minus LB). I don't know how in the world coaches can get so arrogant that they think they can have the same success at the pro level versus the amateur circuit. Recruiting skills ain't going to help anyone in the NBA.
Hate to be so simplistic or black/white with this thing -- and if you read my reaction to the hiring you'd know that I think the "respect" bit to be half as important as another big factor when jumping from NCAA to NBA -- but he better get out now. Now that this has gotten out, Billy hasn't a chance at getting people to listen to him now that he's established doubt and is made to look insecure (regardless of the reasons for the jump back to UF). I realize a long summer can mitigate this initial reaction within the players, but he better jump now -- and the Magic better let him. That Saban/Majerus stuff just doesn't work in the pros.
It was very wrong of him to ditch the Magic just like that. It could've been one helluva coaching experience being able to coach Howard and not to mention that $$$. I think this may very well be his last chance at coaching in the NBA... not that he'd ever grow enough balls to take up the challenge ever again. Welcome to the GM blacklist. Oh well, so long as none of this effects my Rockets team. May he fail and lose all respect for the rest of his college career.
This guy has no NBA coaching experience and he has no balls. So the Magic is actually lucky not hiring him. What a coward, a dream job was presented to him and he would be vastly overpaid and yet he is afraid of taking the job! Come on, what is he going to lose? Even he is fired in one season, he will still be paid 27M and he can still go back to college coaching in no time. What a fool.
