Billy Donovan is an excellent basketball coach, no doubt about it. HOWEVER, in a situation where you are as close to competing for an NBA championship as OKC is, and a situation where you are perilously close to losing one of the five best players in the league after next year, you don't hire a coach with no NBA experience. You hire someone that will get you over the hump.
Steve Kerr is a possible exception, but he came to GS with extensive NBA playing experience and an endorsement from perhaps the best NBA coach of all time. Additionally, GS thought they were a year or two away. Boston hired Brad Stevens because they knew they were a few years away (at least) from competing from a title, thus they had relatively little to lose. Cleveland hired David Blatt because they thought they were 1-2 years away from competing for a title (they were closer than they thought). OKC's window is closing. If they hire Donovan, they will regret it in the short term.
Steve Kerr is a possible exception, but he came to GS with extensive NBA playing experience and an endorsement from perhaps the best NBA coach of all time. Additionally, GS thought they were a year or two away. Boston hired Brad Stevens because they knew they were a few years away (at least) from competing from a title, thus they had relatively little to lose. Cleveland hired David Blatt because they thought they were 1-2 years away from competing for a title (they were closer than they thought). OKC's window is closing. If they hire Donovan, they will regret it in the short term.
