Billy Donovan to Coach Orlando Magic?

I think he is crazy and should have learned from the lessons of Pitino and Calipari. I suspect he will hang around the NBA for 3-4 years and eventually end up back in the college game.

 

I think he's nuts to leave Florida, but I guess he felt like he had nothing left to prove. I went searching and found a piece at espn.com where Andy Katz wrote the following a week after Donovan turned down UK:

Apparently, this isn't about the money.

Here's a quote from Bill Donovan, Sr.

I don't know how a grueling November to April-May-June NBA season (whenever they lose in the playoffs) translates to spending more time with family, but that's great if it does.

While I still think he's nuts, at least he picked the right conference. As weak as the East is, he should be able to have some moderate success. The Magic have some good players and while they finished 40-42, it was good enough for a first-round playoff exit. Hope it works out for him.

 

3.5 - 5 mill. a year does kind of make UK's offer of only a couple mill., seem a bit paltry by comparison.

Ed

 

UK may or may not be the "most prestigious" in BB, but big money still talks!

And loudly, I add!

Ed

 

Apparently, I had bad information about how much Donovan would get paid by Orlando, which is $27.5 mill over 5 years. I briefly watched ESPN and saw him talk about what a hard decision it was to leave Florida. While I think it probably was, I think the extra $2 mill per year he's getting from Orlando over UF will provide enough of a green salve to soothe him.

 

A report I heard said the UK offer was around $2.5 mill a year to Billy D. $5 M is double that "chicken feed".

FTR, only one year at $2.5 Mill. and neither my wife nor I would never need to turn another hand, being able to live exceptionally well on only the interest of that much invested "pocket change", at a mere 5% or so.

Not to mention, the investment guys would really love us! :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

Anyone heard the rumors that Billy D. wants to get out of Orlando and return back to Gainesville, before even getting started?



IMO, Florida should tell him to stay gone!

Enough, already, with coaches loudly proclaiming honesty and virtue, and themselves playing job and money games off the court!

"You asked for it; you got it! Orlando!!" (Florida, not Smith!)

Ed

 

Well, here it is. Billy D. wants to return to Fla. And Orlando says OK.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/6883162

Now if Fla would just say "You made your bed; you lie in it. We don't want you back, either." But we all know that ain't gonna' happen. Frankly, I'm tired of coaches talking out of both sides of their mouth.

"I want another job! Oh!, you'll give me a big salary increase to stay?? OK, I'll stay!" ("And I'll do this all over again in a couple of years, but I just won't say this out loud!")

You want out?; just go., as did 'Tubby' Smith and Vicki DeMoss at UK. No fanfare, no deception! I do hope there was no problem we don't know about with DeMoss, personal or health related.

Ed

 

He was getting a salary increase from Florida anyway. The bigger increase was coming from Orlando.

 

The word is that the job is now going to Van Gundy. He turned down the Pacers job, reportedly due to family reasons (he & family still live in Miami). However, this would be a much easier move for him.

 

Personally, I am very content on how everything ended up. BG will bring UK back to elite status and I much prefer him to Donovan. BG is already doing amazing things at UK. He is single so he is married to basketball so he puts all of his time and effort into the team. This is the most excited I have ever been before a basketball season.

And yes, Donovan has been caught in another lie, but I am glad that the Billy vs Billy rivalry will begin and be an intense one. UK will be much better than FL this upcoming season and I predict a sweep.

 

Another lie? I'm not sure where you're going with that comment, AF. Could you elaborate?

 

He told everyone specifically that he was not courting or talking to Orlando while he was. I think he also said the same thing about the Memphis job. Even his biggest supporters admitted this fact and that he was wrong in what he did. Jay Bilas had a nice article on this entire ordeal and ended it by describing Donovan as "Unprofessional".

 

Ahh, ok. I had forgotten about that.