Billy Donovan landing spots: Ranking most likely options, from NBA jobs to a return to college

Billy Donovan landing spots: Ranking most likely options, from NBA jobs to a return to college originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Billy Donovan is a much better coach than his 226-256 record in six seasons with the Bulls would suggest. Chicago ownership desperately wanted to retain the Hall-of-Famer, even going so far as to suggest that they would not be interested in filling their newly-opened lead executive position with a candidate who didn't want him on board. Donovan widened their hiring pool by announcing that he was parting ways with the team in a press release on Tuesday morning.

Donovan was always hamstrung by poor rosters in Chicago. That led to the termination of Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, and a rebuild that the veteran coach didn't want to be a part of. While he was in Chicago, he wildly adapted his offensive style based on the personnel he had, going from an isolation-heavy roster with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to one of the fastest teams in the league with Josh Giddey. The Bulls never had great defensive talent, but they guarded above their weight. And he was a top-three coach at drawing up plays in timeouts during his final season with the Bulls.

That resume, along with his obvious back-to-back championships at Florida, will make Donovan a highly-sought out coach both among the college and NBA ranks. Here are the most likely scenarios for him after leaving Chicago.

Ranking NBA jobs for Billy Donovan

1. Magic

Donovan almost became the head coach of the Magic, back in 2007. He accepted the job but had a change of heart at the last minute, deciding to return to the University of Florida. Donovan became the highest-paid coach in college basketball and coached in the college ranks for another eight years before getting hired for his first NBA head coaching opportunity with the Thunder.

Donovan may get another chance to have that job. The Magic have been a major disappointment this year struggling to get into the playoffs after preseason expectations of potentially making the Finals. Head coach Jamahl Mosley is widely rumored to be on his way out.

Orlando has a good roster with young stars in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane. Donovan would inherit a roster that is poised for deep playoff runs with better coaching around them. It might be the best NBA job that opens up, and his priority seems to be to stay in the league after such a long hiatus from college hoops.

2. Sixers

Philadelphia is another underachiever that could have an opening soon. Nick Nurse is a champion and former Coach of the Year winner with the Raptors. He hasn't had that same level of success since taking over the Sixers in 2023.

Donovan is a Long Island native who was a college legend at Providence in Rhode Island. Perhaps a return to the East coast could be in the works for him. The Sixers also have young talent on their roster. Tyrese Maxey has developed into an All-NBA candidate. VJ Edgecombe is one of the league's best rookies. And Joel Embiid has looked dominant offensively when he has been available.

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3. Going back to College

It has been over a decade since Donovan last coached at the college level. The landscape has changed considerably, particularly with the influx of NIL money and the importance of the transfer portal. Donovan has rebuffed these types of big time openings before, quickly turning down the Kentucky job two years ago and waiting to finish out the Bulls' season rather than trying to get hired at UNC.

Donovan was a wildly popular coach in college, winning two national championships and 71 percent of his games. He was elected into the Naismith Hall of Fame largely based on those accolades. It's been a tougher road for him in the NBA. It is conceivable that he'd welcome a return back to the level where he experienced so much success. More likely though, he stays in the NBA where he still plenty of opportunities.

4. Taking a sabbatical

It's been a rough year for Donovan. On a professional level, the Bulls have lost a ton of games, mostly due to the path that the front office has taken. On a personal level, Donovan lost his father and mother-in-law. His mother unexpectedly had her leg amputated.

I don’t think I’ve had time to really process or digest any of it," Donovan told the Chicago Tribune's Julia Poe. "It’s been too much."

"I struggle with that balance. Am I doing the right thing? Do I need to be there for somebody else? Does my wife or my sisters or my kids need me? Those are the conversations I’m having every day."

It would be completely reasonable for Donovan to take a year or two off given the situations he and his family have had to deal with. The 60-year-old coach hasn't had a year off since taking his first head coaching job at Marshall back in 1994.

Donovan could also explore better NBA jobs in a year too. His priority seems to be to stay in the league. He would have a fuller picture of the openings available and would have more time to weigh out the many options that should be available to him a year from now.

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