What’s Next for Billy Donovan? Shams Charania Hints at League-Wide Interest

Two different opportunities. Two different moments. And both times Donovan chose to honor what he signed up for in Chicago, even as the Bulls were clearly heading toward a rebuild.

“So he had multiple opportunities to kind of bail out of his contract with the Bulls, potentially. But he decided to continue on. And so I think we’ll see what jobs open up.”

That is just who he is. He is not someone who chases the exit the moment things get uncomfortable. He waited for the right moment, and now that he is free, teams around the league will line up.

When asked specifically about which jobs he sees as realistic fits, Charania was measured. The three current openings, Chicago, Milwaukee, and New Orleans, are not where he sees Donovan landing. The more interesting scenarios come later.

“Right now, it’s Chicago, it’s Milwaukee, it’s New Orleans. I don’t see him involved in these jobs. But we’ll see what happens around the league, like what happens in New York, what happens in Orlando.”

New York and Orlando are two very different situations. The Knicks are in the middle of a playoff run with Mike Brown on the hot seat. The Magic have Jamahl Mosley in place but his future is not guaranteed either. Both are worth watching as the playoffs progress.

And through all of it, Charania was clear about one thing. Donovan did not leave Chicago because something better was already waiting.

“There’s going to be multiple other situations that could arise this year. So I don’t think he made the decision, or at least I know he didn’t make the decision based on a job already being lined up.”

Donovan spent five seasons in Oklahoma City, making the playoffs every single year, won two national championships at Florida, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last September. Wherever he lands, the job will be better for having him.

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