For the third straight year, the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, prompting questions on whether or not changes will have to be made before the start of next season.
While some may believe it's time for OKC to trade Russell Westbrook, the majority of their fans still believe that the problem is not the All-Star guard, but rather head coach Billy Donovan.
Donovan has been the coach of the Thunder since the 2015-16 season. He led the team to the Western Conference Finals that year, but they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors. It was Kevin Durant's last season with the team.
Since then, OKC has been stuck in the middle of the Western Conference. They haven't been a bad team, but they have definitely underperformed, especially in the playoffs. After their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, there is already speculation that Sam Presti might consider a coaching change.
However, Donovan is confident he'll return to call the shots for OKC next season:
Asked if he expects to be back next season, Billy Donovan says it’s “Business as usual” for him. Says he and Sam Presti talked a bit on the return flight from Portland but will sit down in the coming days for a larger discussion.
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) April 25, 2019
Of course, there will be a more thorough conversation between Donovan and Thunder management. OKC picked up Donovan's fifth-year option in December, but that might not stop them from pulling the plug. If he sticks around, though, next season will be make-or-break for him.
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