With all of the recent talk surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder being focused on the teams’ cap space — or rather, the lack thereof — it’s easy to lose sight of the empty spaces alongside head coach Billy Donovan that need filling. Bob Beyer is set to join the Sacramento Kings organization. Darko Rajakovic and Mark Bryant are going to work for ex-Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams, who’s the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti expressed to reporters in attendance for his post-2019 NBA Draft press conference that he and Donovan are happy for their now-former assistant coaches and their new opportunities. Though they have to shift their focus toward filling the vacant roles in Oklahoma City. With Presti preparing to work the roster throughout free agency, Donovan is spearheading the process of finding potential assistants.
According to Presti, Donovan has spoken to multiple candidates already, though a hire has yet to announced. But that doesn’t bother the Thunder general manager; primarily because the 2019-20 season is a ways away.
Billy’s talked to a lot of different people. I think it’s great he’s being really methodical how he goes about how he wants to fill the group out. And, as I said earlier, we don’t start playing until September, so taking some time with that, I think, is healthy. To make sure he’s looked at, and we’ve looked at, all the different options that there are.
The Thunder are considering all options, both within the organization and outside of it. With Donovan taking his time to consider all possible options to “feel good about the group he’s working with,” as Presti stated, the Thunder GM doesn’t have a firm time table for when the assistants have to be selected.
I think the time [to have the staff set] is basically more or less when that group kind of presents itself.
