If Sam Presti does not hire a coach that Kevin Durant is happy with, chances are Durant will leave Oklahoma City as an unrestricted free agent in July, 2016. That is a fact.
Kevin Durant likes Kevin Ollie. That is a fact, too.
And Kevin Ollie is Presti’s No. 1 choice for the job. That fact was first reported by respected colleague Adam Zagoria, and it is 100 percent on the money.
So what to make of Ollie’s statement today, tactfully written in the present tense, that he has “no plans” to leave UConn?
Well, put it this way. I have no plans to marry Taylor Swift. But if circumstances led to that being a possibility …
Which brings us back to Ollie and the Thunder. If Ollie needs some time to figure out the future direction of his life, especially with a divorce pending, will the Thunder have the patience to wait that process out? My answer is the same answer I gave in explaining my MVP vote: “What’s the hurry?” There are six months until the NBA season begins. Presti can afford to be patient.
As for the other two names that are out there, Billy Donovan and Fred Hoiberg, fans of the Thunder should ask themselves this: “Do either of those guys have a strong relationship with Durant?” Because you can be damn sure that Durant is going to have some input on who OKC’s next coach will be.
That is why my money is on Ollie — even if it doesn’t happen until the middle of the summer. I explain more in this interview on Erik Gee and Kelly Gregg on 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.