Oklahoma City split from manager Billy Donovan on Tuesday. In the press release announcing the decision, Thunder GM Sam Presti said the organization “has not been able to provide (Donovan) the information on the future direction of the team in the coming seasons to give it the level of clarity it understandably wants. of his career. “
If the Thunder had tried to make the playoffs next season and beyond, the club would likely have signed a new deal with Donovan.
The Long Island native coached the Thunder in a playoff match in 2019-20, exceeding most pre-season expectations. Oklahoma City’s success was also fueled by Paul; The 10-time All-Star averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 assists per game in the regular season.
If the Thunder are about to start a full rebuild under a new manager, it’s only logical to assume OKC will at least consider moving Paul into a swap this off-season. The 35-year-old will earn $ 85 million over the next two seasons.
Before the NBA reboot in Orlando, members of the Knicks organization continued to see Paul as a good veteran addition to the club’s rebuilding. The feeling was that Paul would help New York build a winning culture and influence the club’s young players.