Billy Donovan / Orlando Rumor and Implications

[BRN2BNK]

I was listening to the sports Mob this afternoon hosted by Gidel and Matt Jones and they mentioned recieving news that Donovan was going to be interviewing fot the Orlando job (I didnt catch when).

If this happens, what implications do you think this will have with Jai Lucas, if any?

Also, if he does interview, how much credibility do you think he has with Patrick Patterson and anyone else after saying "Im not going anywhere".

All this stuff may be hard to believe, but you got to think that "where there is smoke, there is fire".

Just as an FYI, I believe Matt sourced XM radio, and did not know the credibility--but he did say it.

[Got_Billie_G?]

I think Lucas will stay at Florida if Donovan leaves, they'll hire Anthony Grant who would be a solid replacement...playing time is still going to be there if they put Calathes at the 2 guard...with all of the recent talk of NBA jobs, and Donovan himself saying the NBA intrigues him, and that he considered to some extent the Memphis job, I have to think he'd really consider the Orlando job, his family could stay in Gainesville, or at least Florida, remain close to the family, and he would take over a team that has a lot of young talent and are two drafts away from being a really good Eastern conference team...they are already competing for playoff spots if they can get a good guard/small forward look out...good be the right time for Donovan to jump

[NC Cat]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote an article this weekend where Billy D admitted being intrigued with the NBA and said he would listen to Orlando if they called. He also said he thought he would love the NBA because you can focus on just basketball all the time (which I took to mean no recruiting, or worrying if your players are going to class, or making sure you don’t violate any of the millions of petty NCAA rules, etc.). But Jai Lucas signed with Florida anyway, so go figure. Billy D must be one hell of a spin artist because Lucas had to have seen that article. If he didn’t, UK and OSU were asleep at the switch.

[NC Cat]

Here's the link to that Sentinel article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-magic1207may12,0,3925547.story?coll=orl-magic

[BRN2BNK]

Here's the link to that Sentinel article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-magic1207may12,0,3925547.story?coll=orl-magic

Thanks--this is interesting that Jai would end up signing unless he was absolutely confident that he would be there. These could be just flat out rumors and Billy D attests to it. Who knows...

[Craig the Blueheart]

Thanks--this is interesting that Jai would end up signing unless he was absolutely confident that he would be there. These could be just flat out rumors and Billy D attests to it. Who knows...

Did JL actually sign an LOI, or did he verbal?

[Josh]

Please, just go Donovan! Just go!

[dhens7]

[QUOTE=NC Cat;279407]The Orlando Sentinel wrote an article this weekend where Billy D admitted being intrigued with the NBA and said he would listen to Orlando if they called.


He also said he would listen to UK than shot us down in a matter of hours after listening

[crazzedcats22]

Did JL actually sign an LOI, or did he verbal?

everything I heard said he signed an LOI

[BamaCat86]

But Jai Lucas signed with Florida anyway, so go figure. Billy D must be one hell of a spin artist because Lucas had to have seen that article. If he didn’t, UK and OSU were asleep at the switch.

We could have pulled a Coach K and called Lucas and read him the article over the phone.

[Craig the Blueheart]

We could have pulled a Coach K and called Lucas and read him the article over the phone.

I guess I am unfamiliar with which incident you are talking about... It sounds hilarious though. Which recruit was that?

[wildcat74]

I said in a post on the hoops form after lucas signed that I'd love to see donovan go pro this summer after all that.

[sardiscat]

Florida lost its top six players whether Donovan leaves or comes back. Plenty of playing time available for Lucas at UF either way. That's why he went there. No reason for him to leave even if Donovan does.

[BamaCat86]

I guess I am unfamiliar with which incident you are talking about... It sounds hilarious though. Which recruit was that?

There was an incident where someone on the Duke staff called Patterson and read an article to him which slammed UK and the treatment of Tubby around the same time we were pursuing BD.

[Craig the Blueheart]

There was an incident where someone on the Duke staff called Patterson and read an article to him which slammed UK and the treatment of Tubby around the same time we were pursuing BD.

Thats funny. I guess that I was in a cave when that happened.

[BRN2BNK]

Thats funny. I guess that I was in a cave when that happened.

Or practicing improper tomatoe planting techniques. Either way, you wiffed on this one.