The shadows of doubt surrounding Billy Donovan’s future disappeared Monday.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti confirmed the Thunder head coach is returning for a fifth season in 2019. That says a lot about not just the Thunder and its belief in what Donovan has done, but the next steps in bouncing back from what Presti called a disappointing season.
Presti defined the latest campaign in two words — capability and inconsistency. For years, Presti has emphasized the lack of roster consistency Donovan has battled since the departure of Kevin Durant. This season was different, though, a blend of attrition (Andre Roberson, Alex Abrines) and Presti admitting he didn’t bolster wing depth enough.