Report: Florida's Donovan a serious candidate to coach Thunder

With the Oklahoma City Thunder's head-coaching position newly vacant, all eyes have turned to Billy Donovan.  

The Florida coach is reportedly a serious candidate to replace Scott Brooks in OKC, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Thunder general manager Sam Presti reportedly has a long-standing friendship with Donovan. 

Related: Thunder fire head coach Scott Brooks

A move to the NBA seems to be one Donovan is considering, as he's reportedly done some background research on injured Thunder small forward Kevin Durant, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.   

Donovan, 49, recently received an extension with the Gators through the 2020 season that will pay him upwards of $4 million per year after leading Florida to a 16-17 record and missing out on the NCAA tournament. 

However, rumors swirled that he may be looking to make the jump to the NBA after it was revealed his buyout is a relatively small $500,000. 

With a 502-206 record over 21 seasons of coaching, the two-time NCAA champion has helped mold several notable NBA players, including Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Bradley Beal. 

The Thunder hired two former members of Donovan's staff last August, naming Mark Daigneault the coach of their D-League affiliate, and former Florida video coordinator Oliver Winterbone a basketball information analyst.

Donovan agreed to join the Orlando Magic in 2007, however, he backed out, and was banned from considering another NBA job offer until 2013.