Sources: OKC, fired coach Williams near deal
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in advanced negotiations with Monty Williams to hire the former New Orleans Pelicans coach as a top assistant to new coach Billy Donovan, according to league sources.
A deal, sources said, could be announced as early as Wednesday.
Williams, who had a 173-221 record in five seasons, was ousted as Pelicans coach on May 12 despite leading the New Orleans upstart to the final playoff berth in the Western Conference ahead of injury-hit Oklahoma City.
The Thunder and Toronto Raptors are among the teams that have been chasing Williams as an assistant since his dismissal with the Pelicans. But Oklahoma City had an edge given that Williams and Donovan are both top coaches with USA Basketball, giving them some common ground as the former Florida coach assembles his first NBA staff.
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