Sources: OKC pursuing coveted Borrego for staff
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in talks with former Orlando Magic coach James Borrego about a spot on first-year coach Billy Donovan‘s staff, according to league sources.
The Thunder, sources told ESPN.com, have emerged as a potential landing spot for Borrego, who posted a 10-20 record last season as the Magic’s interim coach.
New Magic coach Scott Skiles announced earlier this week that Borrego can stay in Orlando if he chooses as an assistant on Skiles’ staff. But one source said Wednesday that the young coach, who rose to prominence after his time in the San Antonio Spurs organization under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, also has drawn interest from the New Orleans Pelicans to join the staff of incoming coach Alvin Gentry.
As ESPN.com first reported Tuesday, Oklahoma City is closing in on a deal with former Pelicans coach Monty Williams that would establish Williams as Donovan’s top assistant. If the Thunder also managed to land Borrego, that would flank Donovan with two coaches sporting recent head-coaching experience in Donovan’s first season in the NBA after nearly two decades at Florida.
Borrego worked as an assistant under Williams in New Orleans before moving to Orlando to work under, and ultimately replace, Jacque Vaughn.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
