The Oklahoma City Thunder have narrowed down their head coaching search to three possible candidates.
San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Will Hardy, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee and Thunder assistant Mark Daigneault are among the candidates who have received strong consideration for the job, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Hardy, 32, has become a key member of Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff and also coached under him on the USA Basketball staff at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Lee, 35, spent the last two seasons on Mike Budenholzer’s staff (2018-2020) after starting his coaching career with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013.
Daigneault has only been a coach in the NBA for one season after coaching the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, for five seasons.
The Thunder are the only team left to fill their head coaching vacancy, as the other eight teams that previously had vacancies have finalized their head coaching change.
However, Thunder general manager Sam Presti hiring someone who’s name had never been connected to the job is also a possibility, as it would be the “Prestian outcome,” notes Stein.
With the 2020 NBA Draft coming up on Nov. 18, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Thunder try to close in on their next head coach sooner rather than later.
