It looks like the NBA is stepping in to show Donovan and others who think that they can sign a contract and not honor it what happens if they decide to back out.  How about a 5 year ban from the NBA.  I think that something has to be done to prevent people from having a “change of heart” and not honoring their contract.  Remember, the media kills players when they want to renegotiate or ask to be traded.  I just hope that this is a lesson to those coaches who don’t want to honor that signed document that we call a contract. Read more about what the NBA is trying to do:

Billy Donovan and the Magic entered talks on Monday to terminate the contract that he signed on Friday, but the NBA might have a say in resolving the matter as well, ESPN.com has learned.Multiple sources said that Donovan is being asked to refrain from coaching in the NBA for five years as one of the terms of his release from his Magic contract. Especially in light of this newest wrinkle, negotiations were expected to continue into Tuesday.

ESPN’s Kelly Naqi cites a Magic team source saying Donovan obtained legal representation at 6 p.m. Monday to work on the complexities of the contract with Orlando attorneys.

The source also said that Donovan has called high-ranking team officials several times apologizing for the his change of heart. According to the source, Donovan said, “I’m so sorry this happened. I meant no harm. My heart is in Florida.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2892797&POLL292=400000000000000

He’d better thank the lord above if he is able to wiggle out of this one without penalty.

Popularity: 13% [?]

It seems that Billy Donovan, the University of Floria Gators former head basketball coach, now wants to leave his new job in Orlando to return as Florida’s head coach.  He has contacted both Orlando and Florida about his decision and now waits to see if Orlando will release him from his newly signed contract. 

Source ESPN’s Andy Katz: Billy Donovan informed the Magic and the University of Florida over the weekend that he had second thoughts about agreeing to be Orlando’s head coach, and the NBA team was deciding on Sunday whether to let him go.

 Before the ink got a chance to dry and like a 3rd grader who doesn’t know if he wants a Fruit Roll Up or Push Up Pop, Donovan has harmed any chance to win the respect of his new NBA players like Dwight Howard or Jameer Nelson, both young stars in the making.  I don’t think that it would take Florida long to decide if they want Donovan back since winning those two championships.  The Gators were in talks with VCU’s bright head coach, Anthony Grant, about the vacated position.  Guess he’s gotta be a little ticked off right now. 

Now there’s this thing called a contract and with the media always killing players about honoring their contract and playing through it, this would be a good time for media pin pundits to expect the same from Donovan.  I know a person has a right to change their mind, but in cases like this, you have too many lives that are affected.  First the kids being recruited to come in thinking that their coach would be there.  They can’t up and leave when they want like coaches, don’t they honor their contract?  And if they leave, isn’t there a penalty to sit out a year before being able to play?  And what about those Orlando Magic fans who raced out buy those season tickets because they now have a hot new coach to help get them over the hump with young talent and millions of salary cap room to make moves?

I think that this can get really dirty depending on how Orlando plays it.  If I am Orlando and he wants out, I let him, but I sure him.  Yes, breaching a contract and deceiving the fans of Orlando for making them think that he really wanted to be there.  Another reason to let him go is because I want my players to know that the coach I bring in is not one waiting on the next train smoking out of there as soon as another opportunity presents itself.  There is no way he can win the respect of his team if this comes out to be true.

More info: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2892334

Popularity: 13% [?]