The Oklahoma City Thunder have severed ties with Scott Brooks and are now in full recruiting mode.
According to a report from SNY.tv, the team had been pursuing UCONN head man Kevin Ollie long before they made the decision to fire Brooks.
The source added: “OKC has been trying to get Ollie to leave for a year. He is loyal to UConn and loves his job but if KD [Kevin Durant] and Russ [Westbrook] want him there to make a run at a title, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. He won’t pass it up.”
the SNY.tv source said Tuesday night that Oklahoma City “believes in Ollie” and “he’s their No. 1 target.”
“There is no formal offer on the table, but he’s first in line,” the source said. “Oklahoma City is fully committed to trying to get him to commit.”
If that report is true, it makes sense that Scott Brooks’ job was safe the entire season, even after OKC’s early struggles. However, Kevin Ollie has been vocal in his desire to stay at UCONN, even going as far as officially removing his own name from OKC’s coaching search, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
As always, never believe anything until the paperwork is signed. Ollie is saying he will stay at the college level now, but the offseason is young and if the Thunder want his services as badly as is being reported; I’m sure they’ll come up with some numbers to make Ollie’s decision a bit more difficult.
[h/t Bleacher Report, SNY.tv, Pro Basketball Talk]