Looks Like Billy's Gonna Be a Gator....AGAIN!

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Keys to Donovan wriggling out of Orlando: lawyers, guns and money
By Gary Parrish
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

ORLANDO -- Dialogue between Billy Donovan and the Orlando Magic continued Monday morning, clearing the way for his return to the Florida Gators. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic have decided to let Donovan out of the five-year, $27.5 million contract he signed Friday. And though multiple sources confirmed that report to CBS SportsLine.com, they added this isn't likely to be as simple as just parting ways and moving on.

The sources said if Donovan genuinely doesn't want to coach in the NBA, then the Magic do not want him to be their coach. But there is a level of embarrassment that can't be ignored, and considering the franchise increased season ticket sales the past four days based on nothing more than Donovan as its face, a question lingers about whether Orlando should try to recoup that money, and more.

Either way, barring another change of mind -- and it would be wise to bar nothing, at this point -- expect Donovan to coach Florida again. It's just a matter of how he gets there, and how long the process takes. The Magic released a statement Monday morning:

"... Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the NBA. We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours, and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue."

Donovan, 42, said last week that he had always been intrigued by the NBA, and that Orlando was the perfect situation because it was an up-and-coming team and close to home. He led the Gators to consecutive national titles the past two seasons and was slated to sign a seven-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million annually. The deal was in the process of being approved when he agreed to coach the Magic. The messiness of this situation has Florida in a holding pattern.

The school was set to offer its apparent opening to Virginia Commonwealth's Anthony Grant on Saturday. But when officials flew to Virginia to meet with Grant, they returned less than an hour later, and without any face-to-face contact. It was a bizarre development that in hindsight makes sense, because it was Donovan's waffling that essentially canceled the meeting and left Grant -- a longtime Donovan assistant at Florida who recruited most of the Gators' roster -- in limbo.

According to sources, Grant was prepared to accept an offer, and he had even hinted to recruits he would soon leave VCU for Florida. But Donovan's second thoughts now have Grant confused, so much so that he issued a vague statement Sunday night that implied everything wasn't going as planned.

"I have been contacted by the University of Florida regarding their coaching vacancy," Grant said. "I have not had any in-person contact with any Florida representative, nor have I been offered the job."

Florida officials have repeatedly denied comment. Assuming Donovan doesn't remain with Orlando, former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy is perceived as the leading candidate. But Van Gundy, who also interviewed for coaching vacancies in Charlotte, Indiana and Sacramento in recent weeks, might not be available for long -- he had a second interview with Sacramento's ownership group in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.