This time of year in the NBA, with all the signings, hirings and firings, there are always a few hidden gems.  The Oklahoma City Thunder, with two-time NCAA title coach Billy Donovan (Florida) now at the helm, named Monty Williams, Maurice Cheeks, and Anthony Grant assistant coaches.  Grant was a long-time Donovan assistant before head coaching stints at Virginia Commonwealth and Alabama, which fired him in March. Another Donovan assistant, Billy Schmidt, also got a Thunder job, and one with a provocative job title – Quality Control Coach.

Neither are the Philadelphia 76ers, who don’t win too many games, afraid of innovation. They hired a “sports scientist” named Dr. David T. Martin, who’s spent the past 15 years training Australian bicycle riders. His title: Director of Performance Research and Development. 
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