In the lane

THE BILLY CLUB: Count former Heat and Gators

forward Mike Miller among those optimistic about Billy Donovan’s chances as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. During a conference call in the wake of Donovan’s departure from Florida, Thunder forward

Kevin Durant said a conversation with Miller put him at ease. “Mike told me that he’s real detailed and prepared. Every day is just another day for him to get better. And he’s always looking to learn,” Durant said. “I was excited when I heard that, because that’s the type of player I am, and I’m looking forward to learning from somebody else.”

EXECUTIVE INDECISION: While the sting remains for South Florida, how exactly does Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin finish second to Golden State’s Bob Myers in the voting of league executives for NBA Executive of the Year? LeBron James’ return to Cleveland, no matter who initiated the return, should have made the award automatic. But there also were the Cavaliers’ trades for Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, J.R.

Smith and Iman Shumpert that dramatically upgraded the roster even after James’ return. The vote was as nonsensical as Pat Riley having to share the award in 2011 with the Chicago Bulls’ Gar Forman, after Riley signed James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade the previous summer, while the Bulls signed Carlos Boozer. Then again, how exactly did Mitch Kupchak get one second-place vote in this year’s balloting for his work with the Los Angeles Lakers?

NOW NORRIS: In bypassing a rookie-scale extension by this past season’s Oct. 31 deadline, the Heat immediately cast doubt on Norris Cole’s future with the franchise. Cole subsequently was dealt at the Feb. 19 trading deadline to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he provided valuable playoff minutes. Now it’s the Pelicans who find themselves up to bat with the Heat 2011 first-round draft acquisition, who will become a restricted free agent on July 1, pending a formal qualifying offer from New Orleans, with the Pelicans thereby having the right to match outside offers. One team to watch, of course, is James’ Cavaliers, with Cole signing last summer with James’ agent, Rich Paul. With Tyreke Evans playing more often at point guard for the Pelicans, and with Jrue Holiday pushing past his injuries, Cole could find himself in a limited-minutes role in New Orleans, or could potentially push for the minutes that Matthew Dellavedova currently is claiming behind Cavaliers starting point guard Kyrie Irving.

FIND A WAY: While falling in the first round of the playoffs was not the desired outcome by the Portland Trail Blazers, forward LaMarcus Aldridge said in his wrap-up media session that it could have been worse, noting the Heat’s tumble. “I’m not trying to call them out,” he said, “but they went from No. 1, No. 2 in the East to not even in the playoffs.” Like the Heat, the Blazers dealt with injuries throughout the season, including losing starting guard Wesley Matthews for the season.