It is well known that the Phoenix Suns are looking for their third coach in three seasons. However, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, the Suns are likely changing their strategy in their coaching search.
Suns Reportedly Looking For An Up-and-Coming Coach, Analyzing The Top Candidates?
After firing Monty Williams three summers ago, the Suns went with veterans Frank Vogel and, of course, Mike Budenholzer. Since neither of those two experienced coaches got the Suns’ desired results, Stein and Fisher said the Suns will look for a younger coach. The duo added that Willie Green could be a candidate if New Orleans moves on from the 43-year-old.
While Phoenix has many more issues than its coach, the Suns’ first order of business will be to find a new coach. Stein and Fisher added that Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones could be in jeopardy as well. However, the Suns will likely want to make a decision soon, with the NBA Combine less than a month away.
Phoenix really struggled this past season. The Suns won 13 fewer games this past season than the one year under Vogel and missed the playoffs for the first time in five season. The Suns finished 10th in offensive rating and 28th on the defensive end while struggling on the backboards.
Phoenix was the second-oldest team this past season. The Suns have 10 players under contract, and their salaries total $214.9 million, which is $11.4 million over the second apron.
Phoenix is expected to reshape its roster. Vasilije Micic has a $8.1 million team option, and the Suns are believed to be shopping Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Bol Bol, Tyus Jones, Damion Lee, Monte Morris, and Mason Plumlee are unrestricted free agents.
Ranking The Phoenix Suns Head Coaching Candidates
Numerous names have been thrown around for the Suns’ job. But what are the Suns looking for in their next coach?
“We’re going to look for someone that fits the vision of Phoenix Suns basketball organization,” Suns owner Matt Ishbia said during an April 17 press conference. “Someone who is going to live out exactly what I’m talking about. Someone who is a little bit grimy, a little bit grinder, a little bit tough. Have a little bit of that in them. I joke, but it’s true, I’m no talent, all heart. That’s my life. I will just outwork everyone. I’m going to have a coach, a front office, players, that the Phoenix community will love because it will be that.”
1. Royal Ivey
Royal Ivey is one of several NBA assistant coaches who are considered candidates. Ivey played 10 years in the Association and has been an assistant coach for the past nine seasons. He has been on Ime Udoka‘s staff in Houston the past two seasons and has previously worked with OKC, New York, and Brooklyn.
While Ivey hasn’t led an NBA squad, he has served as the head man for South Sudan national team since 2021. The 43-year-old leading South Sudan to a 4-4 record in the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
2. Darvin Ham
Darvin Ham likely deserves another NBA shot. The 51-year-old, who has been a NBA assistant coach since 2011 before getting a chance to lead the LA Lakers, boasts a 90-74 record with two trips to the playoffs. He is currently an assistant with Milwaukee.
3. Willie Green
Green would be an interesting prospect, if not still the Pelicans head coach, as he has ties to the Suns organization. Green has done a fine job with the “broken” Pelicans and shouldn’t be responsible for their downturn. While the 43-year-old is 148-180 in four seasons as the top man, he did lead the Pelicans to two postseason berths. Expect New Orleans to give Green one more season as president of basketball operations Joe Dumars tries to figure things out.
4. Adrian Griffin
Adrian Griffin is another interesting candidate. Milwaukee ousted Griffin halfway through 2023-24 in favor of Doc Rivers despite the Bucks’ 30-13 record. The 50-year-old had been an NBA assistant since 2008 before earning the Bucks’ head job before the 2023-24 season started.
5. Chris Quinn
Chris Quinn has never been a head coach, though he has been a candidate for several jobs over the past couple of seasons. The 41-year-old, who played six seasons in the NBA, has been an assistant on Erik Spoelstra‘s staff in Miami since 2014. Spoelstra promoted him to Associate head coach in October.
“[Quinn] has learned from one of the best in Erik Spoelstra,” Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic said. He’s seen Heat culture up close and personal as a player and assistant. Has been viewed as a future NBA coach for years. The Heat have battled through the play-in tournament to earn the eighth seed with Quinn serving as the associate head coach.
6. Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley was a blue-collar NBA player who spent 14 years in the league. The 39-year-old has been an assistant with Dallas for the past four seasons.
“For starters, the current Dallas Mavericks assistant was a fan favorite as a player in Phoenix in two separate stints (2008-13, 2016-18), Rankin listed as reason why Dudley is a candidate. “Second, he and Devin Booker were teammates during that second run. Third, he has established himself as a quality assistant and isn’t too far removed from being a player (last NBA season 2020-21).”
7. Jerry Stackhouse
Jerry Stackhouse is an intriguing candidate. Stackhouse played 18 years in the NBA and is currently in his first year as an assistant on Steve Kerr‘s staff in Golden State. Unlike most other NBA assistants, Stackhouse has real head coaching experience with Vanderbilt and the G-League Raptors 905. The 50-year-old, who posted a 70-92 record at Vanderbilt, guided the Raptors 905 to the 2017 G-League title.
“He’s put in the work at the college level with Vanderbilt and is in his third year in the NBA as an assistant, Rankin said of Stackhouse. “Working under Steve Kerr in Golden State, Stackhouse is a former NBA player who won a G League championship as a head coach for Raptors 905 in 2016-17. Brings work ethic and discipline.”
8. James Borrego
James Borrego hasn’t had it easy as a head coach. The 47-year-old has been at the helm when Orlando and Charlotte decided to go through a rebuild. He did a decent job keeping the Hornets afloat, guiding them to a winning record in 2021-22 at 43-39. He was 149-183 overall in five seasons and is currently the associate head coach in New Orleans
9. Sean Sweeney
Sean Sweeney has been a NBA assistant coach since 2013-14. While Sweeney has not been a head coach, he has been a top candidate the past couple of seasons.
Sweeney has had stops in Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Detroit. He has spent the past four years in Dallas under Jason Kidd, where he has been in charge of the Mavs offseason and defensive during his tenure with the team.
10. Johnny Bryant
Johnny Bryant has been a fast riser, though he has never been a head coach. Last season, he got a few interviews for open jobs.
Bryant started his coaching career with the Utah Jazz in 2014, where he spent six seasons. In 2020, he moved to New York as the Knicks’ associate head coach under Tom Thibodeau. After four seasons with the Knicks, he is now in Cleveland in the same capacity.
“Bryant was the associate head coach in New York under Tom Thibodeau, a defensive savant,” Rankin said. “Well respected, Bryant is known for player development.”
11. Brian Shaw
Brian Shaw is another long-time NBA player with head coaching experience. However, unlike Stackhouse, the 59-year-old was the head coach with Denver (2013-15) and compiled a 56-85 record. Shaw has been a candidate for head coaching jobs since his stint with the Nuggets and has been an assistant in Los Angeles the past seven years—three with the Lakers (associate head coach) and in his fourth with the Clippers.
12. Taylor Jenkins
Taylor Jenkins did an absolute bang-up job with Memphis, but it was likely time for a change. The 40-year-old went 250-214 in nearly six years with the Grizzlies, leading to four winning campaigns. The Grizzlies also made three playoff appearances under Jenkins.
13. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell has been one of the hottest assistants destined to be a head coach over the past few seasons. The 55-year-old, who was reportedly a serious contender for the Florida State job that went to Sacramento assistant Luke Loucks, has been an NBA assistant since the 2009-10 campaign. He has served under Joe Mazzulla the past two seasons in Boston.
14. Jay Hernandez
Jay Hernandez has been part of the NBA coaching fraternity since 2014. He is currently an assistant with Brooklyn, having previously worked with Orlando and Charlotte. In 2021, he coached the Hornets G-League squad, Greensboro Swarm.
15. Ben Sullivan
Ben Sullivan, who played one pro season overseas, has been a NBA assistant coach since 2014. Sullivan started his coaching stint with Atlanta and then moved to Boston. He has been with Houston the past two seasons.
15. Michael Malone
Michael Malone was highly successful during his 10 campaigns with the Denver Nuggets, but the 53-year-old wore out his welcome. Malone led the Nuggets to eight straight winning seasons with three seasons of 50+ victories. He has a 554-430 record in 12 seasons, including 44-36 in the postseason.
16. David Fizdale
David Fizdale has been an assistant with the Suns the past two seasons. The 50-year-old is 73-134 in two plus full seasons as a head coach with New York and Memphis.
17. Mike Brown
Mike Brown has done a fantastic job at each of his three stops. The 55-year-old has produced eight winning campaigns in 11 seasons, though he has won out his welcome during the season in Los Angeles and Sacramento. He has a 500-343 record, including going 50-40 in the postseason, while reaching the NBA Finals in 2007 with Cleveland.
Brown has won 50+ games in four seasons. His teams have also reached the second round in six of the seven trips playoff trips. While Brown fits Ishbia’s ideology, not sure he is any different from Vogel and Budenholzer.
18. Lloyd Pierce
Lloyd Pierce was a long-time NBA assistant before spending three years in the first seat with the Atlanta Hawks (2018-21). Pierce went 63-120 in two-plus seasons with the Hawks. He has been an assistant with the Indiana Pacers the past four seasons.
19. Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy hasn’t been a head coach in the league since 2006-07. However, the 63-year-old has been around the game since leaving the business and served as an assistant to Ty Lue with the Los Angeles Clippers this season. He was 430-318 overall and 44-44 in the postseason.
20. Terry Stotts
Terry Stotts is another older coach with NBa extensive head coach experience. The 67-year-old, who last was head coach at Portland from 2012-21, owns a 517-486 career record though he was only 23-44 in the playoffs. He is currently an assistant on the Warriors staff.
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