The Suns will take “a hard look” at a coaching change after being swept out of the playoffs by Minnesota, sources tell Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic. If Frank Vogel is retained, management will consider making adjustments to his staff, according to the authors, who add that general manager James Jones will be kept in his current role.
Vogel still has four seasons remaining on the $31MM contract he received when he was hired last June. He was 49-33 in his first year with Phoenix and the team made a late charge to claim the sixth seed in the West, but there were concerns by the end of the season that his voice was no longer resonating with his players, Charania and Haller write.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported before Sunday’s game that Vogel’s future is in jeopardy. In a meeting with reporters before the contest, Vogel expressed confidence that he will remain the team’s coach (video link), telling reporters, “I’ve got full confidence from (owner) Mat Ishbia.”
But Charania and Haller wonder how patient Ishbia will be after spending heavily to add Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to form a Big Three alongside Devin Booker. That approach was shaky throughout the regular season, and it fell apart completely in the playoffs against the less experienced Timberwolves.
The Suns already have to replace lead assistant Kevin Young, who was in charge of the team’s offensive game plans. Young accepted the head coaching job at BYU two weeks ago, but agreed to remain with Phoenix through the end of its playoff run.
There’s more from Phoenix:
- The Suns plan to keep the core of the team together and build around Booker, Durant, Beal, Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic and Royce O’Neale, according to Charania and Haller. Allen recently agreed to a four-year, $70MM extension, but O’Neale, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, will have to be re-signed. The team will also be on the lookout for available veterans to help build a more professional atmosphere in the locker room, sources tell the authors.
- John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 expects a “cooling-off period” before Ishbia makes any decisions about his coaching staff (Twitter link). He also notes that finding a traditional point guard will be necessary this offseason as neither Booker or Beal appeared fully comfortable filling that role. Gambadoro also sees a need for a backup center and more size at the wing, pointing out that Phoenix was out-rebounded by a 185-130 margin during the four-game series.
- The Suns’ offseason options will be limited because they’re now operating under full second-apron rules, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac. Among those restrictions, the team can’t aggregate players in trades or take back more money than is sent out in any deal. The Suns won’t have access to the mid-level exception and can only sign their draft picks and add players on minimum contracts.
- Although Beal is widely considered to be untradeable with a contract that pays him $161MM over the next three seasons, Sam Vecenie of the Athletic believes the Suns could find a market if they decide to move him (Twitter link). He sees possible interest from the Kings if they lose Malik Monk in free agency, the Bulls if they trade DeMar DeRozan, or the Sixers if they can’t land a significant free agent with their available cap space. Beal still has a no-trade clause though and would have to approve any deal.
How is Beal untradeable? I get that his contract is massive and he has some health concerns, but be’s played in more than 50 games each of the past two years, is extremely efficient with both the 2s and 3s, moves the ball well, and has the potential to absolutely go off on any given night. Other than defensive prowess, how is he less value than a Khris Middleton type, who’s considered indispensable by his team? Is it solely about the contract value in dollars?
Beal has a few issues with his game, aside from his lack of defense. He’s not a good playmaker (like, yes, he can pass and get assists, but he’s not really any better than a Zach LaVine or Jaylen Brown at setting up his teammates or creating opportunities for them when he draws help, so he can’t handle primary playmaking duties for a team, which limits their options on both ends; he’s always been more of a finisher but he doesn’t have the versatility of other guys like Donovan Mitchell, for example) and his athleticism seems to be declining quickly. He’s also hurt a *lot* relative to his contract. Middleton has that problem recently, but he’s a better defender on a *much* smaller contract.
The other issue is that he still has a full no-trade clause, so he can quickly become an albatross if he’s not willing to go to your willing partners. If he doesn’t think he has a better chance of winning elsewhere, he could just stop any discussions before they start.
I agree somewhat. When Wall was was hurt Beal showed himself to be a good playmaker out of the PnR. You’re right though as far as the rest of what it takes to be a good PG. He’s doesn’t have the ball handling skills to break down a defense in isolation and he doesn’t have the court vision to hit guys running off screens and making cuts.
He works when he himself is running off screens or spotting up and occasionally putting the ball on the floor on a closeout.
Pick-and roll-ballhandling isn’t that hard for guards. It’s impressive if a wing does it well, but for an undersized guard, you *better* be able to handle the ball in the pick-and-roll. And Beal’s fine at that, but he’d never be your first option. He’s not on par with any actual PG in that regard.
As you said, Beal is at his best as an off-ball option and with self-creation in space. The Suns did a decent job optimizing the former (43% from 3 is crazy for Beal, plus a career high FG%), but he was just not the fit for the roster. Too slow, too bad at defense, can’t really take advantage of his own scoring gravity. He’s a worse Zach LaVine in several ways at this point in his career, which is honestly terrible at his price point. LaVine is bad at his price, and Beal has five million extra per year plus a full no-trade.
Also hyping him for playing just over half a season the past two years is not a selling point to any interested teams.
There will not be that much of a market for Beal 50mil a year for the next two years, oft injured, declining skills. Durant on the other hand could have a stronger market for trade.
PS… Don’t count out Booker may want out of Phoenix, he has said in the past that he would not mind playing in New York, and that wa before the Knicks were a playoff team.
It will be interesting to see if a coaching change and who that lands in Phoenix.
by virtue of his salary and the fact that he has a no trade clause and is also not playing in form that got him the salary that is now one of the worst in the NBA.
are you seriously arguing more than 50 games played as a positive? HA! 61%
Yes, trade Money for Durant.
Proposal
Money G
Wiggins
Moody
Picks
why would the warriors trade Draymond so they could turn into the Suns?
Steph is not approving a trade of Draymond, ever.
They did trade for CP3…
Next season salary
Beal $50 million
Jalen Jackson jr $25M
Jalen Brunson $24 M
Trade Beal for two players
Just an example, not a proposal
It’s about production. You don’t spend $50M on a third option
no one is trading for Beal. Suns might be stuck with Beal over Durant and Booker, who have value and may be traded for.
Rockets love superstars.
How about Beal for VanVleet and Jeff Green?
Salary matching
because that would be a downgrade for the rockets, duh!
Oft injured Beal past three years has been in decline, i.e being injured or skill set starting to decline, Durant playing out of position he is not a power forward, small forward is his style, but his defense is lacking. Booker is not a point guard period. What I see is a roster of no defense, which is supposed to be this Coach’s past history, he had good defensive teams in Indiana where is it? Not when you have 3 players that are only offensive minded players. Just a poorly constructed roster with trading first-round picks for the next five years, Durant being 37 next year, Beal with a no-trade option in contract, Booker starting to get restless, will probably ask to be traded. Sun is setting for Suns as a legitimate NBA contender.
when exactly were they a legitimate contender? before they traded CP3 away?
There’s plenty of good to great individual defenders on the Sun’s roster. The main problem with the defense is lack of cohesion due to injuries. They haven’t had a chance to learn each other’s strengths and weakness or each other’s tendencies.
Durant’s not playing out of position. These days it doesn’t matter. In most systems the PF is just a bigger and taller SF. As far as defense Durant ranks as a near elite perimeter defender and he’s no slouch inside. Durant ranked 5th in DIFF%, opponents shot around 5.5% worse when guarded by Durant as compared to their season average. That’s right up there with the likes of Gobert and Evan Mobley. He was also in the 81st percentile on Estimated Defensive +/-.
I’m not going to go into as much detail on Nurkić. I’m just saying while he isn’t a great player on defense he’s above average. He’s a decent rim protector and rebounder but like most centers he can’t defend in space.
Josh Okogie and Grayson Allen are both good perimeter defenders as well.
This team was a mess when it was assembled. I am not a big Vogel fan but this is really on the front office for ever thinking it could work. This team has no point guard, a mediocre big, and 3 players on huge contracts that all basically do the same thing.
The only teams to ever make a “big 3” style roster work had a big 3 that also excelled on defense: Warriors had Draymond, Lakers had Gasol and Shaq. Heat had Lebron and Bosh. Duncan’s Spurs were great on defense, Jordan’s Bulls had Rodman, etc etc…
The current Lakers only really have a “big 2” but the defense is so strong they still get by as semi-legit contenders every year.
If your big 3 is just all offensive players then the concept is doomed to fail.
This is anecdote to support your statement. The Warriors played Wiggins and Kuminga together in the front court this past season. Without Draymond at Center, they had a -130 point differential. With Draymond at Center, they had a +90 point differential. Another way to look at is that your offense starts with your defense.
and everyone says Draymond has no value and should be traded
No value for a contender serious about team building…
Seems absurd that the author of this story would mention the Bulls as a possible place for Beal to be traded to. Beal is untradeable. Beal is a great talent but if Beal didn’t win playing with Durant and Booker than why would it be any better somewhere else. Can’t imagine another team will take on Beal with $161 guaranteed for the next three seasons.
I always knew Beal was terrible. He is not a player. Does not know to win need to trade fast because he is a disaster to Phoenix. Untrained to be a player
Just imagine. If KD had listened to Draymond, and not left Golden State, he could have 2 more rings.
at minimum.
does he think he improved his legacy with his choices? the big never wasn’t in Brooklyn. 1st rd sweep in PHX. Guy is a loser without Steph.
It’s like you have Sandwich and soda sometimes.
Durant and LeBron get swept
KD had such a good thing going on in Golden State. He fit their system like a glove.
That Warriors team when healthy were unbeatable. As you said, KD would have won 2 more rings had he stayed.
I disagree with reporter of this article
Imo,
Kings, Bulls and 76ers are not interested in Beal
Kings don’t have enough salary to match
Bulls have LaVine contract. Beal contract can’t help Bulls
76ers don’t want to spend that money on Beal
No
I understand Beal is mentioned in the article which is why he’s getting heat in the comment section but Beal was not the first, second, or third biggest reason this team performed like they did in the playoffs.
1. Booker and Durant objectively played like trash games 1-3 and didn’t play well defensively at any point.
2. The HC coach clearly has not ever had the locker room this year. The game they were losing 35-4 against the clippers there is a report that the players “laughed at him” during his half time rant.
3. The team had no leadership from its two best players or HC. Durant did what he usually does and refused to lead. Booker was not a good leader either but I at least can see that he was put in a hard position to play PG when he clearly isn’t. But when he would start playing his game which is scoring and taking a lot of shots KD would go sit in the corner and pout because he wasn’t involved enough.
KD, Book, and Vogal would have gotten 95% of the credit if this had won. So they should get 95% of the blame when they underwhelm this much not Beal or the other role players.
Spot on. Lead-by-example doesn’t seem to be working, and they need a floor coach who has the respect to lead-by-talking. Clearly can’t be a current star with the flexibility available, but if you can somehow find a vocal ball handler who you might trade one of your middle salaries for, try that.
Yeah, frankly, while I’m not going to dog Beal, one of the few guys who I enjoyed watching on a grim team, an old CP3 that everyone’s a little mad at would’ve been a better fit. Wouldn’t have blown so many games and turnovers, at least. Think he’d want to go back, be their Westbrook?
sun is setting in phoenix before it even had a chance to rise.
if Suns had a time machine would they go back and undo KD trade? they might have a championship if they hadn’t.
I don’t think so, but they’d be more fun to watch without the weight of expectations he brought. And I do love watching him.
No deep bench in Phoenix
Me thinks that PHX was better off with Dominayton than Nurkic!
That was a dumb move, right?
PHX may have no other real option than to keep their big money core together. It’s good they recognize it, and are prepared for it.
The real question is whether the team can be better next year without significant personnel changes, acknowledging that they have no ascending young talents that might provide a talent upgrade organically. In such a spot (no where else to turn), team culture is a natural discussion point. But, to talk it and walk it, they’ll need to understand it. A team’s culture is tied to the players most vested in the team, in most cases its stars. It won’t be impacted much by adding role players, and certainly not by adding minimum wage veterans, or a coaching change unless the coach is empowered to actually coach the team and given enough time for that coaching to take (with this collection of characters I’m not sure that’s possible). When a team creates a Big 3 (or Big 2 plus 1), it also creates a little 12, and a systemically marginalized coaching staff. Modifying that can only come from those who have enough power to do it.
Vogel expressed confidence that he will remain the team’s coach (video link), telling reporters, “I’ve got full confidence from (owner) Mat Ishbia.”
In other news, Admiral Ozzel expressed confidence that he will remain the top admiral of the Empire, telling reporters, “I’ve got full confidence from (evil dark lord) Darth Vader.”