After initially reporting that Mike Budenholzer will be a “prominent part” of the Suns‘ search for a new head coach following Frank Vogel‘s dismissal, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links) cites sources who say Budenholzer has emerged as the frontrunner for the position. A deal could come together relatively quickly, Wojnarowski adds.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 shared a similar report, tweeting that Budenholzer is the “most likely” hire for the Suns. Gambadoro suggested that the search process won’t last long, with perhaps just two or three candidates receiving serious consideration.
According to Wojnarowski, Budenholzer has been preparing for the possibility of returning to an NBA head coaching job by working on assembling a potential staff. He has also been mentioned as a possibility for the Lakers, but it sounds as if there’s more momentum toward a deal with Phoenix.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) has heard that Chauncey Billups would have support from Suns players as a head coaching candidate. Billups played on Team USA with Kevin Durant in 2010 and is a “known admirer” of Devin Booker, Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report points out (via Twitter). Of course, Billups is still under contract as the Trail Blazers‘ head coach, but previous reporting indicated that teams around the NBA are keeping an eye on that situation.
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes a look at a handful of possible candidates to replace Vogel, discussing four other potential targets besides Budenholzer and Billups.
- Should the Timberwolves’ road dominance in the first two games of their series vs. the Nuggets change the way the Suns view their four consecutive playoff losses to Minnesota? Bourguet explores that question in an article for the PHNX newsletter.
- In one more story for PHNX Sports, Bourguet lays out why re-signing unrestricted free agent forward Royce O’Neale is the only logical option for Phoenix this offseason, since the team would have no real way to replace him with a similar player if he walks.
The players voicing support for Chauncey Billups is why you don’t let the players make decisions like this. He’s awful.
Vogel isn’t a good HC, but Phoenix’s issues are deeper than coaching.
Bud doesn’t have to choose between PHX and LAL. Assuming the decision makers for each team stay the same, he can take the PHX job this year (with a buyout not subject to offset), and the LAL job next year (same terms). After a year or so there, he’ll be able to think about a job where he’ll actually get a chance to coach. Assuming he wants to try that again.
Why would coach Bud agree to go to the cesspool that fired his friend Monte Williams after turning the team around with good young talent – most of which is now gone
Best case, things magically work out and he wins another championship, or at least gets close to another one. Worst case, he gets fired early and paid to sit at home. Seems like a win-win to me so long as he doesn’t mind dealing with the personalities involved.
Fair points but at some point he deserves to work for a class organization that doesn’t go through coaches like Kleenex
Keep buying packs, Matt lol
So Vogel back to LA?
If Mike Budenholzer gets the Phoenix Suns job it will be a good hire. He’s a championship head coach and from the Arizona area. I just don’t see this team winning with a roster that is constructed like this. No Point Guard and its three scorers that need the ball. Then Devin Booker Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal don’t play defense. All three are average defensive players at best.
Somewhere in an alternate dimension, Coach Bud’s Suns team will beat Monty William’s Bucks squad in 6 for the NBA title.