The Suns plan to interview Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez on Thursday and former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel on Friday, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix (Twitter links).
There have been conflicting reports on whether or not Vogel was a finalist for the Suns’ head coaching position, which opened after the team fired Monty Williams 10 days ago. Phoenix lost in embarrassing fashion in consecutive second-round elimination games the past two postseasons.
Williams was coming off Coach of the Year in 2021/22 after leading the Suns to the league’s top record. He helped turn around a long history of the franchise missing the postseason, the highlight being an NBA Finals appearance in 2020/21.
Vogel was previously head coach of the Pacers (2011-2016), Magic (2016-18), and Lakers (2019-22), recording a .526 career regular-season winning percentage and a .557 mark in the playoffs. He coached the Lakers to a championship in 2020 and was dismissed after the 2021/22 season. Vogel has reportedly interviewed or was expected to interview for the coaching vacancies in Houston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Phoenix this spring.
Fernandez interviewed with Toronto in late April and was mentioned as a candidate when the Hawks fired Nate McMillan in February. After spending six years as an assistant in Denver, Fernandez came to Sacramento as associate head coach last offseason when Mike Brown was hired.
The other reported finalists have been former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, former Magic, Celtics, Clippers and Sixers head coach Doc Rivers, and Suns assistant Kevin Young. However, another reporter, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT, cited sources who said the interview process isn’t in its final stage and that Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson are still in the running.
Why don’t the Sixers interview Nate McMillan
And no team should rush, there is plenty of time
Plenty of coaches
Nate McMillan is a Doc Rivers clone. He’s also horrible at making adjustments and consistently gets out-coached, especially in big games.
Well he got the Hawks pretty far the one year
However let the Sixerers sort through it
Because he’s not a good coach?
Suns may give Rivers 5 years $50mm
They can part way with him if he can’t pass the 2nd round playoffs first two years
It’s likely, not highly likely
IMO
Rivers should not apply for 76ers job 3 years ago
He knew he can’t do that job
He should apply for the job with low expectations
Doc is on the hot seat.
He hasn’t got a job yet, but as soon as the ink dries on his newest contract…
HOTSEAT!
Rivers will be coaching the Magic in 2 years after he’s fired again.
Nurse to the Suns, lock it in.
Seen a really interesting mock trade somewhere the other day.
DeAndre Ayton for Tim Hardaway Jr, Josh Green, JaVale McGee and this years first round pick
I think for the Mavs it makes a lot of sense because centre is such a big need for them and Luka is still young adding another young potential star next to him could really do wonders for the future.
For the Suns I originally thought that was Ana amazing return, THJ would be a fantastic sixth man, Green adds depth, a first round pick also adds depth and then McGee sorta fills the Ayton role. Obviously doesn’t provide nearly as much but in a system built around Booker and KD and if CP3 is kept your not asking much from the centre but defence and rebounding.
However if that’s what the value of Ayton actually is surely you can get something which fits slightly better. McGee is really old and probably only good for 15 minutes a game, THJ the best player returning isn’t a great fit, and Josh Green would be stuck behind Book and THJ.
Another idea which intrigued me was Ayton for Kuzma in a sign and trade agreement.
That would be great for Washington if they want to do this rebuild while winning approach. Ayton and KP would be a interesting duo and Beal would obviously get a bunch more touches once again.
Kuzma seems like a really good third option but nothing more and in Pheonix he would be exactly that with Booker and KD. He also seems like such a great fit with these two. It would leave a hole at centre but you could easily bring in a guy to start for the vets minimum.
If that came into fruition then you should be looking for a coach that can control a big 3. These guys are all very experienced and know how to defend and attack. They know almost every play in the book and how to manage the clock, you don’t need much from a coach at that end just manage the personalities and manage the rotation. That said I’d actually really consider Kenny Atkinson…
All of those players are replacement level guys, except for McGee who is a candidate for worst player in the NBA. The only thing of value the Mavericks have is that pick. Their “Depth” is all negative players. That’s why they can have two stars and not even make the play in game.