Suns Coaching Search

[Mori Chu]

It reminds me of Phil Jackson's comment recently that he would hire only coaches that he knows already. Oh, all right then. Did he just literally admit to nepotism?

Even the s**t-show that is the Sacramento Kings, with their announcement that they want to interview 17 people, is better than us interviewing 0. Ugh.

[Superbone]

Okay. We need to stop with this false idea that no one wanted a NBA head coaching job. Don't let the front office off that easily. I agree that the top tier coaches who have their choice of franchises would have us very low on the list of jobs they wanted.

The thing is there are only 30 of these jobs in the world and their are always qualified people dying for even an interview. You could easily throw out a number like at least 50% of the assistants in the league would automatically accept any head coaching job offered to them. That percentage is pretty conservative. That isn't even including any college or foreign coaches.

Watson was fine finishing up this season but he didn't jump out as perfect for the job. Do people honestly believe we just happened to have the best coach hiding 3 assistants down on the bench? It would only be a sham of an interview process if they didn't care about getting the best coach for the job. I guess you are right it probably would have been a sham.

It is such a disservice to the team and the fans by not caring. It is backlash from all the player drama this season. The guys want him so they will be happy if we rehire him. Do they not remember how shitty we were earlier this season with Hornacek? Do they not remember how the players claimed to love him and were pissed when the front office fired him? All while playing like absolute shit on the court. These players in particular have already shown that their opinion on the coach should mean jack shit.

Watson will probably be okay but is that what we really want? Just okay? We should have been looking for the best development coach we could find.

Phenomenal post. Could not agree more. You said it better than I was able to. The odds that Watson HAPPENS to be the best NBA head coach in the world for us are ludicrous. The fact that we didn't even try looking for anybody else, or even waiting until after the playoffs to see if any other talented coaches or assistants shook free, is infuriating. Inexcusable.

Wow, I feel like I'm living in Bizarro world. I didn't agree with hardly one word. But then I've been actually watching the games and listening to all the interviews. McDonough made it clear that many had interest in the job.

[Mori Chu]

Wow, I feel like I'm living in Bizarro world. I didn't agree with hardly one word. But then I've been actually watching the games and listening to all the interviews. McDonough made it clear that many had interest in the job.

Why didn't he interview any of the many people who had interest in the job? Do you prefer that he pounced on Watson now rather than waiting and interviewing other people?

[Superbone]

Wow, I feel like I'm living in Bizarro world. I didn't agree with hardly one word. But then I've been actually watching the games and listening to all the interviews. McDonough made it clear that many had interest in the job.

Why didn't he interview any of the many people who had interest in the job? Do you prefer that he pounced on Watson now rather than waiting and interviewing other people?

I agree that it couldn't hurt. Apparently they were already convinced that Watson was the man for the job. Or maybe Watson had other suitors. I don't know.

[INFORMER]

Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic, both free agents, expressed a desire to return to the Suns next year. Mirza even suggested that he'd be most inclined to return if Watson returned as well.

Seriously? We are suppose to feel good about a coaching hire because it has the approval of Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic?! I don't understand how these guys can even write and say some of this stuff. Amazing.

[INFORMER]

I think it is very foolish to ask the employees who they want their boss to be, and let that be your deciding factor on a hiring decision.

Especially since almost of half of those employees shouldn't be retained.

[Indy]

I think it is very foolish to ask the employees who they want their boss to be, and let that be your deciding factor on a hiring decision.

Especially since almost of half of those employees shouldn't be retained.

I'm thinking just Bledsoe and Knight. Maybe Archie too. I don't mind keeping Chandler for now. And I'm on the fence with PJ. I'm afraid he makes it too easy for a coach to play him when he isn't effective because of his hustle.

[Cap]

Chandler wants out. I think we should accommodate him.

[ShelC]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

[OE32]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

Are you talking about the front office's plan or the desires of the fan base?

[Mori Chu]

#TrustTheSunsProcess

[Indy]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

Are you talking about the front office's plan or the desires of the fan base?

I get you are trying to be funny there OE, but that is literally the plan the FO is putting out there.

[OE32]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

Are you talking about the front office's plan or the desires of the fan base?

I get you are trying to be funny there OE, but that is literally the plan the FO is putting out there.

Pretty sure the plan next year is simply to compete using a combination of vets and young players. Don't think we're interested in tanking. We already have the draft picks with which we intend to rebuild.

I just want to see TJ start. If we start PJ in an effort to be more competitive, I would deem THAT counterproductive. We'll see.

[Indy]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

Are you talking about the front office's plan or the desires of the fan base?

I get you are trying to be funny there OE, but that is literally the plan the FO is putting out there.

Pretty sure the plan next year is simply to compete using a combination of vets and young players. Don't think we're interested in tanking. We already have the draft picks with which we intend to rebuild.

I just want to see TJ start.

We didn't tank this year, either. We played our vets at the end of games to try and win (we just weren't good). If we were tanking, we would have had Archie at PG closing out games 30-40 times this year instead of Price. And before the injury, we would have had TJ out there 35 mpg instead of Tucker. Just because the result was really, really poor, doesn't mean we were tanking.

[OE32]

But that goes against our plan of competing with vets and developing young talent while simultaneously winning and losing as we compete and rebuild with draft picks and sign free agents in order to contend for a playoff spot without hurting out lottery chances.

Are you talking about the front office's plan or the desires of the fan base?

I get you are trying to be funny there OE, but that is literally the plan the FO is putting out there.

Pretty sure the plan next year is simply to compete using a combination of vets and young players. Don't think we're interested in tanking. We already have the draft picks with which we intend to rebuild.

I just want to see TJ start.

We didn't tank this year, either. We played our vets at the end of games to try and win (we just weren't good). If we were tanking, we would have had Archie at PG closing out games 30-40 times this year instead of Price. And before the injury, we would have had TJ out there 35 mpg instead of Tucker. Just because the result was really, really poor, doesn't mean we were tanking.

I'm referring to the coming season. I don't think we tanked this year, either. I think the FO was stunned, as I was, getting beat so terribly by the Mavs opening night. And then after we went 7-5 on our soft schedule, getting killed thereafter. When McD makes comments defending this season's play before the injuries, I think he's talking to ticket-holders, trying to make sure we avoid another dismal sales season like the one we had in 13-14, when we were unexpectedly competitive. He can't go on the radio and trash the team (as it deserved) and expect fans to renew their tickets for the coming season.

[Indy]

I think he's talking to ticket-holders, trying to make sure we avoid another dismal sales season like the one we had in 13-14

That dismal year still netted the team over a million dollars a month in profit. At some point, you need to realize that you have to be honest with your fan base.

[Nodack]

As an owner I think you always have to appear to be showing your fan base that you are trying to win. If Sarver sent out a letter to the fans saying that next year they will be trying to get the number one pick in the draft, therefore they intend to lose every game on purpose, what would that do to ticket sales?

It's still a business. Sarver has to balance between being competitive and building for the future. Yes they made a profit and have lots of picks and some money saved. Isn't that what we want as a young rebuilding team? They have lots of options going into the draft. That's a good thing.

I think the Suns thought they would have a better year than they did. I don't think they intentionally wanted to tank. I think that they were a little stunned by the losses early. The Morris debacle hurt them a lot I thought and killed chemistry. Then they were hit with injuries. Then it turned into a tanking season. Unfortunate in some ways. Booker was forced to become a starter and progressed faster than if we didn't have the injuries making it a blessing in disguise for him. Now we are talking about him being the permanent starter already. I don't think anybody here was let down by Bookers progress this year. He's Klay Thompson II.

[Indy]

As an owner I think you always have to appear to be showing your fan base that you are trying to win. If Sarver sent out a letter to the fans saying that next year they will be trying to get the number one pick in the draft, therefore they intend to lose every game on purpose, what would that do to ticket sales?

It's still a business. Sarver has to balance between being competitive and building for the future. Yes they made a profit and have lots of picks and some money saved. Isn't that what we want as a young rebuilding team? They have lots of options going into the draft. That's a good thing.

I think the Suns thought they would have a better year than they did. I don't think they intentionally wanted to tank. I think that they were a little stunned by the losses early. The Morris debacle hurt them a lot I thought and killed chemistry. Then they were hit with injuries. Then it turned into a tanking season. Unfortunate in some ways. Booker was forced to become a starter and progressed faster than if we didn't have the injuries making it a blessing in disguise for him. Now we are talking about him being the permanent starter already. I don't think anybody here was let down by Bookers progress this year. He's Klay Thompson II.

Saying we are going to be in the playoffs, and we are close to where we want to be, is either a blatant lie, or so far from the truth you have to question the abilities of the FO. I think it is the former. But they have been talking about playoffs I think every single year we have missed them, even when it was clear we were a bad team. You don't have to say you are going to tank, but you say we are going to build the team the right way, and not look for quick fixes like we have done in the past. In the end it leads to a better team, and we hope you will join us on this journey, and can say you were there the first time Booker dropped 40, or were there for the first 20/20 game of "insert center here". Or whatever. These guys are selling a product that doesn't really need to be sold. Even in the worst attendance years, they are making millions (due in large part to TV deals).

[Superbone]

I don't see things changing from Sarver and McD. I don't foresee any purposeful tanking or "play the young guys" mandate. I think we're going to try to win ball games and get into the playoffs as usual. I'm hoping to see another resurgence year like when McD and Hornacek first came on the scene but we'll see. If we do, I hope we can sustain it this time and continue to grow a team rather than slapping together another hodge podge of components again and seeing if it'll stick. How about a little continuity and purposeful team building?

[Nodack]

I have been entertaining at Cactus League games for 15 or so years. We play after the game for ticket holders that are part of a package. Flights, hotel, tickets and a buffet after the game with entertainment. Then some players, managers and announcers come out and speak and answer questions about the upcoming season. Every single manager talks like this is going to be their year to go all the way without exception. They all love their chances and their team and expect great things, even the Cubs.

It's not a lie when an owner says they are going to the playoffs. We had just missed the playoffs the year before and Sarver probably did think they were going to the playoffs. Morris happened, injuries happened and the wheels fell off. If we are healthy all year and pick up some talent in the draft or free agency I don't see ruling out a playoff run. It could happen. Probably won't but, saying its a lie isn't quite accurate either.