Frank Vogel hired as new Coach

[ShelC]

Oh look, another thread about Ayton.

[Mori Chu]

It'll be interesting to see how the interactions go between Vogel, a scrappy hard-working coach, and Ayton, a complete pussy.

[ShelC]

Here's what Vogel had to say about Young and his players being 2-way.

Spoiler: show/hide

[Superbone]

[JeremyG]

Vogel right now on Wolf & Luke, about Ayton: "I think we have to re-establish him as one of the best centers in the game. [...] I feel like we can get the best out of him. And I look forward to seeing him have an incredible bounce back year for us."

[ShelC]

Jones on firing Monty

Spoiler: show/hide

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[Split T]

If Vogel can get Ayton to reach his potential I’m all for it…I’m not too optimistic. I also think they could just be talking about him this way as a trade tactic

This doesn't sound like it: "But I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an All-Star level player."

Sounds like he thinks Monty broke him.

Could be true…I didn’t hear the press conference so can’t really comment. If Monty really was the problem and Ayton will play like an all-star for Vogel, I’m all for it.

[JeremyG]

James Jones on Vogel:

"He's a guy that knows how to bring the toughness out of you, without barking, without screaming, without pushing. And he gets you to believe that you're tough, even if you aren't, until you actually start doing it."

[Superbone]

You can watch the entire press conference on YouTube found in this link. For some reason the YT sharing wasn't working.

https://arizonasports.com/story/3525350 ... ank-vogel/

[Superbone]

If Vogel can get Ayton to reach his potential I’m all for it…I’m not too optimistic. I also think they could just be talking about him this way as a trade tactic

This doesn't sound like it: "But I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an All-Star level player."

Sounds like he thinks Monty broke him.

Could be true…I didn’t hear the press conference so can’t really comment. If Monty really was the problem and Ayton will play like an all-star for Vogel, I’m all for it.

I think everybody here would be extremely happy if that were to happen.

[INFORMER]

I like that he’s showing a major willingness to spend money

What a nice change as a Suns fan!

Unfortunately we were very willing to spend money to keep a part-time impact player on a max deal and pay Landry Shamet nearly 10X what he is worth. But yay, money.

[INFORMER]

Oh look, another thread about Ayton.

Unfortunately, everything rides on him. We know what we are going to get from Book and Durant. Ayton is the swing state. And besides getting championship experience and a better defensive focus, this fire/hire seems to be about maximizing Ayton.

JeremyG, "so here's your holiday. Hope you enjoy it this time, [Matt Ishbia] gave it all away."

"It's not right..."

[ShelC]

Oh look, another thread about Ayton.

Unfortunately, everything rides on him. We know what we are going to get from Book and Durant. Ayton is the swing state. And besides getting championship experience and a better defensive focus, this fire/hire seems to be about maximizing Ayton.

JeremyG, "so here's your holiday. Hope you enjoy it this time, [Matt Ishbia] gave it all away."

"It's not right..."

I don't know that I believe that but if it's true, we're more than likely fucked.

[JeremyG]

Full Vogel interview on Wolf & Luke: https://arizonasports.com/category/podc ... Show+Audio

Sounds like he expects CP3 to be here, too.

[Superbone]

I like that he’s showing a major willingness to spend money

What a nice change as a Suns fan!

Unfortunately we were very willing to spend money to keep a part-time impact player on a max deal and pay Landry Shamet nearly 10X what he is worth. But yay, money.

Of course, that's the other factor. Spending it wisely. Let's see what happens there before we make any assumptions.

[In2ition]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/suns ... -he-needs/

Suns keep top assistant Kevin Young for a reported $2 million as Frank Vogel gets offense coordinator he needs
Young to become the NBA's highest-paid assistant after Phoenix hired Vogel on Friday

Frank Vogel teams tend to fit a similar profile. He has coached three No. 1-ranked defenses between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers. The last of those three came in 2021, when the Lakers had the No. 1 ranking despite lengthy absences from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and in 2020, Vogel's defense led the Lakers to a championship.

But on the other end of the spectrum, Vogel's offenses have always left something to be desired. The Lakers didn't even rank in the top 10 when they won it all in 2020, and even then, their success largely came in transition. His last two Laker teams ranked 22nd and 24th in offense, respectively, and his Pacers teams weren't much better. For all of his gifts as a head coach, Vogel has never been great at scheming offenses.

The Phoenix Suns, who hired Vogel as their new head coach on Friday, are paying quite a bit to solve that problem. The apparent runner-up to Vogel for Phoenix's head-coaching job was top assistant Kevin Young, who designed Monty Williams' pick-and-roll offense and has earned high praise for his X's and O's acumen. Young would have had no shortage of opportunities elsewhere after missing on the head-coaching job, but Vogel and Suns owner Mat Ishbia have reportedly convinced him to remain in Phoenix, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Doing so wasn't cheap. According to Wojnarowski, Ishbia is making Young the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA. Young will earn $2 million per year as Vogel's top aide, and while that positions Vogel to succeed with the Suns, it also puts quite a bit of pressure on him.

If Vogel doesn't work out quickly, the Suns have kept a qualified head-coaching candidate in the building. This is a situation Vogel has effectively navigated in the past, when the Lakers hired Jason Kidd, whom they also interviewed for their head-coaching job, as Vogel's top assistant in Los Angeles. Kidd was a favorite of Lakers star LeBron James, so if Vogel had struggled, the Lakers would have had a seemingly viable choice to turn to if they'd wanted to move on. Instead, the Lakers started his first season 24-3 and won a championship, and by the time the Lakers were wary of Vogel, Kidd was the head coach of the Mavericks.

But similar situations have gone the other way in the past. When the Cleveland Cavaliers hired David Blatt in 2015, they also hired runner-up Ty Lue as an assistant. Less than two years later, Lue led the Cavaliers to a championship as their head coach. The Suns, operating fully on a win-now timeline, likely expect Vogel to win the championship or come really close this season. If he doesn't? Young is waiting in the wings.

Whether it's in Phoenix or somewhere else, Young will likely be a head coach in the NBA relatively soon. By paying him this much, the Suns have ensured that they will have the opportunity to elevate him if they need to. But in a perfect world? He and Vogel's complementary skill sets will lead the Suns to a championship.

Here's hoping for a perfect world. Cue Louie Armstrong. "I see trees of green..."

Could the Suns get someone in the front office that can recognize talent in the draft too? Then get someone that can develop the talent? Then, the Suns would have nearly every base covered.

[Mori Chu]

Could the Suns get someone in the front office that can recognize talent in the draft too? Then get someone that can develop the talent? Then, the Suns would have nearly every base covered.

That'll be Isiah Thomas.

[In2ition]

Could the Suns get someone in the front office that can recognize talent in the draft too? Then get someone that can develop the talent? Then, the Suns would have nearly every base covered.

That'll be Isiah Thomas.

He was pretty decent at this, imo.