The Mike Budenholzer / James Jones problem

[Mori Chu]

Just curious what folks would like us to do. Obviously most of us aren't thrilled with the recent performance of either of these guys. But firing them this summer also implies that you think we would find and hire someone better. I could have made a thread for each one, but it felt right to combine them. Should they stay, or should they go?

[Split T]

I don’t even know. Very hard to know what moves are James Jones moves and what are Ishbia, Bartelstein, or Isiah.

Bud seems a little more clear. He’s not the right coach for this team, but maybe you blow things up and let him coach a new team.

[TOO]

Shoot them both into the Sun and then hire Bob Myers to run the show and Todd Golden to coach said show.

[Split T]

Who is Todd Golden?

[ShelC]

I'm all about keeping JJ. Not a popular opinion probably and he's likely gone this summer but I think he's done a great job since he's taken over BOps. Not perfect, but no one is and he's proven to be able to find good players late in the draft and that's what we'll need. He's been a player, played and worked for good teams and understands players and the player/team dynamic in the lockerroom.

Bud's gotta be a goner. He's been clueless all year, never seemed to be able to maximize the talent on the roster or find the right rotations. He always looked exasperated, like he's searching for answers. It's clear the players have tuned him out and don't believe in his coaching.

I want Dudley or Chris Quinn as our coach. Pretty much two random names I like but they've played in the league, have coached on good teams with specific systems and styles. We need a coach who's going to bring some attitude, challenge the players when needed, hold them accountable and bring some grit and toughness to the org.

[Carno]

I like JJ and would like to keep him. He sold me when he took the McDonough shit show roster and completely transformed it in one off season to be competitive. Most of the criticism has been given in hindsight.

As for Bud, I don't really care but don't think it makes sense to keep paying coaches after getting fired. But then, it's not my money.

[The Bobster]

Who is Todd Golden?

He's the University of Florida's basketball coach.

He's also a Phoenix native and attended Sunnyslope H.S. (where I preceeded him by "a few years").

[Mori Chu]

I voted for keep both. But to be clear, it's because I don't think we can/will do better. I actually outright like James Jones and think he's done very well. I think he does understand the kind of character/glue guys a good team needs, and he's done a mostly great job drafting despite often drafting in the mid/late 1st round and 2nd round. We can relitigate some of the drafts but I think most of the really egregious whiffs were not JJ's fault but Sarver's (Ayton over Luka most prominently). And JJ didn't want to trade KD for a decade of assets; he has been forced to acquiesce to our big trades the past few years. Not his fault. It should be noted that JJ's contract is up after this year and he wasn't extended or renewed yet, so it is quite likely that they are just going to let him go and bring in a new GM. Bob Myers would probably be good, so if we do let JJ go, that's the direction I would want us to go. My doomsday scenario is that we hire Isiah Thomas, ugh ugh ugh.

As for Bud, he hasn't been great. But this team's construction is fatally flawed. Could anybody have done well? Would Monty Williams have gotten more out of this team? Would Vogel have? I don't really know. I am tired of the coaching carousel, firing the coach every single year. Bud is a solid NBA coach, and we are going to basically suck for a while. What exactly are we going to gain by firing yet another coach and paying them to do nothing? Just keep him while we retool and rebuild, is my take. I won't cry if he is fired, but I don't feel strongly about it. I don't think any coach is fixing this team in the next 1-2 years. If they do fire him, I really want them to bring in somebody tough from a team with a real culture to it, like Miami or San Antonio or something. I know Bud comes from the Pop tree, so in theory he should get that. But maybe it's been too long.

[ShelC]

I'd rather get the right guy in there than stay on this trajectory. A good coach, the right coach, can make a big difference. Look how Monty changed things. Look at Thibs in NY or Redick in LA. To stick with Bud just because we've fired other coaches recently is setting the team up for failure again next year. We'd be asking Book to demand a trade IMO. There was also the report a few weeks ago that Bud is basically miserable to deal with and has been a drag on the team. Maybe that's not 100% accurate but it's worth noting.

[rhylek]

Mori summed up where I am too. Maybe reinforce the coaching team around Bud, I'm too tired to check but I wonder what real coaching experience they have...

[The Bobster]

I don't think this year is Budenholzer's fault. If there's a rift between him and the players that can't be fixed, then you think about it, but I'm not going to say he doesn't deserve another chance considering the flawed team he was handed.

I think he and Jones take a standing eight count for this year, and you look to make your big changes among the player personnel, starting with Durant, Booker, Beal, Allen, Jones and O'Neale. I'm pretty sure Ishbia isn't patient enough to strip it down completely and rebuild though.

[TOO]

Who is Todd Golden?

He's the University of Florida's basketball coach.

He's also a Phoenix native and attended Sunnyslope H.S. (where I preceeded him by "a few years").

Yeah, I see him as a massive up and comer and being from the area should help sell the fans. Double win.

[Superbone]

You're missing my option: "I don't know."

I really don't as I don't know who exactly is responsible for what. I've liked a lot of what James Jones has done in his tenure although it is obviously not pristine, cough, Haliburton, cough. Bud has been a consistently good coach over the years but I haven't seen a connection with this particular team. Nobody seems accountable and they just didn't play hard for much of the year until it was too late. And then back to the roster constructions again, now we can see that we're missing athletes and size. Who's fault is that?

[JeremyG]

Interesting how split the vote is. I voted for “Keep Bud, fire JJ.”

I blame Ishbia for most of the failures and destroying a Finals roster, but JJ has had his chances, and has also made some bad mistakes (Haliburton). We probably need a new GM to rebuild this thing, but I am not too confident Ishbia will hire the right one.

We’re gonna be bad for awhile anyway so might as well keep Bud.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I've not been impressed by Budenholzer. Hard to imagine someone else doing a worse job as head coach next season.

The person responsible for Bradley Beal should've been fired yesterday.

[ShadowHawke]

Phil Jackson wouldn't post a winning season with this team.

[Superbone]

Mat Ishbia isn't saying, but Phoenix Suns' Mike Budenholzer sure looks like he'll be fired

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 997830007/#

[Gladiator]

I've not been impressed by Budenholzer. Hard to imagine someone else doing a worse job as head coach next season.

The person responsible for Bradley Beal should've been fired yesterday.

Ishbia isn’t going to fire himself!

[Kryptonic]

Who is Todd Golden?

He's the University of Florida's basketball coach.

He's also a Phoenix native and attended Sunnyslope H.S. (where I preceeded him by "a few years").

Yeah, I see him as a massive up and comer and being from the area should help sell the fans. Double win.

In fairness Bud was a local guy and won nba championships…. But hope you’re right.

[ShelC]

He's got some....baggage.

You don't go the college route here. Unless of course it's Izzo because of his ties to MSU.